<p>This thread should be stickied...</p>
<p>^ Agreed. Remember, applying ED REALLY increases your chances for admission, so if your heart is set on a specific college, or you're not sure you'll be competitive enough to get in RD, applying ED helps. Sometimes it is worth it to suck up the 'flexibility factor' to get into a more competitive and hopefully better school. Of course, applying ED can be the thing that pushes the applicant who'd--be teetering on the threshold of gaining admission, but has nothing really clear to cause adcoms to admit--in.</p>
<p>why does EA exist? I am really confused by it, I mean it is not binding, is it just for nervous people that want to know really quickly if they have been accepted?</p>
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why does EA exist?
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<p>It also demonstrates interest.</p>
<p>^ Really? I don't think EA does anything more than allow students to apply early. Only ED demonstrates interest.</p>
<p>whatever...it's very convenient to know ahead of time that you'll already been accepted to a school, so i'm not complaining</p>
<p>Could you also explain guaranteed transfer?</p>
<p>Also, can an applicant use the common ap when applying early?</p>
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why does EA exist?
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</p>
<p>SCEA demonstrates interest because you're only applying to one school AND you have flexibility, so this is my personal favorite.</p>
<p>Unrestricted EA can also demonstrate interest because you're taking the time, early in the college application cycle, to apply. If you're accepted it also gives the college a chance to lure you with all kinds of mailings, phone calls, etc. "MATRICULATE HERE!" they scream.</p>
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it's very convenient to know ahead of time that you'll already been accepted to a school
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<p>Definitely true cory123! It's a huge stress reliever if you've been accepted by December. For the same reason a lot of guidance counselors suggest that students should consider applying rolling admissions to a safety early in the cycle. Also, if you are deferred or rejected, it's also a chance to reevaluate and perfect your other college applications so that they're stronger than your early app.</p>
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Could you also explain guaranteed transfer?
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<p>mj93, generally "guaranteed transfer" is an individual agreement between the school and the student that states that if a student meets specific requirements, he or she is guaranteed a future transfer spot in a certain college and major. For example, some UC schools use guaranteed transfers with select California community colleges. UCI's Transfer Admission Guarantee (TAG) program works in the following manner:</p>
<ol>
<li>Attend a TAG participating community college.</li>
<li>Take at least one transferable English course, one transferable math course, have a GPA of over 3.00.</li>
<li>Fulfill all other UC admissions requirements.</li>
<li>Complete UC admissions application.</li>
<li>Meet with a UCI TAG representative who evaluates your application and possibly offers the TAG contract. (Courses you have to take and GPA you have to meet before transferring).</li>
<li>Fulfill the requirements of the TAG contract. No need to worry, if you complete them you're guaranteed a future spot!</li>
<li>Matriculate as a junior at UCI.</li>
</ol>
<p>I hate ED...the consequences of breaking it ruin your whole college career basically...EA > ED</p>
<p>hmmm... i was under the impression you could apply non restrictive EA anywhere even if you applied somewhere ED. where could i find this information from specific colleges?
it sounds to me like a prententious georgetown thing.</p>
<p>Awesome post. Can you define "matriculation" for me?</p>
<p>How much lower are acceptance rates for internationals at top-tier schools??</p>
<p>This should be stickied. One of the most helpful posts on here!</p>
<p>RootBeerCaesar - WHY would you break it. The bottom line is most top students can really make it at any school. So if you end up getting into a more competitive school as a result of ED, I don't think you're doing too badly. I think many MANY college counselors encourage students to apply ED or REA/SCEA for those same reasons.</p>
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Can you define "matriculation" for me?
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<p>brosfam, "to matriculate" is a verb that means to attend a college or university. So, you can be accepted to many colleges but can only matriculate at one. "Matriculation" then, is just the noun form. </p>
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How much lower are acceptance rates for internationals at top-tier schools??
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<p>aisgzdavinci, I'm assuming you mean how much lower acceptance rates for internationals are through ED/SCEA/EA. Well, some schools like MIT offer ED/SCEA/EA only to US citizens and permanent residents. At most schools, financial aid is also severely limited for international students so ED is dangerous. That's really the only relevant information here because each school has different policies and acceptance practices regarding international students. I suggest researching the school website for admissions procedures and statistics (scutler, this sentence also addresses your question). They generally have an international student section.</p>
<p>And to all the experienced and knowledgeable posters out there, do jump in to answer questions! Thanks! (=</p>
<p>Two questions:
Is rolling admissions basically like early action, but it just accepts as it gets applicants instead of accepting/rejecting all at once? My safety does rolling admissions starting at the beginning of September, so should I apply rolling just to know if I got in somewhere? I mean, it's not binding or anything, right?</p>
<p>Also, what does "Priority" mean? Whitman has November 15 deadlines for both ED and "Priority" applications and I haven't been able to find any information of what that means. Is it kind of like EA?</p>
<p>I found the Priority thing on the CollegeBoard.com deadlines, but on Whitman's site it doesn't mention it at all. It does, however, mention Spring Admission for midyear applicants. Perhaps they are the same thing?</p>
<p>Rolling does not in any way violate a ED/SCEA contract so if you're safety offers rolling admissions, it can be a very good idea to apply earlier. It's not binding at all.</p>
<p>I must say I've not heard of "Priority" applications. I'd contact Whitman directly since you must have interest in this school. Please post any information you find!</p>
<p>Listen to sybbie, everyone.:) OP, thanks for that valuable info, for passing it on to others.</p>
<p>vgcoder & others considering EA/ED:</p>
<p>I cannot stress enough how hooks are important in the Early Round at the most selective/most competitive schools. The Elites have generous endowments & high yields. They are not nearly as concerned with that guaranteed tuition + guaranteed yield that an LAC is, or that a college just under that radar is. OTOH, for a true star -- one likely to be admitted to several Elites in any round -- it's an excellent way to go, because an Ivy, for example, may be concerned about "losing" that student in the RD round to a competing peer school.</p>
<p>More than likely, a merely excellent student without at least a very strong tip (but better, a hook) will be deferred to the RD round. This is even more true if there are classmates of that student applying to that same school in the Early Round, and their records or as strong or stronger than yours. The college will then want to wait & compare all those records together, with the later round, or (if there's a star among that group), admit only the obvious star and defer all the others. This is the typical pattern.</p>
<p>It's really best to be happily surprised, & do what sybbie suggests. Do not plan on, count on, an Early admission in this unpredictable, volatile college admissions market, in which you cannot see against whom you are competing (except your own class, possibly). If you have the time & fortitude to craft an excellent Early application while not affecting the quality & progress of your RD apps, then do so. But most parents recommend actually applying first to a rolling admissions school in early fall, plus at least one safety that you feel comfortable about attending (if that's not rolling admissions), then go ahead with matches & reaches, including any Early apps. You can compose your statements of purpose to the various RD choices, save them onto your computer, get all your ducks in a row, so to speak, so when those Early decisions come out, you still have options if you need them, and you won't feel as if you're starting from scratch & at a point of negativity.</p>