ED or EA or RD?

Hi everyone,
I had a general question about the admissions process. I’m trying to decide whether to apply ED (and/or) EA or RD (and/or) EA. My junior year grades weren’t that good (one b plus and 3 A minuses, when I have gotten only 1 or 2 A minuses freshmen and sophomore year). In this case, should I do ED for the added admissions boost, or should I wait and do EA and RD to show that I can improve my senior year grades for the first semester?
On a separate note, ED obviously boosts admissions odds significantly, but does EA help? I have heard that EA doesn’t help compared to RD, but it should have some impact right?
Thanks!

You should only apply ED to a school if it is your clear first choice, since it is a binding agreement. You shouldn’t attempt to game the system by applying ED. Also, ED really only helps if you’re already at or near the school’s general admissions data for GPA and test scores- if you’re miles below, it won’t give you a boost. So if you don’t have the grades you want yet, I would suggest you apply regular.

EA helps a little bit at schools that might track “Demonstrated Interest”, since it shows you are interested in the school enough to apply early.

I agree with above poster. Also, since ED is binding you do not have a chance to compare fin aid offers from other colleges. That said, if you have a CLEAR preference of one school, and you are in the middle range of GPA/SAT data for that school, it will give you an edge. Colleges like to admit students who want to be there, and it helps with yield and filling out the class. (Some schools admit half the freshman class with ED). We are doing this for our D17. Some schools have ED2, usually due about Jan 1, if you’d like to include some senior year scores, depending on your HS schedule. I would highly recommend visiting any school you would apply ED, both because it is the highest show of demonstrated interest, and because you need to get a feel for the campus, preferably while classes are in session. I also agree that EA helps a bit, and is no-risk, unless you can show improvement in senior year. And if you are deferred from ED or EA, and your grades improve, you can submit them to colleges.

Check this link for a list of ED vs RD rates for a number of colleges:

https://www.iecaonline.com/PDF/IECA_Library_ED-vs-RD-Acceptances.pdf

ED obviously helps if the college considers “level of applicant’s interest”. It may be particularly helpful if your first choice college is such a college, and you appear to be “overqualified” by stats for that college.

Agree, ED should only be used 1) if you have a clear cut first choice school and 2) if you have no need to compare financial offers.