Early action and early decision means applying for colleges before November 1st. The early application pool is a lot smaller, but is it really worth the extra stress to turn everything in on time? And doing this all during the start of the school year? We certainly think so, and are breaking down exactly why.
In more than one study, findings show that the overall likelihood of being admitted to a school when applying for early admission is 2x more than when applying for regular decision. For Ivy League schools, there is an over double percentage of students admitted for early rather than regular, and in non Ivy League schools a 1.2x chance difference.
There are several factors that go into why this statistic is so consistent each year. First, early decision (ED) students are more likely to fit the profile of the student the school is looking for, because they've named it as one of their first choices by applying early. This increases their chances of getting in already. Another reason is that colleges want to be able to accurately predict how many students they'll yield based on who applys. A colleges "yield" is the students who are accepted verses actually enroll in the college. This is critical for colleges as it affects their finances and national standings. More students who apply early are accepted because of their heavy interest in the school, leading to a better yield.
In the chart to the right, you can see the difference between some of the top schools in the country. The ED/EA acceptance rate is much higher in each school, and in many cases well over double. This was taken from last years school reports.
The difference might not be huge, but any difference in a students favor is something to take advantage of, especially with schools as competitive as Harvard or Stanford or Yale.
We hope this helps you on your decision to apply early! Check out some of our other blog posts on tips for what to start on first when applying here!
College admissions can be overwhelming and even scary at times. We're an admissions team whose been in your shoes before, and have since helped students for twenty years get into colleges just like the ones mentioned above. Click below to set up a call with one of our consultants and get started on your college journey today!
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