Hearing things about EA vs. RD. True?

<p>So what i have been hearing is this:</p>

<p>That at schools such as santa clara, u of miami, northeastern etc (good but not ivy/great schools) that the reason the % admitted in EA might be higher is due to a more competative applicant pool. What i mean is this. The kids that apply EA to these type of schools are organized, have good grades and want to find out quick that they are going to college rather than have to wait and be unsure about there ivys and what not. Is this an appropraite claim to make? Actually a Santa Clara admissions counselor told me this in a nut shell and i was wonding if it is legit....I feel like it, it makes sense</p>

<p>any insight?</p>

<p>bump 10 char</p>

<p>This is probably the truth. For non-binding early action programs, the kids that apply early often are the students that are on top of everything: their grades, their activities, their social life, and obviously their college apps. If they have them done by November 1, there's no reason not to send them to a non-binding early admissions process. Usually for early action, schools rate the students against a standard more than each other. If they have a lot of strong applicants, they'll take them and cut the excess later in RD.</p>

<p>i heard that they still compare them with the rest of the students and the better students are usually in EA.</p>

<p>any bumps?</p>

<p>i thought this would be good topic to discuss... i guess not lol :(</p>

<p>Well this concept is pretty much accepted for most people. There's really nothing to discuss. If you consider the situation, it works out as it should.</p>

<p>yeah, but you get to know your decision a lot sooner in EA which is def. a plus.</p>

<p>The way things are looking right now, a lot of kids applying to "top" colleges are gonna be getting there decisions at RD time. The major increase in early action applications across the country is definitely going to result in a lot of kids being deferred to RD.</p>

<p>i have just come to the conclusion that someone with mediocre stats applying to a good school (not "top" colleges) is looked at as better in the RD pool rather than in the EA pool</p>

<p>Yes, that's often the case. Most schools suggest EA only for "strong" candidates. If you don't feel like you're a surefire bet for a school, then it's probably not worth the effort to get your app done early when you'd end up getting deferred to RD.</p>

<p>Oh, then sucks for me. :P</p>

<p>Actually, I think your chance depends on what college you are applying to. A lot of good students may apply to a mediocre college, but a student (like me) who themselves are mediocre would have a better chance of getting in ED...but you probably don't mean ED, hm? Just EA?</p>

<p>Yeah. With ED, schools realize there is some extra desire there. They realize that this student is willing to give up going anywhere else if he/she can just get in there. That actually can weigh on an ED admission decision.</p>

<p>With EA, on the other hand, you don't know if a student is applying early because he/she really likes the school or just got the app done early. There's no way to officially determine that. So some would argue the EA process is actually more difficult than RD for most schools, since the EA applicants are often more qualified.</p>

<p>ive also heard that during RD..... they try and fill their class... which meeans more room for kids with mediocre stats.. i dunno about this one?</p>