<p>I was wondering, for ED, do test averages go up or down? I have heard both arguments and I was wondering what you all think?
(up-better applicants, they want to lock them in. down-people are more interested, they get a little leeway)</p>
<p>If it makes a difference, I was thinking specifically Rice University.
My scores are right on the border of 30% for them.</p>
<p>According to college board
[College</a> Search - Rice University - Rice - Admission](<a href=“College Search - BigFuture | College Board”>College Search - BigFuture | College Board)
They receive 709 applicants for ED at Rice, 250 get in.
250/709 makes for about 35%.
35% is greater than 22% of the overall pool that gets in.
Mathematically, yes, a larger percent of people get in ED to Rice. There is no way to tell why that is. Maybe interest is a factor, maybe they get better applicants ED; it’s hard to say.</p>
<p>Why would ED attract “better” applicants? It seems that the more highly qualified applicants would also be very well qualified for some Ivies or higher “ranked” colleges. Why lock (ED) yourself in at Rice (or any other college) when if you are at the top of the applicant pool you can get in EA or RD and STILL test the applicant pools (and FA) at other schools? What am I missing?</p>
<p>That makes sense to me. I dunno.</p>
<p>Aglages-I was thinking from the college’s perspective. Good applicants who know they want to go there and then the college locks them in.
I dunno, its just what I have heard. In hindsight it makes slightly less sense…</p>
<p>I would think the average test scores of students admitted through ED are slightly lower than that of those admitted in the regular admission pool.</p>
<p>^^
I would think that the “average” ED stats are probably in the middle to upper part of the 50 percentile range. In other words, the top half of the applicant pool but below the top 25 percentile. Well within the accepted range but comprising of students that are strongly committed to attending Rice (or whichever college) and who would probably be competitive during EA/RD anyway.</p>