<p>Colleges claim there's no difference in difficulty of being accepted between early and regular, but what is it really? I've heard so many times that it IS easier...</p>
<p>So, is it true or just an urban ledgend?</p>
<p>The book, The Early Admissions Game, provides some data on this question.</p>
<p>Depending on the school, early decision can really help. The authors of the book showed that early decision applicants are typically weaker than early action applicants in terms of SAT scores (*). This makes sense because applying via early decision sends the message, "If you accept me, I will come (and pay whatever you ask me to pay.)"</p>
<p>(*)</p>
<p>Yes, I know that SAT scores aren't everything. But, it was the only benchmark that could compare students from different groups. It's doing its job.</p>
<p>I personally think doing early decision will get you in easier than regular /early action, because if you're accepted, you must attend that college, so the college knows that you'll be attending. For early action applicants, unless you're an exceptional student (compared to accepted students in the previous year), you probably won't get accepted and deferred to the regular decision pool. In that effect, early action is the same as regular decision, but its easier to get into a college through early decision</p>
<p>^ I disagree. It's only 'easier' if you're a weaker or special case canidate (ie athletic recruit, low scorer, legacy). Otherwise, the kids who get in early are comparable to the kids who get in regular.</p>
<p>If you're borderline, though, go early.</p>
<p>I can tell you with total certainty that applying to Amherst ED is not a benefit unless you are a legacy, sports tip, socio-economic urm. When you factor out those people the percentage of admissions is miniscule via ED. It is even harder if you are a white upper middleclass female. However for many of the other top lacs ED is the way to go if you really are sure its where you want to be and can afford to go. By the way I got deferred ED to Amherst and rejected RD. That was great as in the end I am going to Wesleyan and could not be more thrilled.</p>
<p>If there was no way you were going to get into the college anyway (ie, all of your scores are below their 50% range + no hook), than applying ED/EA isn't going to change that fact.</p>
<p>Early decision is easier to get into for only a few notable schools like: UPenn, Northwestern, Wellesley. The avg acceptance percentage of kids in ED pool vs Regular pool is notably higher with UPenn and Northwestern both hovering around 30 percent. UPenn even came out with this happy applicant notion believing those who apply ED to UPenn tells the deans that they really want to go there so they feel more obliged to accept more students and make them happy for being accepted. EA unless its SCEA (and even this doesnt do much) isnt really known to raise percentages but more or less give applicant a faster decision so they can make decisions for their future applications accordingly.</p>
<p>yes definitely.</p>
<p>it's much easier to get in if u do early decision or early action</p>
<p>Yes. ED>EA</p>
<p>I have looked at different schools' Common Data sets (for ED, they tell you the amount that applied and the amount that get in from the ED application pool) and it seems like it depends on the college. For one college, the acceptance rate goes from like 45% to 80%ish. That was an extreme case though. For some colleges, there seems to be no real change in acceptance rate. EA, I couldn't say. If you want to know about the percentage rate when applying ED vs. RD, I suggest going to the college's official site and looking at their Common Data Set.</p>
<p>Generally academic "matches" for an elite would be favored applying ED. If a 2300 SAT 3.9 UW person applies ED to Cornell, I would be surprised if he/she did not get in. ED is very useful when you have the stats but maybe not the ECs and would be a close call in the regular round.</p>
<p>I envy people who can utilize ED, because they aren't concerned with money. I can't apply ED (well my parents don't know what it is, but I'm not GOING to apply) because I could not justify going to a top private if a good private gave me a substantial scholarship.</p>
<p>ED many times makes it easier for you to get in. EA does sometimes. It depends on the school.</p>
<p>If you aren't accepted when applying for ED, does it make a disadvantage if you apply for RD to the same college? Or could it be a warning you are not going to make it when RD comes and better give it up?</p>
<p>Actually you cannot apply RD once you've been rejected on ED, on the same academic year.
I'm not sure though.</p>
<p>You should only apply ED/EA if you're positive you want to attend .. otherwise you'd be making a huge mistake!</p>
<p>mj93 it is not a huge mistake to apply EA where you are not positive, its completely non binding</p>