<p>Question on the early decision process - specifically with respect to Amherst College.</p>
<p>Is there any advantage or improvement in admissions chances at all with applying for early decision. </p>
<p>I like the concept of early decision, but the restriction to doing so to only one college kinda scares me .... It leaves the other choices and options to later in spring - makes me nervous as to being last minute. </p>
<p>Amherst selectivity makes things a crap shoot ...</p>
<p>if youre sure amherst is your top choice, and you would be ready to sacrifice all other colleges for amherst, go for it!</p>
<p>If not, dont even consider it. Even though most colleges have higher acceptance rates for ED candidates, its often due to other reasons such as athletic recruitment etc.. Having said that, you may have a higher chance if you apply ED, but its not worth it to apply only because its easier to get in.</p>
<p>If you're sure you want to be at Amherst and have the ability to pay for entire tuition in case you get no financial aid, go ED. Otherwise, don't.</p>
<p>"Otherwise, don't."</p>
<p>Can you explain why not? :)</p>
<p>Applying ED to your number one top choice when you need financial aid is generally governed by this Common App rule:
[quote]
Should a student who applies for financial aid not be offered an award that makes attendance possible, the student may decline the offer of admission and be released from the Early Decision commitment.
[/quote]
<p>So if you're not offered enough to support attendance, you say thanks but no thanks, and apply RD elsewhere. But realize that you cannot compare FA offers with ED; you have to take it or leave it.</p>
<p>The ED acceptance rate is significantly higher. Partially this is due to a stronger applicant pool with self-selecting students and recruited athletes, but some schools will take it into account as a good demonstration of interest. Liberal art colleges tend to do this more often than others, although not all do, and I'm not sure about Amherst specifically.</p>
<p>The general rule of thumb is not to apply ED solely for an admissions advantage. If all of your schools accepted you and finances were equal, your ED school should be the one you unequivocally select. If ED also confers a benefit in admissions, then so be it, but don't apply early for that reason alone.</p>
<p>Financial aid is a consideration. You can turn down an ED offer if the financial aid doesn't allow you to attend, so you won't get stuck paying an exorbitant amount. The disadvantage is that you can't compare offers, and if you turn it down, you can't reapply RD.</p>
<p>Really? Hmmm, for some reason, one of my relatives was forced to go even though he couldn't afford it. It turned out fine though, however he must have had the wrong info. Sorry!</p>
<p>Thanks (I think ;-) )</p>
<p>Financial aid is not a big issue (thank God!) because my son recently received a sizable inheritance. </p>
<p>Our biggest concern is potentally wasting an ED opportunity on a 30-40% admittance chance school (albeit definitely by far my son's #1 choice), versus a 90% chance on his second choice, where we're concerned that the 90% will drop significantly with waiting and doing the January application/spring acceptance. </p>
<p>I'm really growing to hate this admissions stuff. Seems like it was so much better 30 years ago ;-)</p>
<p>Then there's the issue that if he doesn't apply ED to his number one choice and is not admitted RD, he may regret not having applied ED. Of course, of the school he lands at is just as good a match for him as Amherst is, then his education won't suffer.</p>
<p>It's definitely a toss-up. Nothing is guaranteed, even with an admissions advantage in ED and stats that seem worthy of admittance. But the best option really is to ED at the school you like most, especially if finances aren't a problem. Make sure you take a look at a lot of alternatives.</p>