<p>I've heard that the ED or EA acceptance rates are higher partly because of a stronger applicant group. However, in my school and surrounding community, only people with low stats apply early to a possible reach. The really strong students always tend to wait for RD.</p>
<p>I think it depends whether it is EA or ED. I'd say people with more dedication and lower stats apply ED but that may not be the case for EA. I applied ED because my stats are subpar compared to the average RD applicant.</p>
<p>I heard you should only apply early if you meet or exceed the qualifications, but that was just one person.</p>
<p>Many ED applicants are legacies who have had their heart set on one school since childhood.</p>
<p>The ED numbers are higher at top schools because of recruited athletes, legacies and other "friend" of the college who are strong armed into applying early or losing the edge. At colleges below the top that worry about yield I think kids with borderline stats apply for a better shot.</p>
<p>You usually only apply EA if you do not want the colleges to see your senior grades. Of course, logically, the applicant pool is self-selected, meaning that usually the kids who are the most confident and want to get their apps out of the way will apply early. Other less confident kids will be taking tests that make it impossible for EA or ED, or they want colleges to see the upward trend in their GPA's. Either way, I think naturally EA is filled with more competitive people but colleges don't accept people based on their applicant pool. They accept people if they meet the requirements for their school (grades, character, personality, motivation, etc)</p>
<p>THe people who feel confident that what they have at that moment is their best and shows their best effort usually apply EA/ED, RD is usualyl for the rest who feel that they can improve their transcripts, or whatever else</p>
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You usually only apply EA if you do not want the colleges to see your senior grades.
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<p>st. aegis got it right.</p>
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Either way, I think naturally EA is filled with more competitive people but colleges don't accept people based on their applicant pool. They accept people if they meet the requirements for their school (grades, character, personality, motivation, etc)
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<p>College admissions is very much based on the applicant pool. Most selective colleges don't have any set "requirements" for grades and test scores and I have no idea how they would determine if applicants met "requirements" for character, personality and motivation. </p>
<p>AOs of selective colleges say over and over that they could fill two classes of qualified students, but they can only choose one....so they select the best class they can put together from the applicant pool.</p>
<p>I think people who have their stuff together by the ED deadlines and feel that their application is ready to be evaluated before first semester grades come in do tend to be very motivated. I'm not saying the RD people aren't, just that people who are able to get it together 2 months early tend to be very good students.</p>
<p>I applied ED to Lehigh University. I'm not a legacy, don't exceed requirements, etc. I simply had all my stuff together on time, and Lehigh is my first choice. I'm sure that's what 90% of ED applicants do. Also, I think ED shows you have a higher interest in the school (obviously), so it will increase your chances somewhat. About half of all students accepted into Lehigh are ED applicants, and I heard that the ED acceptance rate is about 80%. Lehigh does take "interest" into high consideration in the app process.</p>
<p>I was inform that usually students with good stats ( such as meeting school requirements, or exceeding ) apply early. They also tend to get accepted, and may set a expectation level to the students who do not apply as ED.</p>