Does Early Decision increase your chances of getting into universities of your choice?

Reema Dalal had 'good' SAT scores and grades, and was extremely keen on getting into Columbia University - an Ivy League university. Ordinarily, Reema's chances of getting into Columbia would be around 14 per cent, but since she applied for 'Early Decision', her chances of acquiring admission were close to 40 per cent and she was offered admission to one of the most coveted universities in the United States.

Does Reema's story demonstrate that Early Decision increases your chances of getting admission? Few universities will actually claim that a student has better chances of getting admission if they apply through the Early Decision program. In fact, Harvard University's website states, "There is no incentive whatsoever for Early Action colleges to admit weaker candidates early and then have to reject stronger Regular Action candidates. Diminishing the quality of the student body would be antithetical to the goals of any institution." However, statistics speak for themselves. For the class of 2004, Yale University admitted fewer than 16 per cent of applicants who applied for regular admission as compared to 37 per cent of the students who applied for Early Decision. Similarly Amherst College accepted 35 per cent of ED candidates as compared to 19 per cent of regular candidates. Again, at the University of Pennsylvania, the numbers were 26 per cent and 47 per cent for regular and early decision applicants, respectively. (Statistics obtained from The Atlantic)

Early Decision has ramifications on the SAT scores as well. Research by Christopher Avery of Harvard's Kennedy School of Government and others, showed that applicants with a combined SAT score of 1400 to 1490, who applied for Early Decision were as likely to be accepted as regular admission candidates whose scores range from 1500 to 1600. Similarly, an Early Decision candidate with scores ranging from 1200 to 1290, had a greater chance of being accepted than a regular admission candidate with scores ranging from 1300 to 1390.

Applicants who are admitted under the Early Decision program cannot initiate new applications and must withdraw their applications from all pending universities. Also, keep in mind that you are not allowed to apply to two universities for Early Decision. Most schools have a deadline of November 15 for Early Decision applicants.

Even though the Early Decision program works best for students who don't require any financial assistance, many schools like Dartmouth College will match the financial need of students if admitted under the ED program. Other schools let you off the hook if their financial aid offer does not match the financial need you demonstrated.

James Fallows of The Atlantic has a contradictory view of the entire Early Decision program. "Today's high school students and their parents have no choice but to adapt their ap...