<p>My question: I know that the odds are better if you apply early decision (even taking into consideration the athletes that are included in the ED stats). But I think I read that most of those who are admitted regular decision are really early decision deferrals and so the rule is: almost all of those admitted to Princeton applied early decision - a much higher statistic than you imagine. Does anyone know the real stats on this topic?</p>
<p>There is a 34% acceptance rate for applying to Princeton Early decision. I believe that Princeton fills almost half of their class ultimately (if you include those who are deferred and ultimately accepted) from the early decision pool.
Princeton has a much higher early acceptance rate than Yale at 17% and Harvard at 21%. I believe that Princeton may take a larger percentage early because many in the regular deciision round who apply to Princeton, Harvard and Yale and who are accepted to Princeton and/or Harvard, Yale - often pick these schools over Princeton. For this reason, and because Princeton wants to ensure a high yield ie. percent they accept who will enroll, they accept a higher percentage early decision.
I believe that Princeton's early decision rate will decrease somewhat this year with the announcement that they are ranked number one in the US news report college rankings. Many will choose Princeton as their early decision choice as they will be attracted to the prestige of going to a school ranked number one and bee attracted to the high early decision acceptance rate. I am guessing that Princeton will receive more applications for early decision and that the percent accepted early will decrease from 34% to close to 29%.</p>
<p>
[quote]
I believe that Princeton's early decision rate will decrease somewhat this year with the announcement that they are ranked number one in the US news report college rankings. Many will choose Princeton as their early decision choice as they will be attracted to the prestige of going to a school ranked number one and bee attracted to the high early decision acceptance rate. I am guessing that Princeton will receive more applications for early decision and that the percent accepted early will decrease from 34% to close to 29%.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>Princeton has been ranked #1 for seven years now. Its ranking this year will not change the number of applications to any substantial degree, especially for early decision. The type of people who would consider applying ED to Princeton are exactly the type who would not base their decision on the US news ranking.</p>
<p>The Regular Decision acceptance rate was 7.8% for the class of 2010.</p>
<p>...and the ED acceptance rate was 27%, not 34%</p>
<p>...and Princeton rejected 80% of the valedictorians who applied.</p>
<p>
[quote]
...and Princeton rejected 80% of the valedictorians who applied.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>Where'd you get this statistic?</p>
<p>The current (Who Needs Harvard?) issue of Time magazine.</p>
<p>Interesting, though perhaps unsurprising. Most valedictorians are impressive only within the context of their own school.</p>
<p>i dont think the ED statistics will change much for the class of 2011. isnt princeton going to be able to accept more students now that it has opened up a new residential college? as for the ranked #1 thing, i dont think it will have much affect on the number of ED applicants...people realize that a ranking like that is pretty much useless</p>
<p>Also, almost half the class is filled immediately with ED apps. I don't know what percentage of those deferred fill up the other half.</p>
<p>Exactly, from the common data set, in 2005-2006 593 students were admitted early decision. Total freshman class was 1200+, so almost 50% were admitted early decision. But we also know that many early decision applicants were deferred and then admitted regular decision. I guess my question is - is there a way to determine this statistic? I don't see it listed in the common data set. Let's imagine that half of those admitted regular decision were early decision deferred, that would mean that 75% of those matriculating were early decision applicants. That is what I am trying to determine. It would be evident to admissions in the regular decision pool that you are early decision deferred, and all other things equal, they would choose the student who demonstrated interest by applying early decision. </p>
<p>My concern with early decision is it doesn't allow me to compare financial aid or scholarship opportunities with other schools.</p>
<p>Princeton has not made those figures publicly available. However, all available evidence suggests that deferred applicants are admitted at a higher rate than regular applicants. How much higher I cannot say. The truth is, though, that it is much easier to get into Princeton if you apply ED than if you apply RD.</p>
<p>Question...</p>
<p>I'm applying to Princeton RD (mainly financial reasons), but not to harvard/yale/stanford. Would it be ridiculous to somehow put in my application "by the way, i'm not applying to your rivals"??</p>
<p>
[quote]
Would it be ridiculous to somehow put in my application "by the way, i'm not applying to your rivals"??
[/quote]
</p>
<p>That wouldn't be wise--it's a poor reflection of character that the admissions office wouldn't take kindly to.</p>
<p>Have you looked at the Princeton Early Estimator for Financial Aid? If not, check it out. It'll tell you about how much the school will give you. ("Give" literally).</p>
<p>Using the Estimator may affect your decision as to whether you'll need to apply RD.</p>
<p>Also, in your App, there are artful ways of letting Admissions know that Princeton is your first choice. You needn't mention "rival" schools. Rather, (assuming this is true, of course), simply indicate that if accepted you will attend, maybe folded into an essay or in the "Anything else you want to tell us" section.</p>
<p>BTW, each school to which you apply will know all the other schools you've applied to. This happens via the FAFSA and the Profile.</p>
<p>Last, I'll toss in that IMO, it's best to use the Princeton App. because it shows particularized interest and negates the suspicion that your thinking might be "hey, P-Ton, why not? It's only another 8 bucks to the Common App people." And the school likes its App. If that weren't the case, it would have been dumped altogether.</p>
<p>The 34% statistic early decision statistic came from the New York Times article that appeared in the Education Section the last weekend in July. There was a section on early decision schools and there was section on early action schools. Under the early decision schools it showed the most recent statistics for this years applicants. It showed the number of applicants who applied early at particular schools, and the percent that were accepted. Then it showed the number of all other applicants ie. those who applied regular decision and the percent that were accepted for regular decision.</p>
<p>I don't understand. A link to the common data set:</p>
<p>593 admitted early decision (page 10)
1229 total class size (page 5)</p>
<p>so wonder where newsweek came up with their data from? This is 2005-2006 info but I doubt it changes that much year to year. Since early decision is binding, I would assume that most admitted early decision actually enroll. But using the 34% figure, that would imply over 100 of those admitted early decision didn't actually enroll. Is this a possibility? Do that many people apply early decision, binding, and then break the binding admission decision? </p>
<p>And the question still is, those who are deferred are relabeled regular decision, but in fact they were early decision deferred. I wish the schools gave us access to this information. It would make a huge difference in our understanding of the early decision process.</p>
<p>Just different base years, thats all.</p>
<p>34% sounds like it might have been a recent year stat for % of students who applied early decision who were accepted. For 05-06, the figure was 29% for students who applied early decison and were accepted early decision
(593/2039). Could the remaining 5% be students who were admitted RD? That would mean that students who applied ED but were not accpeted ED were admitted RD at a 7% rate. Seems reasonable.</p>