<p>ED is pretty clearcut:</p>
<p>Potentially better admission chances but puts you at a disadvantage for FA</p>
<p>EA-since it's non-binding why wouldn't you use it? Is there no limit to how many schools you can apply EA? (assuming the school offers this option)</p>
<p>Tried searching for this but haven't found a thread that addresses this.</p>
<p>You have to submit the application earlier. Sure, you can say in the abstract “hey, I’ll just start earlier too!” But when the deadline comes around, unless you’ve been working very diligently, you could probably use those two months to make your application even better.</p>
<p>^^^ one could also argue that you’re in a pool with more competitive applicants for EA</p>
<p>EA typically has higher acceptance rate. This could be do to the fact that there is more space open and it shows interest in the school or just because better applicants tend to apply early. </p>
<p>There is no disadvantage unless you think your mid year grades will help you.</p>
<p>there’s no disadvantage admissions-wise…</p>
<p>however…keep in mind that EA schools don’t usually give FA packages until spring.</p>
<p>So, unfortunately, some kids apply EA, get accepted, and then don’t bother with financial safety schools and such. Then, their FA package comes and they can’t afford their school, and it’s too late to apply elsewhere.</p>
<p>So…even if you’re applying EA, send in your apps for a couple of financial safeties, too. Just in case.</p>
<p>Some schools, such as Stanford and Yale, have REA (restricted early action) and SCEA (single-choice early action) respectively. This means that you can only apply early to that institute. </p>
<p>The main disadvantage to EA is that you lose two months of time for awards or preparation. I applied EA to MIT because it was my top choice, and I sent in good essays but not great ones. By the time I was submitting my final apps, I was writing spectacular essays because I had so much practice over the period. I think if I had just done RD to MIT then I would have written better essays. At the same time, if I had done SCEA to Yale, I would probably have been rejected. </p>
<p>EA is a great choice, but if you want to wait to win some awards or refine your essays, then take it. If the university really wants you, then you’ll get in no matter what.</p>
<p>OP - there is no limit to the number of EA schools you can apply to, unless as someone posted earlier, it is a school with REA - restrictive early action - or SCEA - single choice early action(Tulane). Some EA deadlines are very early - College of Charleston and University of Georgia are October 15th, just to give an example. You have to be sure your teachers who are writing recommendations know that you have such an early deadline and have their letters done in time. Most EA deadlines are in November. Another consideration is your grades - if you had a great junior year - then EA might work. But if junior year was just ok and you are counting on first semester of senior year to really impress - than EA is not for you.</p>
<p>Personally, I love EA and also rolling admissions. At our school, we try to have each student do at least one EA or rolling that we feel they have a good shot of getting into. It is a great feeling to start winter break with at least one acceptance, even if it is a safety school.</p>
<p>I really would not recommend EA. I applied to Stanford EA and was rejected. However, I think if I had applied RD (similar to what anomaly said), I would have had a better shot at getting accepted or at least waitlisted. Don’t let the higher acceptance rate mislead you, as the applicant pool can be really competitive EA.</p>
<p>I think there might be a bit of a split here on the type of college you are applying to. For elite schools - some previous posters seem to feel strongly that applying EA actually puts you at a disadvantage - as you are applying in the most competitive pool. But I still maintain that for most applicants and for most colleges, EA can be a great way to go.</p>
<p>Keep in mind that if you apply EA, generally the worst that can happen is you are deferred into the RD pool. If that is the case - you send mid-year grades, maybe another teacher rec., maybe you have won an additional award - and you send info on that, etc.</p>
<p>For most of my schools, I don’t know if it would have made a difference if I applied EA or RD, but for UChicago, I’m sure it did. UChicago’s EA acceptance rate was about 27%; RD was 18.4%. Maybe I still would have been accepted, but I’m glad I applied when I did.
I didn’t write any true specifically for the RD round. The closest I came were two short paragraph Why College? essays, so I don’t think I can compare and see if my writing improved. I started writing in the middle of August, but I will admit that I did procrastinate with a few, and that I did lose some sleep in late October on account of essays.
The only real negative that came with applying EA for me was that I didn’t know any science well enough to score highly on a science SAT subject test, and MIT, where I thought I had the lowest chances, requires a science SAT subject test. I didn’t take science in junior year, so I was just learning physics and being reintroduced to chemistry. Nonetheless, I applied with my 670 on Chem, and it worked out.
Major positives: I had a pretty stress free December, with lots of time to study for semester exams, fly to England for four days for my Cambridge interview, and actually have fun over winter break rather than writing essays 'round the clock as many of my peers did.</p>
<p>Although many schools will defer many EA students and reconsider in the RD pool, as rockvillemom said, many, such as Stanford, try, when at all possible, to give a definitive yes or no in December, so if you do apply EA, check which kind of school the one you’re applying to is–the type that will defer or accept only (Georgetown) or the type that prefers to give a definitive answer in December.</p>
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<p>Actually, EA was 27%, TOTAL was 18.4%. So RD was around 11%.</p>
<p>phuriku - that assumes the number of applications in the RD round was the same as in the EA round. Do you know that?</p>
<p>Thanks everyone-great advice!</p>