<p>look here is the thing folks need to understand. the reason some schools give a “bump” to early action applicants is because it helps their yield number go up. this is also why some schools have binding early programs, or single choice, or whatever - because it helps their yield go up, and this looks good on the USN&WR rankings. </p>
<p>but we don’t do this. that’s why we have completely open early vs regular action. there is no reason for us to give students a preferential bump between the two cycles. if we were interested in giving students a bump we’d structure our application process in an entirely different way. </p>
<p>does that make sense?</p>
<p>e: i will agree with cellardweller - any discrepancy in the statistics is likely the result of some EA applicants being a very self-selecting group of highly prepared and motivated superlative students with excellent guidance support. but even then, the difference isn’t so big, and, more importantly, we don’t take or not take anyone in EA vs RA because of when they applied. the concept of a “bump” or “preference” is a very specific practice with regards to increasing yield numbers; we don’t do that.</p>