ED is the name of the game

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:ED is for schools, athletes, and suckers. Everyone who plays falls into one of those three buckets.

Wrong. ED is for students who have an absolute top choice school and want to show that school that they will attend if accepted. It benefits the student just as much as the school.

+1

Kids are applying to 10-15 schools , but can only attend ONE when the process is over.

A strategic ED choice for a applicant's #1 option is a smart one. The NPC isn't going to magically change in RD.

Exactly. I have to wonder why the hate for ED. No one is forced to apply ED, so if you're uncomfortable with it - don't! The people who ARE ready to commit should absolutely have that option. Every school should offer ED.

No way. ED is another way for schools to favor rich students while securing their class rather than just admitting the best students in a nonbonding way. The best schools don’t have to lower their standards to get students in ED. They do EA.

Most of the T20 offer very good financial aid. If you do the NPC and it's manageable, I don't see why middle class students wouldn't apply ED to highly selective private schools. Financial aid doesn't get magically better in RD. I think ED is only a bad idea for those who don't qualify for financial aid, and are looking for merit at lower ranked schools. And no, students admitted ED to T20 schools are not weaker than those accepted RD.

This is the answer.

And "my kid got into X Ivy+ school ED, therefore he would have also gotten into X Ivy RD" is magical thinking.

[Anonymous]

There is no right answer to how to apply to college.

1. If you DO get in ED, yeah you finished early with a decision you love!
(Except, when you have buyers remorse and feel like you could have done better...)

2. If you DON'T get into ED, yeah more choice! (Except when all your RD choices fall through...)

3. If you don't TRY for ED, yeah you aren't locked in anywhere and have the ultimate choice set!
(Except you threw away your opportunity to get a higher admit rate at a reach school....)

I want my kid to be happy and feel like their hard work paid off in some meaningful way, but it isn't looking good : (

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:ED is for schools, athletes, and suckers. Everyone who plays falls into one of those three buckets.

Wrong. ED is for students who have an absolute top choice school and want to show that school that they will attend if accepted. It benefits the student just as much as the school.

+1

Kids are applying to 10-15 schools , but can only attend ONE when the process is over.

A strategic ED choice for a applicant's #1 option is a smart one. The NPC isn't going to magically change in RD.

Exactly. I have to wonder why the hate for ED. No one is forced to apply ED, so if you're uncomfortable with it - don't! The people who ARE ready to commit should absolutely have that option. Every school should offer ED.

No way. ED is another way for schools to favor rich students while securing their class rather than just admitting the best students in a nonbonding way. The best schools don’t have to lower their standards to get students in ED. They do EA.

+1

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:ED is for schools, athletes, and suckers. Everyone who plays falls into one of those three buckets.

Wrong. ED is for students who have an absolute top choice school and want to show that school that they will attend if accepted. It benefits the student just as much as the school.

+1

Kids are applying to 10-15 schools , but can only attend ONE when the process is over.

A strategic ED choice for a applicant's #1 option is a smart one. The NPC isn't going to magically change in RD.

Exactly. I have to wonder why the hate for ED. No one is forced to apply ED, so if you're uncomfortable with it - don't! The people who ARE ready to commit should absolutely have that option. Every school should offer ED.

No way. ED is another way for schools to favor rich students while securing their class rather than just admitting the best students in a nonbonding way. The best schools don’t have to lower their standards to get students in ED. They do EA.

Most of the T20 offer very good financial aid. If you do the NPC and it's manageable, I don't see why middle class students wouldn't apply ED to highly selective private schools. Financial aid doesn't get magically better in RD. I think ED is only a bad idea for those who don't qualify for financial aid, and are looking for merit at lower ranked schools. And no, students admitted ED to T20 schools are not weaker than those accepted RD.

This is the answer.

And "my kid got into X Ivy+ school ED, therefore he would have also gotten into X Ivy RD" is magical thinking.

Not all top kids apply ED to the T20s because the T5 don't offer. ED.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If your kid genuinely loves one of the schools that takes practically the whole class ED (looking at you, Chicago and Tulane), it's really a conundrum. On the one hand, with ED, they'll probably get in. But then your banking on your child not having second thoughts later on.

My DC loved Chicago and we went with it. So far, no second guessing. We'll see if it stays that way when RD accepts roll out in March.

Does Chicago actually take that many in ED? My dc is a jr and it’s the top choice rn. I feel like it’s a high reach for everyone.

