I was talking to an admissions consultant briefly about ED. And she had told me that it is actually harder for people to get into college/universities by applying ED - because the ED pool is usually made up of those with legacy or exceptional students. And therefore in her words, “explained the reason why the acceptance rate for ED is usually higher.”
True or False?
<p>You will hear varying opines on this. It is generally accepted that ED Pool of Applicants is a strong pool. At Penn for example the bump for Legacy comes only in ED....thus one could conclude it may NOT be a stronger academic pool.</p>
<p>I think the general question for most is - say you had no legacy and held stats that were average for their pool of applications for ED. Would ED make it easier or harder?</p>
<p>And say the college had high ED rate and is rather prestigious.</p>
<p>Some schools take nearly half of the class ED.</p>
<p>Okay change of scenario. </p>
<p>Say the school is a very well known school with medium/high ED acceptance rate but low RD rate - could one assume that they want students that are committed and thus lower their standards, or simply because the majority is legacy and excel academically?</p>
<p>During my discussion with the college consultant, I had named several examples of schools that had an amazing high ED rate whereas their RD rate was amazingly slow. And she blamed it on the pool of applicants who she assumes a majority are legacy, which I find it hard to believe.</p>
<p>I believe that if you are applying ED that it gives you a bump. I cannot say it is a fact and in any give pool of applicants it can be a poor decision. Nobody here can give you a definitive answer. Most of what you are asking is from past experience and knowing the "past" stats that schools report. You need to look up the stats on your schools website and think about this and your propensity for risk.</p>
<p>I've actually always been against ED. It limits a person's decisions and I'm afraid that if I apply ED I might regret it later on. I'm just curious about why people believe ED is easier to get into a certain college than RD.</p>
<p>Because they research the statistics and see that ED does benefit some students. If you are against it that is a personal opinion and doesn't really play into what you asked.</p>
<p>haha. Well if it can benefit me, I'm sure I can change my mind about ED. I'm just curious about the process of ED. I've never thought the reasons why ED acceptance rate as higher due to legacy - she just gave me a shock.</p>
<p>development admits, athletic admits there are many other reasons also.</p>
<p>I think ED makes a difference at schools below the top, when if a student with good stats who they know can get into an ivy is at hand. Say a 2300/ 4.0 applying to Emory or Vandy. Schools with high yields of the kids they want have no incentive to give an ED boost. At those schools the higher numbers just reflect athletes, URMs, development candidates and other "friends" of the school.</p>
<p>So there are benefits but those just aren't guaranteed. But you still recommend ED especially if there is a dramatic difference between ED and RD and if you're certain of your choice of school?</p>
<p>Suze - so say an student who is just like everyone else in a pool of applicants for a certain school but applies ED - would you presume he/she has a higher chance? And as I said say the school is rather prestigious and has a much higher acceptance rate for ED.</p>
<p>Most of these stats have all been posted here.....every year. I don't know what schools you are thinking about.....at MIT I don't know that it would benefit you. At Penn it benefits you.</p>
<p>I'm shopping more so in the Liberal Arts district.</p>
<p>You can find out what you want to know on CC or go to the schools website and look it up. Folks here will tell you what they know....post your question on the school thread.</p>
<p>No, from everything I've seen I don't think it makes a bit of difference at the top schools. At that, from what I've seen, EA/ED works for the hooked. Again, I do think it makes a big difference at schools that are not quite top who are trying to raise their stats. The schools that give merit money to kids they can get away from ivies. WashU is probably the poster school. Everyone I've seen use that strategy has "won".</p>
<p>My friend had told me about WashU and the perks of applying ED. I didn't really think much of it, didn't know if it was true or not.</p>
<p>The thing to watch out for with WashU is that they seem to be more generous with merit money if you apply RD. They will accept you ED, but they know they have you. If they know you are deciding between them and an ivy, they'll pay you to come. It would be tempting if we weren't talking St. Louis!</p>