<p>Does ED really help your chances?
I mean I do see a slightly higher % acceptance
but couldn't that account for the athlete/legacy that apply early?</p>
<p>It's hard to say, as (yay psych class!) correlation doesn't prove causation.</p>
<p>Although ED admit. % rates may be higher, many facts aren't released, such as athlete/legacy and whether or not the applicant pool's average stats are greater (or worse) than the RD's pool.</p>
<p>I guess it really just comes down to personal choice, and whether or not you want to be locked into one school and one fin. aid. package. To each his own.</p>
<p>Yes, it does. According to a recent Harvard study, it can increase your chances by as much as 20 percent. Unfortunately, I don't have the link. </p>
<p>Besides, applying ED shows colleges that they're your No. 1, and colleges respond well to that kind of gesture. Also, the myth that the early decision pools are stronger is very false, and in fact a recent study (sorry for citing all these studies without links... you may have to take my word for it) showed that legacy students who applied ED and were accepted, actually had LOWER test scores than the RD mean.</p>
<p>what about scholarships...
generally in ED u have to commit unconditionally.</p>
<p>So they could technically give u nothing and u still have to commit :S</p>
<p>that is why you shouldn't apply ED if financial aid is a concern</p>
<p>
[quote]
According to a recent Harvard study, it can increase your chances by as much as 20 percent.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>But that does not take into account other factors for why it may be so.</p>
<p>^ Check your facts.</p>
<p>Take a look at the September 2001 issue of the Atlantic.</p>
<p>
[quote]
The real question about the ED skew is whether the prospects for any given student differ depending on when he or she applies. Last fall Christopher Avery, of Harvard's Kennedy School of Government, and several colleagues produced smoking-gun evidence that they do. The authors analyzed five years' worth of admissions records from fourteen selective colleges, involving a total of 500,000 applications, and interviewed 400 college students, sixty high school seniors, and thirty-five counselors. They found that at the ED schools an early application was worth as much in the competition for admission as scoring 100 extra points on the SAT. For instance, a student with a combined SAT score of 1400 to 1490 (out of 1600) who applied early was as likely to be accepted as a regular-admission student scoring 1500 to 1600. An early student scoring 1200 to 1290 was more likely to be accepted than a regular student scoring 1300 to 1390 ...</p>
<p>... The Avery study's findings were the more ** striking because what admissions officers refer to as **"hooked" applicants were excluded from the study. These are students given special consideration, and therefore likely to be admitted despite lower scores, because of "legacy" factors (alumni parents or other relatives, plus past or potential donations from the family), specific athletic recruiting, or affirmative action.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>Bottom Line</p>
<p>ED gives applicants an advantage. Case closed.</p>
<p>That's pretty good evidence...</p>
<p>You should search for other threads on this topic. It has been much discussed here and on other sites.</p>
<p>To add my 2-cents, if you don't have a hook, but your stats for the school make you competitive, then ED might give you an edge, since you have signaled a commitment to the school. Since you must enroll if accepted, their enrollment stats get a boost.</p>
<p>But only go the ED route if you are absolutely sure about the school since there's no turning back. As mentioned by the other posts, you must also make sure you have a good understanding of your financial aid needs.</p>
<p>Most of the time the acceptance rates can be anywhere from 10% (Upenn) to 30-40% higher than the regular. Of course, the unknown factor is whether the Early Decision pool is also a lot better as well</p>
<p>nice article too, im bookmarking it, I'm EDing to PEnn and I like how they specifically discuss penn in the opening....still I cant see how any sane person would use Penn as a safety!!</p>
<p>Back in the stone ages when I applied to college, Penn was a safety. Things have definitely changed.</p>
<p>Haha - Supposedly, in 1958 Harvard accepted 35 percent of its applicants. </p>
<p>TALK about safety! </p>
<p>I laugh in my head when I see these old guys wearing their Harvard sweatshirts. It's like, good for you -- I'm glad you were rich and white.</p>
<p>ED is non-binding if their financial offer doesn't meet your demonstrated need. What you DO sacrifice is the bargaining tools of several other colleges finaid packages to convinve them to give you more money.</p>
<p>skp21, if anything I think when it comes to financial aid early decision is a good option because even if you can't pay for it, the college still can release you. That way you already know that you have one college of the burden and can start thinking about the others in April.</p>
<p>To answer the topic title: No, ED is terrible! It's a major cause of low self-esteem in men that have it. Fortunately, nowadays there is a wide variety of drugs able to...</p>
<p>wait, which ED are we talking about again?</p>
<p>ouch...isn't that hitting below the belt...lol.</p>
<p>Depends on the school -</p>
<p>Middlebury has a 2% difference - who cares.
Other schools can have double the odds.</p>
<p>
[quote]
No, ED is terrible! It's a major cause of low self-esteem in men that have it.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>I've got to be honest- whenever I hear/read/say "ED," that's the first thing that comes to mind. I guess I'm not the most mature person in that way, but I blame my high school for that.</p>
<p>i believe washu,upenn, and nwu proudly said they love ed...</p>
<p>
[quote]
^ Check your facts.</p>
<p>Take a look at the September 2001 issue of the Atlantic.</p>
<p>Quote:
The real question about the ED skew is whether the prospects for any given student differ depending on when he or she applies. Last fall Christopher Avery, of Harvard's Kennedy School of Government, and several colleagues produced smoking-gun evidence that they do. The authors analyzed five years' worth of admissions records from fourteen selective colleges, involving a total of 500,000 applications, and interviewed 400 college students, sixty high school seniors, and thirty-five counselors. They found that at the ED schools an early application was worth as much in the competition for admission as scoring 100 extra points on the SAT. For instance, a student with a combined SAT score of 1400 to 1490 (out of 1600) who applied early was as likely to be accepted as a regular-admission student scoring 1500 to 1600. An early student scoring 1200 to 1290 was more likely to be accepted than a regular student scoring 1300 to 1390 ...</p>
<p>... The Avery study's findings were the more striking because what admissions officers refer to as "hooked" applicants were excluded from the study. These are students given special consideration, and therefore likely to be admitted despite lower scores, because of "legacy" factors (alumni parents or other relatives, plus past or potential donations from the family), specific athletic recruiting, or affirmative action.
Bottom Line</p>
<p>ED gives applicants an advantage. Case closed.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>That was 2001.
This is 2007.
College has become a lot more competitive even in the last half decade, so stats from 2001 aren't as definitive as you might think.</p>
<p>With that being said, I've always thought that ED helped you a lot.
In the competition nowadays, when there are MANY excellent and qualified students applying for colleges, admissions officers have to look at other factors more and more. ED could potentially get you into a school.</p>