“Please do not assume that your admission chances are improved by applying under the Early Decision plan. The Board of Admission makes the same decisions under Early Decision that it would under the Regular Decision plan.”
I was considering applying early decision for the sole purpose of finding out earlier and having an increased chance. But this says that my chances are not increased. Is this false?
I would take them at their word. We saw a lot of “buyer’s remorse” this year among ED accepted students, too. A lot of people wanting out of the binding ED agreement. Some for financial reasons (even full pay students who should have known the cost), others who realized too late that they really wished they had let their RD apps play out.
There was a very spirited debate about this question in the fall. If you search the forum, you’ll find it. There are varying opinions on how much ED helps. Brown insists it doesn’t help much; numbers suggest it does give you a boost, although not as much as it seems (many recruited athletes and legacies are accepted ED, so the non-hooked accept rate is lower that the overall ED rate).
The most important reason to apply ED is because Brown is your first choice. Is money an issue? Do you need to compare financial aid packages?
Brown’s numbers for this year.
Applied - 3,030, Accepted: 669, Percentage: 22%, Rejected: 456, Deferred: 1,905
Deferred (total 1905): Accepted: 133 (during regular decision), Percentage: 7%, Rejected: 1,772
Total early decision : Applied: 3,030 , Accepted: 802 (669 ED + 133 RD), Percentage: 26%, Rejected: 2,228
Applied - 29,3500, Accepted: 2,117, Percentage: 7%, Rejected: 27,233
Early decision: 802 out of 3030 (26.46%)
Regular decision: 2117 out of 29350 (7.2%)
Overall acceptance: 2,919 / 32,380 (9.01%)
So applying early has an advantage.
Of the 669 accepted ED, 200 or so were recruited athletes whose chances of acceptance were 100% (I don’t recall off the top of my head how many athletes there were). There were also legacies and development applicants whose chances are significantly higher. So if you redo the math, you’ll see the ED acceptance rate for a non-hooked student is significantly lower than 22%.
I’m not sure they ever said, but for all Ivy League schools, 180-200 is a good ballpark. So the non-recruited athlete accepted number is closer to 17%. However, I’m inclined to take Brown at their word. Besides, what’s the point of debating? It is what it is. I would say that if finances are a concern and that it is critical to view several offers, then it makes no sense applying ED even if there were a small boost.
If Brown is your clear #1 choice and finances aren’t an issue, then you’re a candidate for ED. The only downsides are these: 1) you have to have everything ready and can’t rely upon your 7th semester GPA for any additional boost. 2) you forego applying to any colleges with Restrictive Early Action (HYPS and some others).
But, if your only stated goal is to learn your decision by December, by all means. That’s what ED is designed for.
Brown did.
http://www.browndailyherald.com/2014/11/17/majority-undergrads-oppose-reserving-spots-athletes/
http://www.browndailyherald.com/2015/12/10/u-admits-22-percent-of-early-applicants/
No question. There is a definite admissions advantage to applying ED at most of the schools which offer it, especially if you have a stellar record through junior year and do not need your first semester senior year grades to raise your GPA.