<p>The possible out come in ED/EA are accept, deny or defer. The outcomes in RD are accept, deny or waitlist. If you get rejected during ED you would probably get rejected RD at the same school</p>
<p>
[quote]
thats true but I heard from a number of places that the earlier you apply, the better it is
[/quote]
</p>
<p>This is especially true at schools with rolling admissions or schools with deadlines for some scholarships</p>
<p>Why do people apply EA at top schools? Do they have some sort of advantage if they apply early?</p>
<p>Since EA is non binding, some people just like knowing if that if accepted they have atleast one admission in pocket.</p>
<p>Thats all? I heard some people say that they have a better chance since EA admission rates are higher than the RD admission rates.</p>
<p>You usually have a better chance applying ED since ED is binding and you are commiting to attend if admitted.</p>
<p>It also depends on the school. A parent who just posted her visit to harvard on the parents forum state that Havard was very up-front about the fact that they admitted 42% of the 2009 class EA while cautioning that most of these were actually initially deferred then accepted RD.</p>
<p>How do you know if a college operates under a process of rolling admissions?</p>
<p>um look at their website??.... </p>
<p>also look at CB website</p>
<p>You can go on each college website, or invest $17.00 in a book like Fiske's guide, and all the info is right there, including whether they are RD, EA, SCEA, ED or Rolling, along with the deadlines for each. How early you send in your app. usually matters for Rolling Decision, since those schools look at the apps, as they arrive, and accept students on that basis.</p>
<p>Every student should apply to at least some EA or Rolling schools. Definitely gives you a sense of security when that acceptance comes in, plus, the extra practice is always useful, with getting everything together, polishing essays, etc.</p>
<p>Your teachers will surely have the rec. letters as a Word Document, on their computers, so as you add a school, and let them know, it is easy for them to make the necessary changes and "tailor" the letter.</p>
<p>You can always send in the application to your RD schools, and ask your H.S to send in transcripts etc., and then wait until December to have SAT scores sent in, as those costs can add up quickly. The school will add to your file as stuff reaches them. Plus many schools enable you to check on the completeness, and status, of your application. You can even pay the application fee to the school at the very very end, by going online and paying with a credit card. Just keep everything at hand.</p>
<p>Not all schools have January RD deadlines too. Most of my backup schools (if my ED falls through) have deadlines Jan 15 or later, so it won't be too hectic to get everything in.</p>
<p>My D is preparing all her apps at the same time. She has a goal to have everything completed on her end by mid October (ED, EA and RD). It will be much easier writing letters of withdrawl over winter break than stressing over making sure that the other applications are sent.</p>
<p>Is it true that EA/ED students may get rejected and not deffered"</p>
<p>Yes. The percentage depends on the college. For instance, while Harvard eventually rejects about 9 of 10 applicants, it rejects very few EAs. Instead, it defers most and then rejects most of them in the spring.</p>
<p>Some other Ivies and similar schools (Yale? Brown? Not sure-- check the archives) reject lots of EA/EDs even though most of the students who apply are well qualified for admission (as is the case with applicants to Harvard and most Ivy and similar schools).</p>
<p>Seiclan,</p>
<p>I think that your daughter is taking a very good and smart approach to the process. Often times EA/ED decisions come in right before the holidays. It is hard to scramble and get the rest of your applications together at a time when your head and your heart may not be in the best place. This when id the worse happens all you do is stick checks in the envelope, slap on a stamp and the process is done. No drama, no stress.</p>