<p>Okay, Cornell is my dream school, and I had been set on applying Early Decision in order to increase my chances for admission and to show my enthusiasm for the school.</p>
<p>However, it is very unlikely that I would be admitted, even under ED. So...should I save my ED for a school that I have a better chance of actually getting in to? Or use it on Cornell, as it is both my reach school and the one I would most like to attend?</p>
<p>Since when is ED like a card you play to improve your admissions chances? Ugh.</p>
<p>since always....?</p>
<p>just ED cornell. If you ED somewhere else, you'll always wonder if you could've gotten in cornell.</p>
<p>What username said. Don't settle when making a binding decision, go for your actual number one choice.</p>
<p>You should ED your local community college, just to make sure you get in.</p>
<p>lol. I probably wouldn't even get in to CC then, no legacy.</p>
<p>It is when I need to play upon every possible advantage that I can...</p>
<p>Apply to your real #1, you never know what could happen.</p>
<p>If you are a weak candidate, by applying ED is not going to help you. The reason is it is binding. Adcoms want to get good applicants as early as possible, with weaker candidates they could afford to wait.</p>
<p>If you are a HYPS calibre student, I would not suggest for you to apply to a school like Duke ED because by applying RD you may have a chance of getting their full merit scholarship.</p>
<p>I just meant that kids are trying to game the system by EDing to a school they don't really want to go to because they think there's some huge advantage that comes with applying ED when there really isn't much when you consider the other sacrifices you have to make.</p>
<p>why would anyone ED a school they "don't really want to go to" unless they're morons... since they're binding? Of course at that point they probably wouldn't be getting in anyway. That's some pretty high-stake "gaming" as you call it. There is most likely an advantage, small or not, that comes with ED. There is nothing wrong with attempting to use this to one's advantage. The point of ED is to identify those who really want to attend a given school. I don't see anything wrong with colleges giving a small preference to these candidates.</p>
<p>I don't think ED is for everyone. For example, students who don't have a clear number one choice would be better off applying to an EA school or do and waiting for RD. You forgo the perceived admissions advantage of ED (though I'm not totally convinced that one exists) because you don't want to give up the chance to choose between schools. I have no problem with ED in general, but this ideology that "if I don't use my ED somewhere, I'll be wasting it" is somewhat ridiculous. To each his own though, eh?</p>
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I just meant that kids are trying to game the system by EDing to a school they don't really want to go to because they think there's some huge advantage that comes with applying ED when there really isn't much when you consider the other sacrifices you have to make.
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<p>Did you read the original post? MichaelaW has pretty much the opposite problem.</p>
<p>ED to a school you love, in your case Cornell. Worst case, you don't get in and you need to apply to more schools in the RD round. At least you took a shot and you won't be wondering if you might have gotten in. Don't get sucked in with those people who play ED like a game (even though it is very hard! I've almost gotten into that way of thinking many times). Use it for what it was intended. Good Luck! :)</p>
<p>I don't see any logical reasoning for not ED-ing to your dream school when finances aren't an issue (and, of course, when your dream school has an ED program).</p>
<p>Using your ED on any non-dream school - THAT'S what's a waste.</p>
<p>While deciding where to apply early may or may not be a game, there is definitely strategy involved. While it generally makes sense to apply to your clear first choice school ED, I wonder whether this would make sense if it is an extreme reach, and other schools where you have a more reasonable chance have EA. To put it another way, if there are two or three EA schools you really like, and where you have a good chance of admission, you would certainly lower your stress level by applying there as opposed to ED at an extreme longshot.</p>
<p>Let me give you a real life example. My nephew has a 3.7+ GPA, probably 2100-2200 SAT, some ECs, but no cure cancer type of EC. He is a legacy at Dartmouth. Instead of applying to Dartmouth ED, he is going to apply to Stanford SCEA. He loves Stanford, but he also likes Dartmouth. With his stat, both schools would be a high reach for him, but as a legacy at Dartmouth and applying ED, his chance of getting in would be greatly improved. In this case, he is wasting his ED option at Dartmouth. His chance at getting into Stanford is just as low as applying SCEA or RD.</p>