<p>I have searched this forum to try to understand how one's chances of admission vary from ED I to ED II, but I couldn't find an answer. If there are admissions officers who would like to respond, I'd be grateful. The question is this: do schools give an equal boost to candidates for ED I and ED II, or are admission chances for ED II somewhere between ED I and RD? </p>
<p>Much of the discusssion on this forum on ED I vs. ED II suggests that colleges view ED II candidates as deferred or rejected ED I candidates from another school. If you simply took some time before acknowledging your dream school, should you make that clear when applying ED II, or do schools not care, as all that matters to them is that you have committed?</p>
<p>My unscientific guess is that 60% of EDII applicants were deferred from their EDI schools, and 40% took their time to decide that EDII was right for them. If the latter, I would definitely say so, indicating the long and careful decision making process you undertook.</p>
<p>Schools will care little about the reason you're applying ED2.</p>
<p>Whether that school was your first or your second choice, it is obvious in making your commitment that this is a place you really want to attend. They know that and it makes a difference. Filling their ranks with enthusiastic freshman rather than 9th choice depressed "rejects" (sorry, but makes a point) explains in part why the vast majority of colleges still support early decision. Especially for small schools seeking to build a cohesive campus with real esprit de corps, this can be a critical building element.</p>