<p>Would you say that I have a better chance at getting into Princeton ED than I do in Princeton RD? In comparison to say, Harvard, is Princeton ED easier than Harvard EA? (higher acceptance rate essentailly) keep in mind, I am a Canadian (thus international) student</p>
<p>Yes, significantly easier. Princeton ED is probably the best shot one has at getting the best education, if that makes sense. It's been estimated that applying ED at princeton is the equivalent of having an SAT score 250 points higher (new scale)</p>
<p>I forgot what Princeton's ED acceptance rate is, but I know it's many times its RD acceptance rate of 5%. So if Princeton is your first choice, absolutely apply ED.</p>
<p>I've heard all sorts of things...some say that your scores can be much lower and you can make it, others say that it's trickier given the fact that athletes (a greater percentage of students at P than at H, Y) and legacies make it trickier than it seems. </p>
<p>I'm not sure which to believe...there have been students who've been on the USA Today All-American High School Team (USA Today's list of "top 20" graduating seniors from the nation) who've been deferred ED (and rejected), and I know of at least two who suffered the same fate, but got into Yale RD (with a 5.6% acceptance rate). My guess is that yes, it probably is easier than Harvard SCEA, but don't take these things for granted.</p>
<p>I'm probably going the Harvard SCEA route; I like Harvard, Princeton, and Stanford, and I'd prefer not to locky myself out to possibilities.</p>
<p>"It's been estimated that applying ED at princeton is the equivalent of having an SAT score 250 points higher (new scale)"</p>
<p>^Well, guess who's the beneficiary of this: athletes, legacies, and absolute top-students. Because the ED pool consists mainly of these types of applicants, the acceptance rate therefore is higher.</p>
<p>Conclusion: STRONGER POOL = HIGHER ACCEPTANCE RATE. As a mediocre student, your chances are about the same.</p>