How much does Early Decision matter really? Forum

[tiggaplease]

How much does it help your chances of getting in? Do they only accept the shoo-ins?

My stats: LSAT 161, GPA 3.34. Was going to apply for UC Hastings' early decision before I realized I missed it by a day, so maybe I just need a shoulder to cry on.

I'll still be submitting a regular app hopefully in the next few weeks anyway, along with Lewis and Clark, USF, Santa Clara (bleh), maybe U of Wash, maybe UC Davis. Think west coast

[im_blue]

No shot at Hastings, Davis, and UW. Without a retake, your best options are L&C, Loyola LA, USD, SCU, and USF.

[tiggaplease]

Well, my question was about Early Decision, but okay.

[MysticalWheel]

ED essentially gives power to the school over whether you will or will not attend, so it does matter significantly. As far as admissions, most schools state that EDers do not receive a "significant advantage," but who the hell knows what that means.

MW

[HopefulFish]

No shot at Hastings, Davis, and UW. Without a retake, your best options are L&C, Loyola LA, USD, SCU, and USF.

this moronic response reminds me of that "TLS in less than 2 minutes" video.

[Mike12188]

No shot at Hastings, Davis, and UW. