I want to echo this point – it’s a huge psychological boost to get an early acceptance. One of my kids dreamed about (and ended up) attending an Ivy, but was still absolutely ecstatic to be notified in early December that she had gotten into the state university that was her main safety. It made the long weeks of waiting for subsequent results much less worrisome, and she was definitely far more relaxed over the holidays than her friends were. (So were her parents!)