<p>what in your mind is a better philosophy for early decision:</p>
<p>1) shoot for the stars and apply to somewhere that is a super reach</p>
<p>2) be reasonable and apply somewhere a bit less selective where you think you have a good chance at admission</p>
<p>i'm interesting in hearing what people think</p>
<p>I think #2 is the better bet.</p>
<p>Yes, it can provide a little bit of an edge, but IMHO applying ED will not make much difference to longshot candidates.</p>
<p>Some of the schools that are just one tick down in prestige want to seperate those kids who really want to be there from all the other kids with similar stats who are treating them as backups. This is where ED helps.</p>
<p>My D did not bother applying to any longshots. She found a few moderate reaches that she really liked. Her stats were in the zone at both schools, but the selectivity of the schools made them reaches. Her ED1 app was denied. Her ED2 app was accepted.</p>
<p>I think that you should ED at the school you like most, whether that be a super reach or a good bet. It is binding, after all.</p>
<p>Obviously you should be ready to be bound; I looked at the OP's the question as strategic.</p>
<p>I mean if your have 600/600/600 and no hook, all the ED in the world is not going to make any difference at Yale. But at Conn College or Pitzer, it might help.</p>
<p>I guess my advice is, just don't have "not in this lifetime" schools as your dream schools. If you love Yale and are in range for admission, it is not dumb to try it ED. However, if you love Yale AND you also love Vassar, it might be a strategic advantage to apply to Vassar ED, thereby being admitted to a school you love, when Yale EA might have been a no or a deferral and you'd have lost your chance to use ED at Vassar.</p>
<p>Oh... i see where you're coming from. I agree with that. :)</p>
<p>apply ED to your number one school, if you have somewhat of a chance there. whether it's a huge reach, a little reach, or a good match, if you have some shot and it's your favorite, apply there ED. otherwise you'll be sorry later and wish you had seen if you could have gotten in...</p>