Does applying Early Decision help?

[danielle9281]

I am applying to UCLA and if I get in that is the school I definitely want to attend. I have a 3.85 GPA and 165 on my LSAT. I am wondering if I apply early decision will that hep me get in?

[beachbum]

ED almost always boosts your chances, and gives schools zero incentive to give you any scholarship money.

[James Bond]

If it didn't help, what would be the point of its existence?

[omninode]

ED can (possibly) get you in at schools that normally would reject someone with your numbers. However, I would not ED if you don't have to because it takes you out of the running for scholarships. The school knows they have you locked down, so they don't have to compete for you by offering $$$.


Edit: I personally think the ED system is a bad thing. Schools are taking people that normally would not qualify, because they know the student has no choice but to attend at full price. The applicant never even has a chance to find out they could have gotten money from another school. That's fine if you are 100% set on attending your dream school, but I think a lot of students get cheated because they ED for a shot at a higher ranked school (and ~$180,000 in debt) when they might have gotten a significant scholarship from a slightly lower ranked, but still great, school.