<p>Low income students have a harder time applying ED/EA in general. Application waiver fees take time to get through, college counselors tend to be less accessible, parents tend to be less “helicoptering” - all of it adds up to higher income people being more likely to apply early. If Princeton “stocks up” on EA applicants, it will tend to disproportionately accept higher income kids. </p>
<p>This is based on personal observation and talking to visiting college reps, but it makes sense to me.</p>