<p>Northwestern is my #1 choice. If I get in, I'm going to go there, but I wouldn't consider myself in the top tier of applicants, I would fall in with the average applicants. Is it a wiser decision to apply regular or early? I have heard that early decision is always the top applicants, and I'm wondering if there is a better chance to get in regular decision and if early decision is really that much more competitive and harder to get in.</p>
<p>I heard NU was getting rid of early decision.</p>
<p>No, it will continue w/ED.</p>
<p>Yes, Early Decision applicants are usually those that do indeed match or exceed some of the average qualifications at the school. Thus, the ED pool will be more competitive. If your senior year grades will help you and show an upward trend then you should definitley consider Regular Decision.</p>
<p>Oh my bad, it was Harvard and Princeton. NU said no.</p>
<p>ED is much easier</p>
<p>ED is easier...</p>
<p>from what I've heard, most EA/ED are competitive students, but you'll just get deferred to RD if you don't make it...so it doesn't matter unless you just wanna find out early</p>
<p>Wrong, scribbledhearts. NU doesn't offer deferrals; if you apply early that's your one shot.</p>
<p>For all the people saying that Early Decision is easier, you fail to realize that the number of applications each year has continued to rise and many people are assuming that to maximize their potential they should apply Early Decision. However, this also entails that more qualified people will be applying and thus Northwestern will have some slack when it comes to accepting the only very strong candidates. Thus, there seems to be no difference between ED and RD in this case. </p>
<p>At least, that's what I make of this whole thing. I would condone applying ED unless you are 100% sure you want to go to this school and not simply to get an added boost. Defeats the purpose in my opinion and I hope schools begin to follow Harvard and Princeton's lead.</p>
<p>sk0116 I don't know where you are getting your info, but anything I've read indicates that the average SAT score in the ED round is somewhat lower at NU, and the acceptance rate higher. Each year that edge seems to be shrinking, but it's still worth doing if you don't have to compare financial aid packages.</p>
<p>wrong dfleish, I didn't say NU, I said most EA/ED programs</p>
<p>scribbledhearts-lame response-In reference to deferral, state the facts not your opinion!</p>
<p>go ED. the really competitive students will be EAing stanford, princeton, MIT, and etc, not northwestern =P</p>
<p>If NU is really your number 1 choice, apply ED. One of NU's big deciding factors is interest - since they know students often apply to other top schools, a strong show of interest in NU specifically is very important. Applying ED shows extremely strong interest, and this can only help. </p>
<p>However, as dfleish mentioned, NU doesn't defer, so be sure your app is as strong as you can get it before you send it in. </p>
<p>Good luck!</p>
<p>"from what I've heard, most EA/ED are competitive students, but you'll just get deferred to RD if you don't make it...so it doesn't matter unless you just wanna find out early"</p>
<p>not true, northwestern does not refer ED rejections to the RD pool, however applying ED will give you a better shot of being accepted if NU is your first choice school</p>
<p>Regardless of difficulty, if NU is your #1, then by all means apply ED. If you do get in, you will not only find out sooner but also have a much more enjoyable senior year. If you don't get in, then also know that sooner and recover and focus on your other schools.</p>
<p>Fewer people apply ED. There is a higher % of strong applicants ED. There may be stronger applicants RD (got into HYS EA or applying to HPME, etc). The strongest RD applicants are overshadowed by larger numbers of weaker applicnats RD. Either way, you supposedly have the same chances of getting in, but have a slight boost ED because you have to go. I would apply ED becasue you know sooner. Chances are if you are rejected ED you would be rejected RD (NU already admitted the ED applicants who would have beaten you out) but if you get in ED you may not have RD for whatever reason.</p>
<p>colleges want to admit students that will GO to their schools. I mean really smart kids get into Harvard, Princeton, MIT, Stanford regular decision. But all those schools are worried: Will he come here if accepted? See thats the thing, while the pool is more competitive, u are competing against kids with stellar standardized scores and academics...but if u can atleast be somewhat competitive u got a chance. I mean u will stand out from all the people that have perfect scores if ur essay/recs/etc. are much better than thiers. I dont know much about it...but I applied Early Decision to Penn.</p>