<p>generally, the early applicant pools are stronger than the regular applicant pools.</p>
<p>I read in one of Michele Hernandez's books that ED kids are usually a bit weaker, while EA kids are a bit stronger than RD kids. This isn't true right? ED kids are usually stronger candidates in the admissions process?</p>
<p>feedback?
thanks</p>
<p>ED kids are usually the kids who really really really want to go to a school but might not be what the school would consider a strong applicant. Because the student is applying to a binding admissions process, the school often realizes this and gives that some pull in their admissions decision. They realize that ED means real interest in the school.</p>
<p>EA, on the other hand, is for students who think they would have no problem beating out kids in the RD pool. Rather than waiting, they’d rather just get this decision out of the way before the new year. Since it isn’t binding, many studious applicants apply early just because they have their app finished in time. These students tend to be the better students in school with better scores et. al.</p>
<p>thank you.</p>
<p>so you agree with Hernandez’s view. I always thought that ED candidates were the stronger candidates in the admissions process.</p>
<p>what do you mean by “gives that some pull in their admissions decision”?</p>
<p>any more feedback welcome.</p>
<p>Welll, compared to the “average” applicant, ED applicants are relatively strong; however, in terms of what the school thinks is strong, ED applicants are a little weaker. EA is definitely stronger [usually, though it’s certainly not the case for the people applying from my HS].</p>
<p>“ED applicants are relatively strong; however, in terms of what the school thinks is strong, ED applicants are a little weaker.”</p>
<p>can you elaborate? so they’re “relatively strong” as in the standard criteria, such as GPA, EC’s, test scores but “a little weaker” to colleges in that they are less diverse (standard well-rounded kid)?</p>
<p>ED applicants tend to be wholly dedicated to the school. They know the school and want that school. They have passion, which can make up for lower grades/test scores/etc., although this is certainly not always true. EA applicants do not bind themselves to that school upon admission–they tend to be strategic decisions made by well-informed students. Well-informed students tend to be richer and better-prepared–thus, higher grades/scores/etc.</p>
<p>I have nothing to back this up: it’s what I would think looking at the question logically and others can probably help with how true it is.</p>
<p>I would think it would be harder for a student with only average stats to get admitted ED. When a student is admitted ED, the college knows that student’s stats will end up in its averages. However, if you look at an average college’s stats, you will probably be surprised at how low the yield rates actually are. In other words: a student with, for example, a lower SAT score wants to apply to a school. The school reviews the application with the ED pool, and chooses not to admit the student because admitted students must attend, ensuring that the lower SAT score will go into the school’s average.</p>
<p>When that same student applys RD, the college can use admissions stats from previous years and determine that there is only a 40% chance that a student with that SAT score will enroll. So, accepting the student is not an automatic guarentee that the student will enroll and add his scores into the average. And at this point, the college might know whether its stats can afford a lower score (if it is one of the last deadlines). </p>
<p>Were this true, it should be a discouragement from weakers students applying ED.</p>
<p>Carpe, that’s working under the assumption that strong applicants actually ARE applying ED. </p>
<p>As an example, I think the average SAT at Wake Forest is 1350. You’re suggesting that the 1400+ scorers should be admitted ED because they’ll bring up the stats. The problem is, are 1400+ scorers applying to Wake, or are they trying to ED Penn and Brown? I suspect the ED pool at Wake would consist of the 1200-1300 crowd.</p>
<p>Right, the best kids applying to the not-quite-the-top schools are probably applying early to one of the actual top schools because they would rather go there. A kid who is a strong candidate for, say, Wake Forest, probably knows that. He realizes that he can probably compete with almost anybody for admission at that school. In shorter terms, he’s a lock. Unless he passionately thinks Wake Forest is his first choice, he’ll likely be applying to more selective schools that he’s interested in.</p>
<p>Kids almost always use their ED application on their first-choice school. Most kids do strive to go to those top-tier schools, and often their first choice seems to be right above what is logically attainable. In order to make that last step up, they apply ED as a sign of interest in the hopes that such dedication will show through on their application. If it does, that would make up for their not-so-outstanding test scores/grades/whatever.</p>
<p>there is only one definitive study on this issue, and it showed that ED was worth 100 additional SAT points, once hooked candidates were factored out. But, the study was based on late '90s admissions (as was Michelle’s book), so not sure how valid it still is.</p>
<p>bump10char</p>
<p>at mediocre schools well i mean good schools, but not like ivy league schools… an average student has a better shot RD than EA, correct? (due to the different applicant pools…)</p>
<p>Correct. EA is usually filled with all the go-getters.</p>
<p>for a top 20 school, is the ED pool stronger or weaker than the RD pool?</p>
<p>thanks</p>
<p>I enjoy the lack of anything but anecdotal evidence.</p>
