Anonymous
Post 02/11/2026 09:41     Subject: Is ED a marker of prestige?
My kid looks down her nose at ED admits - she thinks it's easier than applying RD or EA.

I guess she's right but even if you apply ED to Vanderbilt or wherever - you still have to be a rock star to get in!!
Anonymous
Post 02/11/2026 09:07     Subject: Is ED a marker of prestige?
ED means you’re rich enough not to worry about financial aid (need or merit based) and you don’t want to deal with uncertainty.
Anonymous
Post 02/11/2026 08:59     Subject: Is ED a marker of prestige?
There is something needed clarification, OP:

Do you mean "is ED a marker of prestige" for the college/university, or the student?

You can argue both sides for either, but for purposes of this thread, it would be helpful to know.
Anonymous
Post 02/11/2026 08:58     Subject: Is ED a marker of prestige?
It’s a marker of privilege, mostly for the student. For the schools, it’s a way to attract and yield full pay students.
Anonymous
Post 02/11/2026 08:54     Subject: Is ED a marker of prestige?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:It’s the opposite of prestige. For schools, it makes them look uncertain of their yield. For students, everyone knows they are weaker because ED is an easier admit.


My kid applied ED and was accepted. Nothing weak about her - valedictorian, NMSF, 4.85 after junior year, 1550 one attempt, niche sport at state level, instrument since 3rd grade, strong and long held EC, part-time job…many strong students apply to their first choice ED. Not all gun for Ivy.


Glad that your daughter is strong. Previous poster just saying that ED is an easier admit so weaker students can get in ED.
o

That’s not what the poster stated exactly.
Anonymous
Post 02/11/2026 05:11     Subject: Is ED a marker of prestige?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:It’s the opposite of prestige. For schools, it makes them look uncertain of their yield. For students, everyone knows they are weaker because ED is an easier admit.

How is it weaker? ED is not easier than RD because the number doesn't tell the whole story. There are a lot of institutional priorities applying ED.

If ED wasn't easier then RD, no one would choose to apply ED.
Anonymous
Post 02/11/2026 04:46     Subject: Is ED a marker of prestige?
Anonymous[b wrote:]It’s the opposite of prestige. For schools, it makes them look uncertain of their yield. For students, everyone knows they are weaker because ED is an easier admit.
[/b]

This.
Anonymous
Post 02/10/2026 23:44     Subject: Is ED a marker of prestige?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:It’s the opposite of prestige. For schools, it makes them look uncertain of their yield. For students, everyone knows they are weaker because ED is an easier admit.


My kid applied ED and was accepted. Nothing weak about her - valedictorian, NMSF, 4.85 after junior year, 1550 one attempt, niche sport at state level, instrument since 3rd grade, strong and long held EC, part-time job…many strong students apply to their first choice ED. Not all gun for Ivy.


Glad that your daughter is strong. Previous poster just saying that ED is an easier admit so weaker students can get in ED.
Anonymous
Post 02/10/2026 23:35     Subject: Is ED a marker of prestige?
Anonymous wrote:It’s the opposite of prestige. For schools, it makes them look uncertain of their yield. For students, everyone knows they are weaker because ED is an easier admit.


My kid applied ED and was accepted. Nothing weak about her - valedictorian, NMSF, 4.85 after junior year, 1550 one attempt, niche sport at state level, instrument since 3rd grade, strong and long held EC, part-time job…many strong students apply to their first choice ED. Not all gun for Ivy.
Anonymous
Post 02/10/2026 22:49     Subject: Is ED a marker of prestige?
Anonymous wrote:Title. Obviously at the tip top there are many that do not have ED, but once you get out of the t10-15 it seems to correlate with prestige


Show the correlation.
Anonymous
Post 02/10/2026 22:43     Subject: Is ED a marker of prestige?
Anonymous wrote:Title. Obviously at the tip top there are many that do not have ED, but once you get out of the t10-15 it seems to correlate with prestige


What? No. Tip top kids get in RD to T10/ivy, often more than one, sometimes 3 or 4, they do not need to ED and have the luxury of choice.

Anonymous
Post 02/10/2026 21:55     Subject: Is ED a marker of prestige?
Anonymous wrote:ED is a marker of relief from stress in December rather than waiting til later to find out where you will be going to school next year. It also can be a marker of wealth because it means you are not relying on the financial package to decide where to go. I don’t equate either of those with prestige, but it is definitely a benefit to be going to your top choice school and knowing about it sooner rather than later.


This, I would do ED again in a heartbeat, no stress is wonderful and kid happy.
Anonymous
Post 02/10/2026 21:53     Subject: Is ED a marker of prestige?
Anonymous wrote:Title. Obviously at the tip top there are many that do not have ED, but once you get out of the t10-15 it seems to correlate with prestige

I’d say it correlates with the opposite.
Anonymous
Post 02/10/2026 21:43     Subject: Is ED a marker of prestige?
Anonymous wrote:It’s the opposite of prestige. For schools, it makes them look uncertain of their yield. For students, everyone knows they are weaker because ED is an easier admit.


This.
Anonymous
Post 02/10/2026 21:18     Subject: Is ED a marker of prestige?
It sounds like it is for you.