Anonymous
Post 01/01/2026 22:27     Subject: "Early Action" kind of scammy at EDII schools?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I don’t think any school should pressure a student who applied EA or RD to switch to ED2.


Bucknell and Case Western do this.


Bucknell doesn’t even have Early Action.
Anonymous
Post 01/01/2026 18:29     Subject: "Early Action" kind of scammy at EDII schools?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I hope they get rid of ED permanently. It's exploitive in many ways and causes a lot of unnecessary stress for teens to make big life decisions in early November only to face regrets in April - June when they see their peers considering multiple options. ED is great for colleges to grab qualified candidates early who satisfy very specific institutional preferences - recruited sports, low income/first gen, high income/donor/legacies and odd majors that they want to grow aggressively.

It doesn't help our kids unless they fit in one of those buckets and they are absolutely sure they are applying ED to their best fit school. Problem is, most kids don't know enough about all colleges early into senior year to even know what their best fit is. They don't have time to research all available options and they are still growing/changing. Colleges are able to exploit their fear that they won't get into a "good college" unless they apply somewhere ED.


So true.
I have seen many Chicago ED kids regretting their decisions.


Really? Exactly how many? And how do you know this?
Anonymous
Post 01/01/2026 17:50     Subject: "Early Action" kind of scammy at EDII schools?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I hope they get rid of ED permanently. It's exploitive in many ways and causes a lot of unnecessary stress for teens to make big life decisions in early November only to face regrets in April - June when they see their peers considering multiple options. ED is great for colleges to grab qualified candidates early who satisfy very specific institutional preferences - recruited sports, low income/first gen, high income/donor/legacies and odd majors that they want to grow aggressively.

It doesn't help our kids unless they fit in one of those buckets and they are absolutely sure they are applying ED to their best fit school. Problem is, most kids don't know enough about all colleges early into senior year to even know what their best fit is. They don't have time to research all available options and they are still growing/changing. Colleges are able to exploit their fear that they won't get into a "good college" unless they apply somewhere ED.


So true.
I have seen many Chicago ED kids regretting their decisions.


This had all the markings of yet another hate thread about Chicago.
Anonymous
Post 01/01/2026 17:41     Subject: "Early Action" kind of scammy at EDII schools?
Anonymous wrote:I hope they get rid of ED permanently. It's exploitive in many ways and causes a lot of unnecessary stress for teens to make big life decisions in early November only to face regrets in April - June when they see their peers considering multiple options. ED is great for colleges to grab qualified candidates early who satisfy very specific institutional preferences - recruited sports, low income/first gen, high income/donor/legacies and odd majors that they want to grow aggressively.

It doesn't help our kids unless they fit in one of those buckets and they are absolutely sure they are applying ED to their best fit school. Problem is, most kids don't know enough about all colleges early into senior year to even know what their best fit is. They don't have time to research all available options and they are still growing/changing. Colleges are able to exploit their fear that they won't get into a "good college" unless they apply somewhere ED.


So true.
I have seen many Chicago ED kids regretting their decisions.
Anonymous
Post 01/01/2026 16:57     Subject: "Early Action" kind of scammy at EDII schools?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I respect colleges that don’t play this game, even if it means their yield numbers are lower as a result.


+1 just accept, reject, or waitlist if you must. My kid got a deferral from a school that apparently had a high deferral rate this year and now they’re asking for additional essays and such. Would have been better off applying RD than EA as it’s going to drag on just as long but involves more work (the college already had supplemental essays).


Which school is this??
I didn't know EA handed out deferrals. And extra essays? That's crazy.
I know some waitlist require an essay to stay on waitlist,....but essay for deferral into RD pool, is there no end to this madness?


Northeastern also has a very known EA/ED1/ED2 scheme going on. On the portal, at the top in big font is a quick form to change from EA to ED.


EA is where most of the deferrals happen. I think Michigan usually defers 80% of the EA applicants. Same with South Carolina. Wisconsin deferred so many last year, so curious what they do this year.
Anonymous
Post 01/01/2026 15:54     Subject: "Early Action" kind of scammy at EDII schools?
Anonymous wrote:I hope they get rid of ED permanently. It's exploitive in many ways and causes a lot of unnecessary stress for teens to make big life decisions in early November only to face regrets in April - June when they see their peers considering multiple options. ED is great for colleges to grab qualified candidates early who satisfy very specific institutional preferences - recruited sports, low income/first gen, high income/donor/legacies and odd majors that they want to grow aggressively.

It doesn't help our kids unless they fit in one of those buckets and they are absolutely sure they are applying ED to their best fit school. Problem is, most kids don't know enough about all colleges early into senior year to even know what their best fit is. They don't have time to research all available options and they are still growing/changing. Colleges are able to exploit their fear that they won't get into a "good college" unless they apply somewhere ED.


ED should stay as an option in the open market. When higher-cost or higher-commitment options exist, it actually gives people something to compare against and helps show why EA or RD might be better choice for them.

No one is forced to apply ED. It’s something applicants choose, hopefully after thorough consideration. Honestly, it can even be a useful “shopping” experience where parents can walk through the pros and cons with their kid and help them learn how to spot bad or mismatched options.
Anonymous
Post 01/01/2026 13:51     Subject: "Early Action" kind of scammy at EDII schools?
I hate single choice early action. I am ok with the other 2.
Anonymous
Post 01/01/2026 13:48     Subject: "Early Action" kind of scammy at EDII schools?
Anonymous wrote:I hope they get rid of ED permanently. It's exploitive in many ways and causes a lot of unnecessary stress for teens to make big life decisions in early November only to face regrets in April - June when they see their peers considering multiple options. ED is great for colleges to grab qualified candidates early who satisfy very specific institutional preferences - recruited sports, low income/first gen, high income/donor/legacies and odd majors that they want to grow aggressively.

