<p>How big is the edge in applying EA to Harvard? I ask think because I would really like to apply EA to some other schools where there is a really big edge in getting accepted. As I understand Harvard doesnt allow one to apply EA or ED to any other school.</p>
<p>Well, according to Byerly, applying EA gives you a huge edge over applying RD. The numbers seem to support this. Overall, 9% of those who apply are accepted. Half the class is filled by EA, and the EA acceptance rate is 21%. If we account for the fact that half the class is already filled with EA ppl, then the RD acceptance rate is really around 5%. So from purely a percentages perspective, EA has 4 times the chance of acceptance that RD has.</p>
<p>Now, here's the thing though. It's highly unlikely that the chance of acceptance for EA is THAT much higher than RD. This is because we haven't taken into account the fact that the EA pool has stronger applicants than the RD pool.</p>
<p>Even so, I'd say that EA still gives you a significant advantage over RD. Harvard says that applying EA doesn't give you an edge, but they're lying - it does, we just don't know how much that edge is.</p>
<p>Bear in mind that about 3,000 SCEA applicants were deferred this year, and that some of them were accepted - so the admissions rate from the RD pool is even lower than it might otherwise appear.</p>
<p>If the 21% SCEA admit rate seems daunting, and Harvard is not your "dream school", and you are considering strategic admissions, then you might look at open EA schools such as MIT, Georgetown, Chicago, Notre Dame, B.C., etc.</p>
<p>The EA admit rate is falling at most of these schools, however, so you might outsmart yourself.</p>
<p>21% doesnt seem all that daunting compared to the RD rate. ;)</p>
<p>The question is I really am not sure of my chances at Harvard. On one hand I have some pretty good ECs and my background works in my favor while on the other hand I have only a "good" GPA not an "exceptional" one. Really is one heck of a chess game. I might just post my stats here sometime for the kick of it.</p>
<p>Yeah, posting your stats might help a bit here.</p>
<p>Well here they are:</p>
<p>Background
-Immigrated 2002
-Asian Indian
-First Generation</p>
<p>GPA: 91.3-91.5 UW at a very competitive and well known high school
PSAT: just took looking at a 210 at least
SAT II: World History: 740 Math IIC: 800
APs: World History 5 Macroecon (self study) 4
Took the hardest courses possible. </p>
<p>-Quantitative Trading & Research:
Started a firm which uses research conducted to build currency trading models. These models are then used to manage client accounts by speculating in the currency markets (Typically pairs involving the G-7 countries with weighting on the US dollar). I have been involved in the markets trading my personal accounts since I was 12. In equities, and now in FX. </p>
<p>-Research:
Currently conducting research in Economics to send to several competitions in 2006. Focus is on US labor economics. I cant provide much details on it in a public forum.</p>
<p>-Music:
Indian classical vocal training since 11. Focus on Bengali folk music, bengali classics, and Sanskrit hymns.</p>
<p>Internships:</p>
<p>-Law Firm: Worked as a summer associate intern at a pro bone law firm in NYC. Worked in their immigrant protection unit where I conducted legal research for attorneys and prepared case files. This was during the summer of 2003-2004</p>
<p>-Hedge Fund: Currently interning as an assistant trader at a quantitative hedge fund here in NYC. Functions include taking classes and doing some misc. work that needs to be completed after hours. </p>
<p>Involved in school clubs (FIRST robotics-head of animations), and sports teams (Track). Just got involved in school government. Looking to start a finance club and a science olympiad team in the school both to be used to take part in different city wide and statewide contests.</p>
<p>As you can see nothing overly special about this resume. So I really need to play that early action/decision card right.</p>
<p>Bro Harvard better accept you if they want to recieve any hefty cheques in the future if you know what i mean. :)</p>
<p>lol, haithman. </p>
<p>It's definitely clear to anyone looking at this (preliminary) resume that you have a big focus on econ - that's a good thing. Now all you need is some national-level recognition of your econ work, and some nice SAT's (2100+) and your chances will be pretty good. Definitely in the 20-25% range in EA. May be even higher depending on how high your SAT's and work in econ goes...</p>
<p>haha haitham. </p>
<p>Eye> Thanks. Well yea my focus is definitely on finance and econ. I am pretty sure I can hit at least 2200+ on my SATs my PSAT practices netted around 215 or so and this is with just a few weeks worth of prep. </p>
<p>Any more comments on these stats?</p>
<p>hey uve got pretty amazing stats! how did u manage to start at 12 with equities and shares..whoa! u mita have a good shot..u know!
btw,u r bengali rite?from kol?same here!</p>
<p>Thanks. </p>
<p>No I am a bengali from Bangladesh. Although Kolkata is like a second home to me.</p>
<p>Are you guys talking about Calcutta? Did they change the spelling or what?</p>
<p>Yes they did. A while ago actually.</p>
<p>That's pretty weak. "Calcutta" looks/sounds way cooler than "Kolkatta"...</p>
<p>Why the heck would they change the spelling of the name????</p>
<p>And I noticed they did that with Bombay. "Bombay" sounds soooo much better than "Mumbai". Mumbai sounds like the name of some random guy. Bombay on the other just oozes cool...</p>
<p>the change from bombay to mumbai had to do with trying to get a more "indian" name, or so i've been told....i think that bombay was left over from the remnants of british india, as opposed to the nationalism promoting mumbai.....i dont know if the change from calcutta to kolkatta was for the same reasons, since the names are still very similar</p>
<p>How many EA applicants were there last year?</p>
<p>4,213 SCEA applicants, of whom 885 were admitted</p>
<p>I think if they count the number of deferred EA applicants who are also ultimately accepted, then the number of "EA accepted" would increase.</p>
<p>WOW! I bet the URM count is MUCH MUCH lower...like in the 800s for all URMs? I bet there are only like 150 mexican americans or like 50 Puerto Ricans applying. I wonder if those numbers are right...Amnesia do you know?</p>
<p>The following link has statistics for Black applicants at numerous universities:</p>