My S19’s experience w/ ED couldn’t have been better. At his college you do get quite a boost w/ approx 50% of the class coming from ED 1 or 2 w/ an approx 30% acceptance boost. He was a decently competitive candidate but not a superstar at a T 30 LAC.
32 ACT, 4.3 WGPA, varsity athlete who got hurt and not recruited, geographic diversity
He actually fought us for 2 yrs on seeing this school as being too small and too rural, even though he was pretty much set on a small LAC. Then the coach showed a little interest so he went to see it finally fall of senior year. Fell in love.
Even though he got hurt a couple weeks later and the recruiting never materialized, it didn’t matter. He was already hooked.
So far it’s been the best decision! He takes part in a club sport that won’t further injure him, has a small campus job, writes for the school paper, plenty of friends (though not dating yet), and attends LGBTQ meetings. He’s doing exceptionally well academically as well as socially and emotionally. There’s a quiet confidence about him that I hadn’t anticipated so quickly. He just seems more comfortable with himself now.
I know ED isn’t for everyone but for my son it was great. He was able to enjoy his senior year much more as there was so much less angst. With his injury suddenly ending his career, I don’t want to even begin imagining how he would’ve coped w/ that as well as apps and decisions.