<p>^^ Yes, but that does not mean the ED applicant pool selection criteria is not weighted heavily towards the specific criteria you list, with demonstrated interest taking a backseat. And I believe that is what the Director of Admissions was telling @momofzag.</p>
<p>Your data masks the real number that needs to be considered. The relevant number in question is not 43%. It is the percentage after all the legacies, athletes, outstanding talents and hooks galore people are taken. </p>
<p>For example, of those 554 ED applicants, if 135 (a very safe number to use given size of sports teams and legacies alone) are admitted via legacy, athletics, and some serious special hook, that leaves the real number for the applicant for which very high demonstrated interest is their biggest “thing” at 102/419, which is 24%. Sure it is higher than the RD rate, but all it takes is a strong recruiting class, a few more legacies and special hooks to drop it very close to the RD rate real fast.</p>
<p>So, I do get it that the ED pool, unless you have some real special thing going, is not necessarily the advantage the overall 43% indicates. And the fact that the Director of Admissions told as much to a legacy applicant really tells me the pool is so heavy with legacies, athletes and those extra special students that having high demonstrated interest probably does not stand out at all.</p>