It doesn't help our kids unless they fit in one of those buckets and they are absolutely sure they are applying ED to their best fit school. Problem is, most kids don't know enough about all colleges early into senior year to even know what their best fit is. They don't have time to research all available options and they are still growing/changing. Colleges are able to exploit their fear that they won't get into a "good college" unless they apply somewhere ED.



Your kid was rejected in ED. Got it!
Anonymous
Post 01/01/2026 11:52     Subject: "Early Action" kind of scammy at EDII schools?
Anonymous wrote:I hope they get rid of ED permanently. It's exploitive in many ways and causes a lot of unnecessary stress for teens to make big life decisions in early November only to face regrets in April - June when they see their peers considering multiple options. ED is great for colleges to grab qualified candidates early who satisfy very specific institutional preferences - recruited sports, low income/first gen, high income/donor/legacies and odd majors that they want to grow aggressively.

It doesn't help our kids unless they fit in one of those buckets and they are absolutely sure they are applying ED to their best fit school. Problem is, most kids don't know enough about all colleges early into senior year to even know what their best fit is. They don't have time to research all available options and they are still growing/changing. Colleges are able to exploit their fear that they won't get into a "good college" unless they apply somewhere ED.



+100
Anonymous
Post 01/01/2026 11:00     Subject: "Early Action" kind of scammy at EDII schools?
Anonymous wrote:I hope they get rid of ED permanently. It's exploitive in many ways and causes a lot of unnecessary stress for teens to make big life decisions in early November only to face regrets in April - June when they see their peers considering multiple options. ED is great for colleges to grab qualified candidates early who satisfy very specific institutional preferences - recruited sports, low income/first gen, high income/donor/legacies and odd majors that they want to grow aggressively.

It doesn't help our kids unless they fit in one of those buckets and they are absolutely sure they are applying ED to their best fit school. Problem is, most kids don't know enough about all colleges early into senior year to even know what their best fit is. They don't have time to research all available options and they are still growing/changing. Colleges are able to exploit their fear that they won't get into a "good college" unless they apply somewhere ED.



Boo hoo.
Anonymous
Post 01/01/2026 10:57     Subject: "Early Action" kind of scammy at EDII schools?
I hope they get rid of ED permanently. It's exploitive in many ways and causes a lot of unnecessary stress for teens to make big life decisions in early November only to face regrets in April - June when they see their peers considering multiple options. ED is great for colleges to grab qualified candidates early who satisfy very specific institutional preferences - recruited sports, low income/first gen, high income/donor/legacies and odd majors that they want to grow aggressively.

It doesn't help our kids unless they fit in one of those buckets and they are absolutely sure they are applying ED to their best fit school. Problem is, most kids don't know enough about all colleges early into senior year to even know what their best fit is. They don't have time to research all available options and they are still growing/changing. Colleges are able to exploit their fear that they won't get into a "good college" unless they apply somewhere ED.

Anonymous
Post 01/01/2026 10:50     Subject: "Early Action" kind of scammy at EDII schools?
Anonymous wrote:EA or ED is sort of scammy no matter what. I didn't finish it but i was skimming one of those "who gets into college" books and author was arguing that these things are all for the colleges. So the higher acceptance rate isn't that kids have a greater chance of getting in--colleges just use the early rounds to cherry pick the kids they are looking for, whether that is full-pay, recruited athletes, URM, legacies, etc. so it is helpful for kids who really want certainty but the perception that chances of getting are higher may be unfounded and it might actually be the opposite if you don't fit the profile of what that school is seeking


All of the top schools have either EA or ED. Or both.

Stop crying.
Anonymous
Post 01/01/2026 10:07     Subject: "Early Action" kind of scammy at EDII schools?
Many people apply to these EA schools as a back-up plan.
A student having something to take the stress off as they know worse case they will be able to go to _________
The schools have targets as well. I know a student who applied Fordham EA - deferred BUT they will probably end up at an Ivy. Fordham clearly did not think they were going to yield them and decided not to throw time and $ at something that will not happen.

Did you student have any Demonstrated Interest at Furman?
Anonymous
Post 01/01/2026 09:38     Subject: "Early Action" kind of scammy at EDII schools?
Anonymous wrote:EA or ED is sort of scammy no matter what. I didn't finish it but i was skimming one of those "who gets into college" books and author was arguing that these things are all for the colleges. So the higher acceptance rate isn't that kids have a greater chance of getting in--colleges just use the early rounds to cherry pick the kids they are looking for, whether that is full-pay, recruited athletes, URM, legacies, etc. so it is helpful for kids who really want certainty but the perception that chances of getting are higher may be unfounded and it might actually be the opposite if you don't fit the profile of what that school is seeking


Don't combine the two. Two completely different things. EA non-binding at a school is completely different than schools that offer ED.
Anonymous
Post 01/01/2026 09:34     Subject: "Early Action" kind of scammy at EDII schools?
EA or ED is sort of scammy no matter what. I didn't finish it but i was skimming one of those "who gets into college" books and author was arguing that these things are all for the colleges. So the higher acceptance rate isn't that kids have a greater chance of getting in--colleges just use the early rounds to cherry pick the kids they are looking for, whether that is full-pay, recruited athletes, URM, legacies, etc. so it is helpful for kids who really want certainty but the perception that chances of getting are higher may be unfounded and it might actually be the opposite if you don't fit the profile of what that school is seeking