<p>With Michigan's new attitude of taking applicants they 100% want and deferring the rest, it feels like early action is becoming more and more pointless. EA could even be seen as penalizing because one wouldn't get as much time to perfect essays as someone applying RD. Why doesn't Michigan add an ED option to those who aren't using it as an ivy fall-back? It would certainly give them more control over their yield.</p>
<p>I don’t think they need it. Michigan has been pretty good with yield. If anything they have slightly over enrolled the past couple years. Effectively the concept of EA as practiced is pretty similar to ED in that they admit who they want out of the early appliers and fill the rest of the class in from the late appliers. Michigan students have always applied and knew to apply early to UofM…for at least a decade if not longer even when Michigan was rolling. The Nov. 1 cut-off captures the kids that really want to attend and the result is the same as an ED school: admit, deny or defer.</p>
<p>It is an interesting question nicholaskeller. If Michigan wants to have the selectivity figures of a private elite (which is by no means necessary to maintain its current lofty reputation as one of the best universities in the World), there is no quicker or surer way of doing it than to replace the EA option to ED. Overnight, Michigan’s admit rate would drop from 30% to 20%. But is it necessary? I do not think so. I prefer the less intrusive EA option.</p>
<p>I’m not a big fan of ED because ED is kind of elitist in the aspect that those who ED tend to be able to pay the tuition costs easier. EA works well for the University; it functions as a filter for those who really want to attend without putting any financial pressure on the student (which I think works well)</p>
<p>As a lucky in-stater, I think ED would be problematic for instate kids, and I suspect its public nature is what has UMich doing EA instead.</p>
<p>Consider, for example, a top in-state student who has applied to a number of Ivies but for financial reasons, not ED. Michigan might be a top choice for them, but a first among equals. A public institution should not “bind” said kid into attendance under those circumstances 
Nor should Michigan, by attrition, give up its opportunity to add that top scholar to its admit pool ;)</p>
<p>^ I do think otherwise that ED may be an issue for OOS kids instead. Since UMich would meet the need only for in state students, they would feel more secure to apply ED than OOS.</p>
<p>Anyway, I don’t see any need or reason for UMich to do ED. What they should do is to admit less student and then make use of the wait list to fill the empty seats if any.</p>
<p>I also don’t think it is not fair to the students apply EA. Students who are not ready to apply EA should not do so, or he/she will be deferred anyway. EA is mainly for qualified students that are ready for the applications in terms of credential and essays. Although there is rarely rejection from EA, it would be better for some students to take the time for revising the essay and to achieve better credential before RD.</p>
<p>I think that ED is just a shameful way for some private schools to perpetuate their overinflated opinion of themselves. Of course USNWR rewards them for doing it, so that isn’t going to change. Michigan however, should never lower themselves to this obvious ratings ploy. </p>
<p>We wish Michigan offered ED so DS could absolutely indicate that he would yield. U-M has an issue with his high school using U-M as a backup which is NOT the case with DS but it’s only words with EA.</p>
<p>How would ED make a difference to a school like Choate? It is apparent that almost no one would use it.</p>
<p>It might make a difference to one lovely kid…</p>
<p>I know ChoatieMom. Good luck to your son. :-)</p>
<p>“Anyway, I don’t see any need or reason for UMich to do ED. What they should do is to admit less student and then make use of the wait list to fill the empty seats if any.”</p>
<p>Based on statements made by the university roughly 1 month ago, I believe this is precisely the route that the university will take in the next cycle.</p>
<p>Good luck :)</p>
<p>So now that we have seen the results of this year’s early action, does anyone agree with me?</p>
<p>No, not ED. The admissions dept would be inundated with applications past the ED due date and could not handle that late load. The ED apps may be 1/3 of EA and they still need to fill the class and review each application well. </p>
<p>I also just don’t see ED as a good tool for a public U with limited need based funds Accepted students would then still be bowing out due to financial reasons.</p>
<p>Duplicate </p>
<p>I would have to agree… lol</p>
<p>Don’t quote me on this, but I am pretty sure no public institutions offer early decision. However, when I was an OOS applicant, I did wish that Michigan offered it. While I think it would make sense given their new agenda with EA applicants, I do not think it is possible for public institutions because of the in-staters who want to weigh other financial options. Perhaps they should offer both like the University of Miami does?</p>
<p>Actually, Miami of Ohio (a public university) offers both ED and EA. However, Miami is the exception.</p>
<p>William & Mary also offers ED. </p>
<p><a href=“Early Decision | William & Mary”>http://www.wm.edu/admission/undergraduateadmission/how-to-apply/freshmanapplicants/earlydecision/index.php</a></p>