<p>Colleges don't release this kind of information, so you have to glean what you can from anecdotal evidence, academic studies, books by ex-admissions directors and such. My educated guess is that it boils down to this: At a school like Wesleyan, the acceptance rate is substantially higher for ED applicants than for the regular pool (about 40% ED v. 26% RD). However, the ED pool includes a good number of legacies and recruited athletes who are basically locks for admission. When you back those kids out, you're left with an ED group whose collective chances are probably only slightly higher than they would be during the RD round. That group includes some very high academic performers who would be great candidates whenever they applied, and some others at the lower end of the school's academic averages who are hoping they can come in just over the bar. So it's very hard to calculate how much any individual's chances are improved by applying ED.</p>
<p>Though I agree with froshdad, I also think that many ED applicants are typically students who can pay fully for the tuition and are perhaps slightly less academically qualified than other applicants.</p>
<p>Alright, thanks! I'm legacy, as you may have guessed (father/uncle/aunt) but I didn't think it would weigh much into the decision - as fairly it shouldn't.</p>
<p>Onilawlet, I am confused about your observation of ED students who pay full tuition. I am misunderstanding, they may pay full tuition but that has no bearing on acceptence, correct?</p>
<p>Lancestone: Correct that Wesleyan admissions are need-blind. However, the early decision pool may attract a higher proportion of families who don't need as much financial help, because those accepted early obviously won't have the opportunity to weigh aid offers from multiple schools.</p>
<p>Ashnazg: Being a legacy definitely helps you in the early decision round and it's a plus for regular decision, too. That assumes, of course, that you have the academic record to qualify for admission anyway. Good luck!</p>