Yes, Chicago is a target for ED1. I believe they accept 80% of ED1 applicants from our school. (it's hard to tell in Naviance since it doesn't distinguish between ED1 & ED2, but our grade isn't that large, DC mostly knew where kids were applying).

This is true for some private schoools but not others. Many elite colleges have a pattern with certain private schools where their applicants do better than average, but they don't have those relationships with all private schools. I never understand why people who cite stats like this don't recognize that part of the high acceptance rate is that your college counseling office does a good job making sure the right applicants apply, and that your particular private is clearly highly respected by UChicago, which I would think is a good thing!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If your kid genuinely loves one of the schools that takes practically the whole class ED (looking at you, Chicago and Tulane), it's really a conundrum. On the one hand, with ED, they'll probably get in. But then your banking on your child not having second thoughts later on.

My DC loved Chicago and we went with it. So far, no second guessing. We'll see if it stays that way when RD accepts roll out in March.

Does Chicago actually take that many in ED? My dc is a jr and it’s the top choice rn. I feel like it’s a high reach for everyone.

Yes, Chicago is a target for ED1. I believe they accept 80% of ED1 applicants from our school. (it's hard to tell in Naviance since it doesn't distinguish between ED1 & ED2, but our grade isn't that large, DC mostly knew where kids were applying).

This is true for some private schoools but not others. Many elite colleges have a pattern with certain private schools where their applicants do better than average, but they don't have those relationships with all private schools. I never understand why people who cite stats like this don't recognize that part of the high acceptance rate is that your college counseling office does a good job making sure the right applicants apply, and that your particular private is clearly highly respected by UChicago, which I would think is a good thing!

Agree! Clearly Chicago does not accept 80% of applicants from every school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There is no right answer to how to apply to college.

1. If you DO get in ED, yeah you finished early with a decision you love!
(Except, when you have buyers remorse and feel like you could have done better...)

2. If you DON'T get into ED, yeah more choice! (Except when all your RD choices fall through...)

3. If you don't TRY for ED, yeah you aren't locked in anywhere and have the ultimate choice set!
(Except you threw away your opportunity to get a higher admit rate at a reach school....)

I want my kid to be happy and feel like their hard work paid off in some meaningful way, but it isn't looking good : (

+1

THIS

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If your kid genuinely loves one of the schools that takes practically the whole class ED (looking at you, Chicago and Tulane), it's really a conundrum. On the one hand, with ED, they'll probably get in. But then your banking on your child not having second thoughts later on.

My DC loved Chicago and we went with it. So far, no second guessing. We'll see if it stays that way when RD accepts roll out in March.

Does Chicago actually take that many in ED? My dc is a jr and it’s the top choice rn. I feel like it’s a high reach for everyone.

Yes, Chicago is a target for ED1. I believe they accept 80% of ED1 applicants from our school. (it's hard to tell in Naviance since it doesn't distinguish between ED1 & ED2, but our grade isn't that large, DC mostly knew where kids were applying).

This is true for some private schoools but not others. Many elite colleges have a pattern with certain private schools where their applicants do better than average, but they don't have those relationships with all private schools. I never understand why people who cite stats like this don't recognize that part of the high acceptance rate is that your college counseling office does a good job making sure the right applicants apply, and that your particular private is clearly highly respected by UChicago, which I would think is a good thing!

Because the reasoning skills here are abysmal.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:ED is for schools, athletes, and suckers. Everyone who plays falls into one of those three buckets.

Wrong. ED is for students who have an absolute top choice school and want to show that school that they will attend if accepted. It benefits the student just as much as the school.

+1

Kids are applying to 10-15 schools , but can only attend ONE when the process is over.

A strategic ED choice for a applicant's #1 option is a smart one. The NPC isn't going to magically change in RD.

Exactly. I have to wonder why the hate for ED. No one is forced to apply ED, so if you're uncomfortable with it - don't! The people who ARE ready to commit should absolutely have that option. Every school should offer ED.

No way. ED is another way for schools to favor rich students while securing their class rather than just admitting the best students in a nonbonding way. The best schools don’t have to lower their standards to get students in ED. They do EA.

Most of the T20 offer very good financial aid. If you do the NPC and it's manageable, I don't see why middle class students wouldn't apply ED to highly selective private schools. Financial aid doesn't get magically better in RD. I think ED is only a bad idea for those who don't qualify for financial aid, and are looking for merit at lower ranked schools. And no, students admitted ED to T20 schools are not weaker than those accepted RD.

