<p>Just wanted to throw it out there to you experts, in case somehow I'm missing something logical:</p>
<p>Of the schools D is applying to, there are two favorites, one of which she'll apply ED to. She has about a 30% chance of getting into College A. Their RD admission rate and ED admission rate is very similar. She has about a 70% chance of getting into College B RD, and their ED admission rate is much higher (approx 40% vs approx 80% ED). Since College A is a long shot any which way, it seems a shame to waste the ED on that school, unless after visiting it again she loves it much, much more than the other one, or if her SAT score goes up 100 points giving her a better chance at School A, etc. </p>
<p>What do you think?</p>
<p>P.S. I don't have the book in front of me because I'm at work, but I think it was the new Fiske guide (we like it a lot). It listed admission rates of RD and <em>I think</em> ED, <em>not</em> just EA? Is it possible they average the two, or would ED percentages tend to be a lot different from EA?</p>
<p>It depends on your daughter's personality more than anything.</p>
<p>Some kids in your daughter's situation would regret it for the rest of their lives if they applied to College B ED because they would never know whether they could have been admitted to College A.</p>
<p>Other, more risk-averse kids like the idea of applying ED to College B because it is the best way to minimize their chances of having to attend the even less desirable Colleges C, D, or E. They're willing to give up College A for the sake of security.</p>
<p>I think it has to be the student's choice, not the parent's.</p>
<p>If college B is a top school, the ED numbers could be very misleading. While at top colleges it looks like ED is a big advantage, it often isn't. ED is when they take all the recruited athletes, the legacies, development kids and friends of the college. The non hooked candidate has very little boost.</p>
<p>imho, only apply ED if you really really really want to go somewhere and would seriously have no reason to live if you got in nowhere else. it might sound crazy or maybe not, but if i get in to my ED school I'll go crazy obsessing and pondering what other schools i might have gotten into if i didnt have to back out. my parents want me to apply to this Ivy early. I want to get in, but not necessarily in December and have to withdraw all my other applications. w/e</p>
<p>As a caveat to not putting the horse before the cart", before you give serious consideration to applying ED to any school, visit first. </p>
<p>If your daughter has not visited "College A" yet, trying to find an answer to a hypothetical question is going to provide dubious value. Creating an expectation that a school may be potentially an "ED" school may create a biased perspective when your you and your daughter actually do visit. Many students have changed their minds about a school subsequent to a visit -- in some cases, they have altered their highly positive opinion to one that is luke-warm, and of course, the vice-versa occurs also. Submitting an ED admissions application is an option to be examined carefully since it carries a binding commitment to enroll if accepted. Remember, its 4 years of your daughters life at stake.</p>
<p>You dont provide enough information for anybody to offer any valid suggestions. What are the particulars of your daughters academic record? What schools are you trying to choose between? Depending on the schools involved, there may or may not be a boosted chance when applying early. Some colleges will state that there is an advantage to applying ED, and others will tell you it wont make much difference. For instance, Cornells website states, Because enthusiasm for Cornell is considered a plus, early-decision applicants stand a better chance of gaining admission. Others will tell you there is no advantage. </p>
<p>As a caveat to not putting the horse before the cart", before you give serious consideration to applying ED to any school, visit first. </p>
<p>If your daughter has not visited "College A" yet, trying to find an answer to a hypothetical question is going to provide dubious value. Creating an expectation that a school may be potentially an "ED" school may create a biased perspective when your you and your daughter actually do visit. Many students have changed their minds about a school subsequent to a visit -- in some cases, they have altered their highly positive opinion to one that is luke-warm, and of course, the vice-versa occurs also. Submitting an ED admissions application is an option to be examined carefully since it carries a binding commitment to enroll if accepted. Remember, its 4 years of your daughters life at stake.</p>
<p>You dont provide enough information for anybody to offer any valid suggestions. What are the particulars of your daughters academic record? What schools are you trying to choose between? Depending on the schools involved, there may or may not be a boosted chance when applying early. Some colleges will state that there is an advantage to applying ED, and others will tell you it wont make much difference. For instance, Cornells website states, Because enthusiasm for Cornell is considered a plus, early-decision applicants stand a better chance of gaining admission. Others will tell you there is no advantage. </p>
<p>NorCalDad's reply said pretty much all there is to say, but I thought I'd throw this out there: ED percentage acceptance rates can be tricky - they seem better, but actually the applicant pool for ED is typically more competetive than that for RD. So while the percentages may seem nicer, you're competing against stronger applicants, so it doesn't actually increase your chances.</p>
<p>It may be more true for EA than for ED, but I just thought it was something to keep in mind.</p>