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No, the Early Action (EA) program is need-blind, just like the regular decision (RD) admissions track.</p>
<p>If anything, applying EA probably helps one’s chance of securing an acceptance. Read on for an explanation of why.
That’s inconsistent with what I’ve heard, although there is certainly variation from one year to the next based on partitioning of the Harvard applicant pool (strength of applicants applying EA vs. strength of applicants applying RD).</p>
<p>The Admissions Committee has to project into the future somewhat when considering whether to classify an EA applicant as accept/reject/defer. In the Fall (when EA decisions are formulated), the strength of the RD pool is unknown. If the AdCom underestimates the strength of the RD pool, then few or no deferred EA applicants may be extended acceptances. (In this case, the implication is that some EA applicants were admitted that would have been rejected when considered with the RD pool.) If the AdCom overestimates the strength of the RD pool, then a healthy number of deferred EA applicants may be extended acceptances.</p>
<p>FYI, whether they apply EA or RD, applicants “on the bubble” may be offered a “delayed” acceptance for matriculation the following Fall (more than a year later). Applicants who take advantage of this offer would have to fill the gap year with some sort of productive activity.</p>
<p>Hope this helps…</p>