Brown is my first choice. Unfortunately there is only one SAT test date before the early decision deadline in November. I want to retake the SAT because currently my score is a 2010, but I also need to take another subject test because Brown requires two (I already took US history). I have a few options if I want to apply ED- take the ACT (which I don’t really want to do because the only test center is far away), take the subject tests in October and submit my application with a 2010 SAT (which I know is a low score for Brown), or retake the SAT in October and submit subject test scores late (bad idea).
It looks like I will have to apply regular decision, which Brown alleges has the same chance of admission as early decision. Applying RD would give me more than enough time to increase my SAT scores and take a subject test. But I’ve heard that applying ED increases your chances and I know that ED acceptance rates are always quite a bit higher than RD rates. Of course, many factors explain this. I’m wondering if anyone here happens to know about ED chances specifically at Brown, based on what you’ve seen or whatever. If ED chances are actually better then I might as well suck it up and take the ACT in September.
Apply regular. A large part of the discrepancy between rd and ed acceptance rates is due to recruited athletes; if you exclude them, the acceptance rates are very similar. Even if there is an advantage, it’s insignificant and certainly would not weigh more heavily than a higher sat score and essays with more time put into them. Colleges always encourage applying when your application is the strongest, which in your case is rd.
Brown says about ED: “You may still submit scores from the November 8 administration of the SAT and they will be added to your file.” (https://www.brown.edu/admission/undergraduate/apply/first-year-applicants) So you could take the subject test in October and the SAT in November and still apply ED.
I think there is an ED advantage, but it isn’t as significant as people think. It is very true that many recruited athletes are accepted ED, and so that skews the numbers. If you take the athletes out of the pool, the ED acceptance rate is much lower than the published number. However, it is still higher than the RD acceptance rate.
Also - only apply ED if you know that financial aid isn’t going to be an issue. If you need to compare offers, don’t apply ED.
@fireandrain I know that the website says I can still submit tests from November, but by the time scores are released, it will almost be December. I’m not quite sure how the reviewing process works but couldn’t Brown have decided on my application by then?
If they say they take November scores, they’ll take them. They may do a pre-read on your application by then, but they won’t make a decision without all the information.