<p>Is F&M more difficult to get into regular decision than early? If so, how much harder?</p>
<p>US News and World report lists the following regarding F&M's Admission Statistics</p>
<p>
[quote]
2004-2005 Admissions Statistics</p>
<p>Selectivity: More Selective
Overall acceptance rate: 49%
Early-decision acceptance rate: 72%
Acceptance rate (excluding early-action and early-decision students): 47% </p>
<p>Total applicants: 4,070
Total acceptances: 2,010
Total freshman enrollment: 531</p>
<p>Proportion of freshman enrolled from early action and early decision: 42%
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<p>Since 72% of Early Decision Applicants are accepted ( 310 ED applicants, 223 acceptances ) as opposed to 47% of RD Applicants ( 3760 RD applicants , 1787 acceptances ) it appears that ED provides a significant boost. But you would need to know more about the stats of the applicants. Schools frequently claim that the Early pool is a "Strong Group" of applicants.</p>
<p>My daughter (currently an F&M freshman) was accepted second-round ED. When the admissions rep visited her high school, she made a point of telling the students that (qualified) applicants had a better chance of being accepted if they applied regular or second-round ED. I guess she was right. My daughter's high school transcript was not stellar, but she has a passion (animals), had a lot of interesting activities, great recommendations, and fantastic SATs. I can't help but believe that they saw her potential. She is doing fairly well for a freshman and is happy with the kids in her dorm, loves the campus, and thinks that her professors are "ace". All in all, it was a perfect choice.</p>