Admissions rates may be higher for early applicants; however, look closer at the applicants and their qualifications for admissions. The applicants may be more competitive on test scores, grades, leadership activities and classes, thus a greater fit for the university and therefore more “admissible.”
Also, beware of applying Early Decision as a strategy for hedging one’s admissions chances, while holding onto the idea the “I can just decline my acceptance later.” Highly selective colleges, like Ivy Leagues, especially those using the Common Application, may be sharing names of students admitted through Early Decision—THEN independently removing students from consideration for admissions REGARDLESS if a student notifies the college or not. A student may lose their chance for admissions to any college.
Plus, since the counselor signed the original Early Decision Agreement, any counselor caught sending supplementary documents–transcripts, letters of recommendation–may create trouble for themselves with that college, affecting later years of seniors applying for admissions.
Listen to our podcast to help in considering any early applications.
