Dumb Question: Which one is better? EA or ED. After all, people appplying to ED have a much better chance of getting in than EA.
EX: MIT takes 16% of total applicants, but also only 16% of EA applicants.
Princeton takes 10% of applicants, but about 25% of ED applicants.
<p>Apply ED only if you're sure. I've heard that the finaid package that comes with EA is much better. Personally, I prefer EA, but if my #1 choice offered ED, I'd do it in a heartbeat. lol...</p>
<p>EA is non-binding and thus not very useful to boost one's chance.</p>
<p>However, EA can give you early notification which allows you to change your college list quite a bit accordingly to the EA result. e.g. if you get in EA U Chicago on Dec. 15th, you can eliminate all the safety schools with the application deadline of Jan.1 or Jan. 15</p>
<p>This isn't a dumb question - both plans have advantages and disadvantages -
ED often helps increase your chances of admission and, if you get in, helps you finish your college process early in the year; on the other hand, it binds you to one school, forcing you to accept the financial aid package you get.</p>
<p>I chose to apply EA to have the power to compare aid packages while still finding out early. The disadvantages of it, of course, would be that it doesn't usually help increase chances of admission.</p>