It’s hard to find ED2 acceptance rates broken out. I also have not ever heard what the strategy is for schools and how they decide to accept kids in ED2. At that point, the small schools have their athletes, etc. I would assume they take kids in ED2 that fill holes they really want filled…especially since those kids will definitely come. Maybe kids from underrepresented states or first gen kids or URMs get a bump there. Certainly, kids with the highest of stats also get a bump. They want those kids.
S19 applied and was accepted to Grinnell in RD. I don’t see it as a more “creative” school. Grinnell is pretty strong in the sciences. Have you visited? We found the kids pretty mainstream and super happy. Be aware that Grinnell is very isolated with not much of a town at all. Lots going on on campus but really no where else to go within an hour’s drive. I do think that ED is more of a bump at Grinnell than at some other LACs.
If you have artistic ability, that might be of interest at a sporty LAC since they need artists as well and probably have fewer applying there than to maybe other LACs that lean more artsy like Vassar.