<p>^Which is what I based my post off of. I do believe that while there is an arbitrary quality to admissions, deferral can act as a fail safe that can account for what would otherwise appear completely random decisions. The “iffy” applicant isn’t outright rejected but deferred, the strongest accepted, and the definitively weaker, rejected. Besides, I do feel that this supposed difference between the early and regular pools is inflated in a sense. Despite the fact that a larger contingent of less qualified applicants applies in this period, there are probably just as many if not more highly qualified applicants who would give many an early applicant a run for their money so to speak.</p>
<p>p.s. I also forgot to add that the “best to apply early” scenario would most fit those who had Stanford as their top choice, hence the overwhelming desire to apply to it REA despite the advantages of applying ED to other schools.</p>