<p>Please help! I'm so confused/conflicted as to whether or not I should apply EA or ED to one of my top-choice schools. Here's my predicament:</p>
<p>-my two top-choice schools are Yale and Princeton</p>
<p>-I originally wanted to apply SCEA to Yale (so I could compare Financial Aid packages and do overnight visits at several schools... not be bound to just one)</p>
<p>-I've heard that I won't get accepted early to Yale, because most people in the EA pool are either recruited athletes, minorities, uber-geniuses, etc.</p>
<p>-then I considered applying ED to Princeton, because I've heard that in the early decision pool (vs. early action) my chances would be considerably higher, despite my lack of a "hook"</p>
<p>-then I thought I would be better off not to apply early anywhere because supposedly the Regular Decision pool is less cut-throat competitive</p>
<p>-now I'm thinking I should definately apply early at one of these two schools, because with the rare chance I should be deferred (instead of the more likely outcome -- rejected), I would have a better chance in the Regular Decision pool</p>
<p>So... my question is: what is the best choice? Should I apply early at my no. 1 choice (Yale EA)? Should I apply early to my no. 2 choice (Princeton ED)? or should I apply to all schools RD? I would also like to know... are Yale and P.ton more likely to defer or reject an applicant who isn't accepted in the early round? Thanks so much for your advice! Please only post if you somewhat know what you are talking about and aren't just going by rumor, b/c as you can see, I've already heard plenty of uninformed opinions which aren't helping me at all!!</p>
<p>I don't know if you've read the new Princeton Viewbook (just got it yesterday, actually), but they specifically state that rejecting during ED is far more rare than deferring.</p>
<p>To quote directly, "Most applicants who are not offered admission in mid-December will have their applications carefully reviewed again during the Regular Decision phase of our process. We may refuse admission to a small number of applicants whom we feel we are unlikely to admit later in the process." (Also interesting, although less related, was what followed here.) "Early Decision candidates whose applications are deferred to the Regular Decision phase should not assume there are shortcomings in their academic or personal promise for Princeton. Typically, a good number of those students are ultimately offered admission."</p>
<p>If you are not qualified otherwise, EA or ED will not help you. Schools that defer a large number usually don't take a large percentage from the ED/EA pool in the RD round. Harvard defers almost everybody that is not accepted, but then takes almost none from the EA deferred pool. Yale defers only a few, but takes 16% (almost as high as EA) from the EA deferred pool in the RD round. You can look around Princeton's sight and probably find the numbers of ED deferreds that were taken. Byerly probably has the numbers available. Bottom line, all deferrals are not equal.</p>
<p>Wait...how does limiting the number of A's = grade whoring?? </p>
<p>Also, princeton's grading policies is for whole departments, not individual classes and most students say it has not made a noticeable difference.</p>