An admissions officer actually confirmed that there is a competitive advantage to applying Early Action though it isn’t enough to make up for improving SATs if you’re planning to retake. And don’t count on your October SATs to help. If your app is among the first read it might get processed before results are in and they may not notice and update their notes. Or they might. You’ll never know.
He didn’t come out and say it but that’s what he said, if you get what I mean.