<p>Rice is absolutely the school I want to attend; I am considering applying early decision. I have been told, however, that the ED applicant pool is much stronger than the RD applicant pool and therefore it is much more difficult to get in if you choose to apply ED. I know that an excellent school will of course have many qualified applicants applying both RD and ED; I am just feeling quite anxious about all of the different possibilities. I have also been told that there is a greater advantage to applying Early Decision if you are an OOS applicant. It is of course entirely possible that I need to find a different source of information! ;) Does anyone have any advice on the subject or any personal experiences that they would be willing to contribute? Thanks!</p>
<p>They might be more self selective- in the sense that they’ll have Rice at the top of their list. But I don’t think the ED pool is actually tougher.</p>
<p>Go with your heart. Rice is your #1 choice, so apply early decision. The tougher competition in the applicant pool doesn’t matter because of the higher admit rate.</p>
<p>You’re over thinking the issue. Rice is #1 for you (and many who need to decide between ED and RD don’t have that clarity). Go for ED.</p>
<p>ED is not generally harder than RD. Indeed, many schools will readily admit that ED applicants have a boost in the process. It’s EA pools that are often more competitive than their RD counterparts. </p>
<p>Rice ED is a great option for you.</p>
<p>I’m not quite sure as to what I should do. I just wonder if applying ED is the wise decision…</p>
<p>1) Can you afford Rice? Yes?
2) Is Rice your #1 choice? Yes?
3) will your first semester grades or a later test-taking be needed to help your overall profile? No?</p>
<p>If these are your answers , then you should ED Rice. Otherwise, don’t.</p>
<p>ED is like getting married, </p>
<p>“Do you, academician11, take Rice to be your lawfully wedded school? Do you promise to forsake all others and attend Rice until graduation, (or premature transfer), doth you part?”</p>
<p>If you really want to go to Rice and can’t imagine being anywhere else, then apply ED. Statistics on ED admissions are sporadic at best. What few there are show higher admit rates with students who look to be “average” (i.e., 50th%-tile or better) statistically for a given school, this only makes sense. It’s in Rice’s best interest to admit applicants who want to be there and who are at least typical of the student body. I personally don’t think ED will turn a 25th%-tile candidate into an admit, (barring “Hook” considerations), but I think if you had a fair chance of being admitted RD then you probably have a good chance of being admitted ED.</p>
<p>^ Very nice explanation. I like it.</p>
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<p>What a stunning comparison. I don’t believe I could craft a better one. :)</p>
<p>Rice is among my top choices as well, but unlike me, you have defined it as your #1 choice. So, unless money is an issue, go for ED. As a previous poster stated, it is generally EA that is harder to get into than RD (especially with schools such as Yale and Stanford). I say apply ED, and if your qualified, you’ll have chosen the best route to ensure admission.</p>
<p>Good luck! :D</p>
<p>Rice 2010-er here with 2c</p>
<p>definitely apply ED. The applicant pool is generally stronger, though they accept more people. ED will also show that you like Rice and really want to go there, as opposed to applying to “top schools”</p>
<p>i personally did not apply ED, but a bunch of my friends did.</p>
<p>If you want more feedback from ricers, post here</p>
<p>[Rice</a> University - College Confidential](<a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/rice-university/]Rice”>Rice University - College Confidential Forums)</p>
<p>Good luck! hope you get in</p>
<p>Thank you everyone, for your replies!</p>
<p>Vinceh, yours was particularly entertaining :)</p>
<p>I would like to apply ED. I simply fear that I haven’t given thorough consideration to the possible ramifications of choosing to apply this way. I will need to think on it, most definitely…</p>
<p>Why wouldn’t you apply ED?</p>
<p>If you apply ED and get in, that’s fine because it’s your first choice. If you’re deferred, you’re put in the RD pool so it’s the same as applying RD in the first place. And if you’re rejected ED, which is very unlikely, you would have gotten rejected from RD anyway. You can only benefit from applying ED.</p>