<p>There was a book out about early decision/action that actually studied those admitted early. The conclusion was that most of the kids who were accepted early were not as strong as the regular pool. (Was it “The Early Game”?) But that was a while ago and may no longer pertain. For that matter, until this year is over, we will not know how it is now.</p>
<p>For early candidates, I have noticed that the kids/families have to be at very least on the ball. True procrastinators are going to have a hard time making early deadlines. I know a bunch of my sons’ friends who were going to apply early barely made deadlines even with their parents pushing them along, and I mean the regular deadlines. In theory, the more motivated and stronger academic kids would thus be early, but it does not work that way because of the heavy role socioeconomics play in the early deadlines. For one thing, it is not smart to apply ED if you need or really want money and the ability to compare offers. Also, the schools that remind the kids of the early deadlines and help push them along are those really into the college scene for the most part.</p>
<p>I have noticed a disturbing trend of kids applying ED just to get that edge in admissions and to increase chances of not being rejected, applying to a school that is more likely to accept them, than a true first choice. My very close friend’s son is applying to a great school, but his mother tells me that she is a bit perturbed because she thinks he is doing so to get this thing over and has therefore “underpicked”. She worries that parental expectations and pressures have led to this, and they may have. There are kids who just hate to fail.</p>
<p>cptofthehouse, I partially agree with what you said in your last paragraph. I applied early decision, partially because I am afraid of getting rejected to a school I really want to go to. And also because, I admit, I wanted to get the whole process over with. However, this is because the college I applied ED to is my first choice and is quite selective, so I wanted to know right away whether I had a chance before concentrating on getting in to other colleges.</p>
<p>The college I am applying to is quite the reach for me. So I also agree that ED students may be the ones who are not exactly the strongest students for that college, but are definitely more passionate and committed. I find out in 16 days whether my passion and committment will have served me well in getting me into the school I really want to go to.</p>
<p>^^Getting the process over with is definitely a plus for EDers… My friends all think I “under-picked,” but I don’t think so AT ALL. They just think that everyone who is relatively above average can go to HYPSM… Yeah, no.</p>
<p>I have read so much about early candidates being stronger or weaker than the regular ones. From what I read in studies that were carefully done some years ago, those students admitted early tended to be “weaker” as a group than those accepted regular decision. This was as a whole and at specific colleges. That does not mean this is the case now, nor does it mean that this was the case at all colleges. What is very clear from many statistics each year is that most of the time, a higher % of kids are accepted early at school than at regular admissions. You can look at the numbers for each school and see that pretty clearly. Most colleges are honest about saying that they do give an edge to early decision candidates. You are giving them your commitment which helps with their yield and in starting a foundation for a class. </p>
<p>There is also a psychological issue in early apps. An admissions office has many seats to fill. It’s easier to be generous when most of those seats are empty as it is your job to fill them. As you run out of seats, you get stingier and may be looking for certain things. You don’t have enough engineering students. You have really gone done in the number of males you have accepted this year, and the school has been hovering at the 40% level for males which worries them a bit. Your football coach has lost a key player and the subsitute is hurt. Your orchestra is low on bassoons and you see the director all of the time. Your kid plays with the classics prof’s kid and he’s worried about a shrinking dept and you know you are really low on admits this year. To your horror, you have accepted more science majors than the lab can comfortably hold, and you know you have some closet pre meds in there too. You are getting tight on housing, and those commuters are looking better all of a sudden. You also know that you may have to make some minor revisions when you do a parity check of who you have accepted/rejected at the same school. With stacks of apps still to assess, you are running low on slots. </p>
<p>Catsushi, I am not referring to someone like you since your ED college is your first choice school. I am referring to some kids who may truly like Brown or Duke and get scared off by the stories, and by the fear of rejection. Wake or Emory, both excellent schools may end up being the ED school because they feel they have a better chance of getting into either of those, and the ED would make it even a surer thing. Some of these kids have met with success in so much that they have done, that the idea of being rejected scares them. And it should not be at this age and for something that is not so important. I guess the real fear is that if they go ED, say for Duke, and do not make it, they may even get rejected from Wake RD without that extra. And it can cause a chain reaction, because if Strong student Sue is applying to Wake early, what chance, do I, Not as Strong Nate going to have applying to Wake RD? Personally, in my family this has not happened, but I have seen it.</p>