<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>This is just a feeling, but I think Yale is more likely to accept deferred students than Princeton. True, I was deferred --> accepted by pton, but I really don't know very many other people in the same situation.</p>
<p>I would suggest going with EA to Yale. ED to Princeton doesn't give you a huge edge (there are just as many recruited athletes, legacies and artists in the ED pool) and you might regret it forever if you didn't go with your #1. Just give your best shot and at least that's EA and not binding. Good luck.</p>
<p>Princeton ED is going to give you an edge but only if you are an "average" applicant with SAT scores on math and cr sections of at least 1400 and preferably 1450. If you did not do so well in school, sat etc., you won't gain an edge in either pool. If you are an excellent, extremely-high qualified applicant, then you would be chosen at any pool in Princeton ED or RD. ED unlike EA is bounding and so it has a better yield.
As to the financial aspect, I think Princeton is very straightforward. Use their online calculator to figure out the financial costs.</p>
<p>Both zante and ThePolishDude are right. ED at princeton will probably give you a bit of an edge, and their finaid is excellent. You should definitely apply early somewhere. However, it really sounds like Yale is your first choice. So apply there. If you apply ED to princeton and get in, you're going to spend the rest of your life wondering what would have happened had you applied to Yale. Don't ever try to beat the system... you'll only end up regretting it. Apply early to your first choice.</p>
<p>Or if you apply ED to princeton and don't get in, and don't get into Yale RD, you will always wonder "would I have gotten into Yale if I had applied EA?" </p>
<p>It's true that Princeton barely rejects any EDers, but they also accept way less deferred people than Yale, who rejects many EA.</p>
<p>Hehe I try not to give people advice on which school is right for them, neither did I ask people for this kind of advice. I mean... if I influence you to apply to Princeton ED and you get in and are miserable there, you might look back and say, "ooohh that damned girl frozen-tears (or whatever), she's the one who got me into this hellhole." Same for Yale, lol.</p>
<p>The truth is that I don't know you as well as you do, and there really isn't a right answer except that if you have any reservation at all about applying binding ED anywhere, it's probably better not to.</p>