<p>Boston University, which advises most students against early decision, has a different philosophy on the benefits of regular decision.</p>
<p>BU spokesperson Colin Riley said the university prefers to make its admissions selections in the broad applicant pool of regular decision applicants to ensure diversity of achievement.</p>
<p>“We always saw it in our interest to do a regular applicant pool,” Riley said. “We can look at all the students.”</p>
<p>The early decision program at BU is very small and Riley estimated the University typically has 500 to 600 early decision applicants out of a total applicant pool of around 36,000. Students that apply early decision to BU are typically those applying to a specialized or selective program within the University.</p>
<p>For most students, Riley said applying regular decision benefits students and parents because it does not shut out any options like the binding contracts of early decision.</p>
<p>“We’d hope that when you had your acceptances you were able to sit down and look at them in a way that made sense,” Riley said. “What would your cost be four years from now? What would your achievement be relative to peers? What are your future plans? Not everything is set in stone. It’s making an informed decision. That’s why we encourage (applicants) to apply to the normal applicant pool.”</p>