<p>What do you guys think I should apply early or normal?</p>
<p>Applying early will increase my chances?</p>
<p>Also should I use the common application or the harvard application is better?</p>
<p>Thanks</p>
<p>whoa there, buddy.... k, here's the deal</p>
<ol>
<li><p>EA acceptance rates are roughly 20%, while regular acceptance rates this year will be closer to 5%...that being said, proceed to #2</p></li>
<li><p>The early round has a wayyyyy stronger applicant pool, composed of people who are determined to be accepted... translation: harder applicant pool</p></li>
<li><p>The harvard application IS the common app...they just have a supplement. You need to fill BOTH the common app and the Harvard supplement </p></li>
<li><p>One advantage I think of applying early is that you get looked at twice...so, it's sorta like applying twice. :)</p></li>
<li><p>Whatever you decide, don't bank on getting in- no matter HOW good you may think you are...take it from someone who knows :D Make sure to have a juicy list of back-ups to choose from</p></li>
<li><p>Last but not least, ENJJOOOYYY THIS WHOLE PROCESS</p></li>
</ol>
<p>it's been hotly debated (see the other threads) as to whether or not EA is advantageous, but I'm inclined to believe that they don't really play any games--and that's just my humble opinion, not the official one, so don't debate with me on it. So, if you're sure H is your first choice and you'd definitely go if you were accepted, apply. It's just a way to get other applications off your back if you're accepted early.</p>
<p>and I hope you're not applying for the class of 09, since it's a bit late to apply early now...</p>
<p>As far as increasing yield is concerned, I don't think Harvard (or Yale) is too interested in "playing games". I think the other six Ivies and schools of comprable quality pull things like that- there have been extensive reports- showing, for instance, that Princeton tends to accept people they think will get rejected by Harvard, Yale, MIT, and Stanford- that have appeared on previous threads. If you really want an advantage, apply to a school that has ED.</p>
<p>There is absolutely no evidence that applying early to Harvard increases one's chances. Harvard says that a higher proportion of the EA pool is admitted because they are stronger. I am an alumni interviewer, and in general, I have found that to be the case. The very strongest applicants in my area apply EA. In my area, typically, only 1-3 applicants are admitted each year. Typically, all of the admitted applicants applied EA, though usually 50%-100% or were EA applicants admitted after being deferred in the EA round.</p>
<p>As an EA deferree, my opinion is that ceteris paribus the advantage (if any) is marginal at best and you'd probably better maximize your utility by applying early somewhere else with a greater marginal advantage. </p>
<p>BUT - if everybody thinks this way then the results change. game theory at work.</p>