<p>since I am an international student I'm afraid that I am not as knowledgable as everyone else on this board appears to be :). But I hope you'll be able to clarify some things for me. </p>
<p>First of all, yes, I am going to apply to Harvard University Class of 2010. </p>
<p>I consider Harvard THE school equipped with all the qualities I am looking for in a university. However, I am not quite sure about HOW to apply. </p>
<p>All I can say for sure is that I am going to apply; what really strikes me as difficult is the choice between EA or ED.</p>
<p>If I apply ED, is it going to increase my chances? What's the exact difference? Can I apply to more than one school EA (not necessarily Ivies, but other, smaller schools? ) What's the EA/ED acceptance rate? </p>
<p>And: Are November SAT II test scores still acceptable for EA consideration?</p>
<p>Harvard has Single Choice Early Action (SCEA) which means, you can only apply to one college early, but that the decision is not binding. Therefore, you are also free to apply Regular Decision (RD) to other colleges and you need not decide until May 1 among the colleges that have accepted you. You are not free to apply EA or ED to other colleges. In Early Decision, if you are accepted, you are bound to matriculate. With EA, you may apply to other colleges that have the EA policy (eg, you may apply to both Chicago and MIT) and you may also apply RD to other colleges. November scores are acceptable for EA consideration. The exception to ED and SCEA concerns applying to colleges that have rolling admissions deadlines.</p>
<p>If Harvard is the school you want to go to, then I'd suggest applying EA... I'm going to apply EA as well, and I will be taking at least one SAT II in November.
However, if you think you'd rather "play the field" by applying to more schools and seeing different financial aid packages, how u like the campus, environment, etc... then u might want to wait until RD.</p>
<p>the acceptance rate for EA student is traditionally higher at every school I can think of than for RD. Harvard will tell you it's because they receive more qualified applicants and can accept a larger number. I think that's debatable, but one can't argue with the figures. Good luck!</p>