<p>I am contemplating applying ED to Wash U. However, the person ranked first in my class is applying ED, along with two others, but I'm better than them. Will this hurt my chances?</p>
<p>It will hurt your chances obviously… but only to a very very small degree.
But still, you’ll probably be fine.</p>
<p>Well, if WashU is your top choice school, ED is your best bet. If you don’t get in ED, you won’t get in RD in all probability as well. So don’t worry too much about your competition and just go for it. Class rank is not everything.</p>