An ED Story from Last Year

[Anonymous]

Given that it's Early Decision season, I thought I'd share my DC's ED experience last year.

After some deliberation, my DC applied ED to a very selective college (sub-10%) last year. While I wouldn't say that DC had a strong emotional commitment to this college, it made the most objective sense on paper. It offered the best financial aid (based on the NPC), is strong in DC's major, and is generally a great school. While DC had a strong application that fit comfortably within the school's admitted averages (in terms of class rank, test scores, rigor, etc.), we also were well aware that the odds were still against admission. We also knew that ED offered very little advantage for this particular school.

The ED school rejected DC outright. It's funny how one can be subjectively shocked at something objectively likely. Despite knowing that rejection was a probable outcome, I think I believed that DC would at least be deferred to RD. Thankfully, DC took it in stride. But, if I'm honest, I was concerned. Was it the personal statement? Did DC's teachers write underwhelming recommendations? Did DC's sophomore French grade doom the application? And, of course, despite already having a seemingly well-considered application plan that contemplated an ED rejection, it was very tempting to advise DC to change that plan to add more safety/targets and/or consider a target school for ED2.

In the end, DC stuck to the original plan, which was to apply RD to one true safety (a local public university where admission was essentially guaranteed), four targets, and seven reaches. In part because DC had a lot of school commitments and in part because DC procrastinated, DC put together all the supplemental essays and other application components during winter break and the first week of January classes. This was not a particularly fun experience, and an ED admission would have allowed DC to enjoy the break. DC gave a little consideration applying ED2 somewhere, but decided against it. This made me a little nervous.

When March came around, DC did extremely well in RD. DC's ED rejection was DC's only rejection. DC was admitted to six of the reaches and waitlisted at the seventh. Four of the reaches have lower admission rates than the ED school that rejected DC. DC was also admitted to the safety and three of the four targets, the fourth being another waitlist.

While I'm sure it sounds very sour-grapes-ish, I think the school that DC ultimately chose is a better fit than the ED school. DC ended up being flown out to two of the schools for overnight admitted students events, which was much more informative than Fiske descriptions and half-day tours. Also, with the passage of time, DC's college desires shifted a little in terms of things like big vs. small, close to home or distant, urban vs. outdoorsy, etc. DC seems very happy at their current school, so there are no regrets. I believe that, all things otherwise being equal, DC would pick their current school over the ED school if given the option.

On the flip side, had DC been accepted to the ED school, I'm pretty sure that DC would have been very content there, too. And, as noted before, had DC been admitted to the ED school, DC would have avoided the stress and time of applying to a dozen other schools and then trying to make a decision in April. The whole RD process took a lot of time and mental energy during an already hectic senior year.

Here are some possible takeaways:

(1) ED rejections at highly selective schools are not necessarily predictive of admissions at other highly selective schools. There's a huge amount of unpredictable variability among admissions at schools with sub-10% admission rates. For example, just because one is rejected from Cornell in ED doesn't mean it's hopeless to apply to Princeton RD.

(2) To quote The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, "Don't panic." If you have a solid plan, don't let an ED rejection throw it off course. I'm glad my DC didn't ED2 anywhere, although it was very tempting in the moment.

(3) I think most kids are likely to make a more-informed college decision in RD than ED. There's a reasonable chance that your kid's preferences in a college will shift between November and April. They can also learn a lot at admitted students events.

(4) I am not advocating against ED. I think there are many positives to ED admissions, and at some schools it provides a meaningful boost. If nothing else, applying ED helped my DC get their application together much sooner.

Good luck, everyone!

[Anonymous]

Thank you for sharing!

[Anonymous]

+1

There were feelings of panic when my kid was deferred at two EA schools, one of them a target and another a reach, but it all worked out in RD.

[Anonymous]

Thank you for this! It is good to read and I totally understand having to fight the impulse to panic and question/rewrite everything.

I also can totally see how preferences may change between Nov and April. I have twins applying. Both submitted an ED. One is still rock solid interested in the ED. One is honestly not so sure about their choice. They are growing and changing so quickly these days.

[Anonymous]

My kid is going through the process now, and this perfectly tracks with what we heard from senior parents last year. Especially the no correlation between ED rejects & RD accepts part. We know multiple kids rejected from non-Ivy T20 ED, only to get into one or more Ivies in RD.

My DC decided to ED, but I worry a lot about a change of heart between now and April, and if he gets rejected (as he likely will), it will probably be disappointment mixed with relief.

[Anonymous]

This is a great post, thanks OP.

I'd just add one thing: make sure that DC has one true safety that they really like (preferably that they have already been accepted to by December). It takes a LOT of the pressure off to ED2 someplace.

[Anonymous]

" If you have a solid plan, don't let an ED rejection throw it off course. I'm glad my DC didn't ED2 anywhere, although it was very tempting in the moment."

Yes this will be the key question if ED1 results in rejection.

[Anonymous]

Thank you for sharing such a helpful (and hopeful) post!

[Anonymous]

" It's funny how one can be subjectively shocked at something objectively likely."

I relate to this on so many levels.

[Anonymous]

I mean, I appreciate the story, but I do have to wonder why everybody gets so worked up over college admissions.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I mean, I appreciate the story, but I do have to wonder why everybody gets so worked up over college admissions.

It's because if your kid doesn't get into a Very Selective School then you have failed as a parent.

[Anonymous]

Thank you very much for this thoughtful post. So glad things have turned out well for your DC

[Anonymous]

This was a great post, but most kids are not getting into 90 percent of their reaches these days. Your kid did exceptionally well. Some kids will only get into their targets and likelies so be ready to celebrate that as well.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I mean, I appreciate the story, but I do have to wonder why everybody gets so worked up over college admissions.

It's because if your kid doesn't get into a Very Selective School then you have failed as a parent.

Yeah, I guess. I mean the amount of time that it took OP to write that post and the amount of involvement that it showed she devoted to her kid’s application process is astonishing to me.

My kids went to very good schools, sure, but we approached this much differently. “Where do you want to apply? Ok, sounds good.” They got into some, rejected by others, and we all just shrugged it off.

[Anonymous]

sign of the apocalypse- 1000 word essay on over involvement in kids life. people are just waaaay too involved in their kids lives - all the contemplation and planning, hand wringing and obsession. Get a life folks