ED 1 acceptance rates vs ED 2

Applying to College
1

Hi guys! This is completely out of curiosity, but I’ve noticed that a lot of colleges that offer ED 1 and ED 2 (Like Vandy, Tufts, Pomona, etc.) will say, “oh, these two rounds are EXACTLY the same. Same criteria, same quality of applicants…” but they usually fail to mention that ED 2 acceptance rates are much lower than ED 1.

I feel like I already know the answer to this (which makes this thread all the more random) but does anyone have a hunch on why colleges don’t tend to disclose the acceptance rates between ED 1 and 2?

2

This enlaces with a broader question as to why admissions representatives tend to speak in broad terms when precise figures could easily be presented. Candidly, I think generalizations make it easier – in some cases, with some schools – to misrepresent the facts.

3

Perhaps because the most desirable candidates from a specific colleges perspectives are matched during ED1, and only ‘rejects’ appear in ED2.

4

Many applicants with hooks (ex. recruited athletes, children of big donors etc.) apply in the ED1 round which would increase acceptance rates.

5

FWIW, according to the NYT, Pomona’s rates for the class entering fall '15 were 21% ED1, 17% ED2, and 9% RD.

6

For a non-hooked applicant, I’d be concerned about the cost/benefit of applying ED2. It certainly demonstrates the applicant’s interest. But by the time ED2 decisions are being made, the school has usually received all the RD applications as well. So the school has had at least an initial look at the RD pool. I started a thread about RD vs ED2 back in February which has some good discussions: http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/college-admissions/1864983-why-do-colleges-offer-ed2-and-does-it-benefit-the-applicants.html#latest

7

That was a good thread @Corinthian and I agree with the general conclusion that ED2 is mostly for the benefit of the college. One of the places it might give an edge to a student would be at a yield-sensitive school (not a Tufts, Vandy, or Pomona) where given two similar applicants, admissions would rather pick a sure matriculant ED2 than an RD who has a <30% chance of accepting their offer.

8

ED2 is useful if you are a legacy and didn’t apply ED1, either because you were improving grades or test scores or because you were rejected ED1 somewhere else.

And while few people here on CC would fall into this camp, there are seniors out there right now who are -gasp!- still working on a list of where to apply and doing visits. Oddly. I have encountered 2 in the last 2 days! Should they find one that rises above the rest, ED2 could be great for them.

As noted above, the pools tend to be different for each of the 3 rounds. I would be wary of making a decision about whether to apply ED1 or 2 based on the acceptance rates. However, if a school is your first choice, ED is a good option.

Remember too that if you aren’t a compelling candidate in either ED round but are qualified , many schools will roll you into the RD round. At that point, it could go either way, but the point is that you won’t be disadvantaged by being in the early round.