<p>[What</a> Colleges Can Learn About Applicants From When They Apply - Head Count - The Chronicle of Higher Education](<a href=“http://chronicle.com/blogs/headcount/what-colleges-can-learn-about-applicants-from-when-they-apply/34473]What”>http://chronicle.com/blogs/headcount/what-colleges-can-learn-about-applicants-from-when-they-apply/34473)</p>
<p>The article felt a bit predictable to me. This is a typical case of correlation and not causation. Those who apply early are more prone to be driven students who truly care about their academic success.</p>
<p>These college acceptance statistics are also interesting. Look at the comparison of the early admit rate vs. the regular admit rate for each school represented. The difference is sizable.</p>
<p><a href=“2013 College Acceptance Rates - Interactive Feature - NYTimes.com”>2013 College Acceptance Rates - Interactive Feature - NYTimes.com;
<p>“Those who apply early are more prone to be driven students who truly care about their academic success.”</p>
<p>Pat1120, while this is a common statement made by admissions offices, I do not buy it for one second. It is purely a myth that ED/EA applicants are more motivated. And even if they were, it does not explain the 3X higher acceptance rate. ED acceptance rates are higher because they effectively raise the yield rate significantly, thereby dropping the acceptance rate significantly too. </p>
<p>I definitely agree that universities accept ED applicants with very high stats…students who would ordinarily be admitted to better universities. That is how many universities secure high-stat applicants…by locking them in.</p>