Anonymous
Post 04/22/2026 18:03     Subject: ED/RD strategy for top LACs (non athlete)
My kid applied ED to Swat. She’s exactly the kind of kid they like. Obviously they take athletes in ED but they do also take other kids. I don’t think ED gives an advantage but it doesn’t hurt either. DD wasnt hoping for some advantage - she just wanted to be done.
If your kid is set on a certain school and is competitive and wants to be done, ED is great.
Anonymous
Post 04/22/2026 17:40     Subject: ED/RD strategy for top LACs (non athlete)
If a stronger student from your HS applied ED you could be basically cooked in RD.
Anonymous
Post 04/22/2026 17:01     Subject: ED/RD strategy for top LACs (non athlete)
Anonymous wrote:Been hearing ED acceptance % at top LACs are far inflated due to legacy and athletes. When we toured WASP, two admissions officer said there is no difference applying early or during regular decision round. Checking our school's recent results, most acceptance during ED to these schools were athletes, most unhooked admits were during RD.

So if DC actually prefers one of these LACs, then what? Not use an ED anywhere, lose the advantage of an ED and wait until RD to apply? Apply EA somewhere else or at a far reach for the heck of it so it's non-binding?


If he or she has a clear No. 1, use the ED option. In our case, they did not really love any one place and we never did ED. He didn’t get in to top-15s that he was considering, and who knows whether he would have if ED to one of them. But at every admissions tour we did, we were strongly encouraged to apply ED
Anonymous
Post 04/22/2026 16:15     Subject: ED/RD strategy for top LACs (non athlete)
If your kid loves a school and it's a clear #1, apply ED. It's amazing to get into college in December and be done with it.

Anonymous
Post 04/22/2026 15:42     Subject: ED/RD strategy for top LACs (non athlete)
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:My DC applied ED to a WASP, was the only one of 13 who applied that year who got in. No guarantee, but we assume that was key for him.


To make sure I understand your point...do you mean the other 12 applied RD while your DC applied ED so that could be the difference?


Correct.
Anonymous
Post 04/22/2026 15:41     Subject: ED/RD strategy for top LACs (non athlete)
Anonymous wrote:My DC applied ED to a WASP, was the only one of 13 who applied that year who got in. No guarantee, but we assume that was key for him.


To make sure I understand your point...do you mean the other 12 applied RD while your DC applied ED so that could be the difference?
Anonymous
Post 04/22/2026 14:35     Subject: ED/RD strategy for top LACs (non athlete)
My DC applied ED to a WASP, was the only one of 13 who applied that year who got in. No guarantee, but we assume that was key for him.
Anonymous
Post 04/22/2026 14:20     Subject: ED/RD strategy for top LACs (non athlete)
100% ED - it gives you a second shot if deferred
Anonymous
Post 04/22/2026 14:18     Subject: ED/RD strategy for top LACs (non athlete)
FWIW, a few years ago, my unhooked, non-athlete, white D from NE, applied ED1 to Middlebury and was deferred. She was accepted RD and got into Williams. She decided to attend Williams.
Anonymous
Post 04/22/2026 13:53     Subject: ED/RD strategy for top LACs (non athlete)
Anonymous wrote:Been hearing ED acceptance % at top LACs are far inflated due to legacy and athletes. When we toured WASP, two admissions officer said there is no difference applying early or during regular decision round. Checking our school's recent results, most acceptance during ED to these schools were athletes, most unhooked admits were during RD.

So if DC actually prefers one of these LACs, then what? Not use an ED anywhere, lose the advantage of an ED and wait until RD to apply? Apply EA somewhere else or at a far reach for the heck of it so it's non-binding?

Middlebury ED works for unhooked.
Schools with a lower degree of athlete culture such as Wellesley and Carleton and Harvey Mudd. Yes, ED also works for unhooked.
Anonymous
Post 04/22/2026 13:28     Subject: ED/RD strategy for top LACs (non athlete)
Been hearing ED acceptance % at top LACs are far inflated due to legacy and athletes. When we toured WASP, two admissions officer said there is no difference applying early or during regular decision round. Checking our school's recent results, most acceptance during ED to these schools were athletes, most unhooked admits were during RD.

So if DC actually prefers one of these LACs, then what? Not use an ED anywhere, lose the advantage of an ED and wait until RD to apply? Apply EA somewhere else or at a far reach for the heck of it so it's non-binding?