<p>I don’t think the students applying early to those schools are stronger than those applying to Brown ED, but I do think its harder to standout RD round when there are so many more applicants. As we all know, plenty of very qualified ED applicants at all these schools (including Brown) are not taken during the ED round, so the RD round is full of very qualified candidates. Plus, the RD round includes some taken EA to HYPMS who want to see where else they get in-its not just a round of rejected ED applicants.
I really think it is an advantage to apply ED. will it make an unqualified candidate now qualified? no. But it ups the odds for any strong applicant.</p>