<p>No one will know how Harvard will run their EA program until they do it. As a rule, unless a school specifically puts in safeguards to over ride this, there will be more acceptances early than late even taking into account the special circumstances. This has borne out repeatedly. It is human nature to be more generous when there is a room to fill, and the purpose of admissions is to admit. As the room begins to fill up, it becomes more difficult to get a seat. This is the way things work in almost all cases. Also, most of the early crowd do tend to be from upper middle class on up type families who are savvy in admissions. So if you fall in that category, your app will not be as likely to be viewed with those who have the challenge card in their deck. If you are one who is first generation, or has had special circumstances, you will stand out more during EA due to the dearth of such applications. If you are the first applicant in that EA batch with an interest in classics and there is a call for classics majors, you might make the cut. If you are the umpteenth by the time RD applications are being screened, you lose that advantage, It just might be a banner year for classics majors. </p>
<p>Also, Harvard tends to defer, not reject EA candidates which does give you a second go at the process with higher grades, more achievements, etc, if you don’t make that first cut. Yes, the chances are slim, but they are there.</p>