The Toll of Early Decision

<p>Just out of curiosity to all, after enduring this experience of early decision, how are you feeling about the process altogether? Would you recommend it to friends or tell them to hold off until RD round?</p>

<p>I would tell friends to apply to a college they can get into, lol ;)</p>

<p>ilcapo, I haven't heard yet, but have already decided (even if I do get accepted, although I think it will be a deferral) that I do not think ED is a good idea unless you are someone with a significant hook that you think or know the college is looking for. ED is such high risk, such a drain, so scary,& so deflating early on in the process if you actually get rejected. I notice that schools vary on the acceptance policy. Some just defer or accept; some reject outright if you don't make the cut. One of my apps to one Ivy is about 75% better than my early app to another Ivy; I simply had more time for it; it's more solid, more complete, more representative of me. I had to race through my Early one. Not worth it, i.m.o. I'm advising my younger sister not to put herself through that.</p>

<p>classicist,</p>

<p>i agree with what u said 100%</p>

<p>I think it's important to insulate yourself emotionally from the ED process. even for the best of applicants, decisions are essentially random or at least somewhat. you can't invest yourself in what 12 college admissions officers think of you. i've said it before and i'll say it again: everyone has a good time everywhere, and if y'all are even thinking about applying to princeton then you will definitely end up going to another good school if not p'ton...things will work out alright</p>

<p>might sound tough to swallow if you've just been deferred or rejected but please trust me</p>

<p>i would tell my friends not to go to college--being a bum is much more rewarding</p>

<p>ilcapo,</p>

<p>Now that it's over, even having ended well, I have to say that I think it's the closest to a near-death experience I've ever had. I look at Dizzy-son #2 and cannot believe we will have to go through this again...hopefully we will adjust our perspectives a bit by the next go-around.</p>

<p>Yes, do trust rdb. I had to spend many months in homeroom with him after his acceptance and my deferral. I do dispute that decisions are essentially random, however. They make decisions for reasons, most of which have no bearing on your stats and not all of which may be appealing to consider (the sausage factory analogy).</p>

<p>All of you will get into lots of schools, some of you will get into Princeton, and any non-Ivy acceptances will throw money at you like T.I. members splashing people with their favorite beverage.</p>

<p>My first son got deferred. But I would still encourage my second son to apply ED if he has a very clear 1st choice school - provided we are comfortable with the financial aid aspect with that school.</p>

<p>The P expeirence was an adventure - very exciting, very tiring and all that, but something that I will cherish. Hey, he reached for the moon, no less. So he did not make it. That is OK. </p>

<p>But on secod thoughts, I will have to think about how S2 will react to a D/R decision. If he will be capable of taking it like S1 did. I think ED is for certain type of people, those who can handle its random outcomes without much pain :-)</p>

<p>Go for it, but don't apply ED to the same school as a best friend or bf/gf...</p>

<p>why even apply to Pton (see snobbish Pton thread)</p>

<p>bump bump bump</p>

<p>Early definitely had a draining impact on my outlook at colleges. I aimed high and was shot down. Luckily, I barely had any attachement to my early school, but my ego has definitely been deflated (which is actually a good thing in some respects).</p>

<p>bump it up, bump it up, bump it up up up up</p>

<p>jss-</p>

<p>Why do you advise against applying ED to the same school as a friend/bf/gf? Do you mean in the same year?</p>