<p>so................
Northwestern apparently doesn't defer its ED applicants.
good thing or bad thing?</p>
<p>Good thing</p>
<p>is that because if an applicant is on the edge, and the school would like to get him/her into the university if it had the option of defering and observing how the applicant performs in the senior year, but it doesn't?</p>
<p>no, it's because any applicant who isn't admitted ED has no chance of being admitted RD, either. The admissions criteria are exactly the same for both rounds.</p>
<p>Good thing. You can get on with your life and decision-making, possibly taking an ED2 shot at a school that offers it, rather than hoping against the tallest of odds that they'd take you later.</p>