Financial aid within the T20 vary widely. $10-$20K difference. HPSM offer the best - and they don't do ED.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:ED is for schools, athletes, and suckers. Everyone who plays falls into one of those three buckets.

Wrong. ED is for students who have an absolute top choice school and want to show that school that they will attend if accepted. It benefits the student just as much as the school.

+1

Kids are applying to 10-15 schools , but can only attend ONE when the process is over.

A strategic ED choice for a applicant's #1 option is a smart one. The NPC isn't going to magically change in RD.

Yes!! The people who don't like ED for financial reasons don't seem to understand that nothing will "magically change in RD". If you cannot afford it in ED, you still cannot afford it with RD.


What they are really saying (IMO) is that they want the opportunity to compare offers, and if they don't get into a "good enough school that costs less", then they might be willing to be Full pay at that $90K school. So they are upset they "cannot do ED". You don't get the advantages of both ED and RD, you have to pick one.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:ED is for schools, athletes, and suckers. Everyone who plays falls into one of those three buckets.

Wrong. ED is for students who have an absolute top choice school and want to show that school that they will attend if accepted. It benefits the student just as much as the school.

+1

Kids are applying to 10-15 schools , but can only attend ONE when the process is over.

A strategic ED choice for a applicant's #1 option is a smart one. The NPC isn't going to magically change in RD.

Exactly. I have to wonder why the hate for ED. No one is forced to apply ED, so if you're uncomfortable with it - don't! The people who ARE ready to commit should absolutely have that option. Every school should offer ED.

Those who "hate ED" are upset they cannot really afford to pay $90K at their kid's ED choice. They want the ability to wait and compare. And if the kid doesn't get into "somewhere else that is good enough" they might be willing to fork over $90K/year. So they can "afford it" they just only want to do it if the other options are "not good enough". So they want the best of both worlds (the higher acceptance rate of ED and the choices of seeing all choices with RD/EA). But that's not how it works.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My kids had much better results in RD rounds.

ED can backfire easily. You pick a school if it is not your absolute tippy top first choice and have to go there without getting any chance to compare (or shop merit offers). Also, you rush an application early while kid is still figuring out what they want in college and bind yourself to the wrong college.

Very true

So then ED is not for YOU. So EA/RD and be done.

IMO, I wouldn't have my kid ED to anywhere except their very top choice. We don't play the games of "well this slightly lower school will be a better ED". ED is about your TOP choice.

And I know, because my kid was deferred from ED1 at top choice and then decided to wait to hear in RD, meaning they didn't ED2 to their next choice. Now they did get into their "next choice" in RD and are attending, so it worked out. But it would have been nice to ED2 which would have been more of a guarantee. But they wanted to find out about their Top choice ultiamtely

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This thread is depressing for those awaiting RD decisions

Many kids at my child’s school got into terrific schools RD! In fact most of our students apply RD, and do well. Don’t let this thread get you down.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Some schools rely very heavily on ED, like UChicago (worst abuser) and UPenn. Other schools use it more sparingly, like Duke and Columbia.

They still take half the class ED. How is that sparingly?

Duke and Columbia don’t take as many kids ED compared to other schools. They both fill ~40% of their incoming class through ED, whereas schools like Penn and Brown fill 55+% of their class ED. UChicago fills ~75% of its class ED which is pretty egregious.

Why is this egregious? Bc your kid can’t use it as RD backup?

Because they "Want choices" and don't like that ED doesn't allow that. Not smart enough to realize they can use RD if they want "choices"

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My kids had much better results in RD rounds.

ED can backfire easily. You pick a school if it is not your absolute tippy top first choice and have to go there without getting any chance to compare (or shop merit offers). Also, you rush an application early while kid is still figuring out what they want in college and bind yourself to the wrong college.

Do, but this is very unusual.

Not really. My nephew having regrets on ED. Wishes he aimed higher.

Why would he ED to a school that wasn't his top choice? For the life of me I dont' get it.

and if you decide to "aim a bit lower to ensure admissions" well then you have to be happy to accept that. For anyone capable of getting into a T50 (which is where ED matters), they should also be capable of understanding the choices and dealing with it. Otherwise do RD and let them delay until April making the decision.