<p>You would have a much better chance applying through ED. College match is very selective, and many people who aren’t chosen though match are people who are perfectly qualified to be accepted to the colleges (and end up getting accepted through RD anyways). Whereas individual college ED acceptance rates are usually around ~25%, match acceptance rates are closer to 5%. If you are absolutely set on a school, I’d advise applying through ED rather than match.</p>
<p>However, you should note:
Early decision is binding, and for many low-income students, this may be a problem. While Harvard, Yale, and Princeton, Columbia and Stanford give very good aid, this is not true for every college. I’m not quite sure how Dartmouth’s financial aid is, but I know that Cornell isn’t as generous as some other schools. A few acquaintances of mine did have to turn down Cornell for financial reasons. Make sure to talk to your parents about the financial aspect of it, try a net price calculator, and make sure that your college choice will be affordable given your projected financial aid for before you decide to commit. </p>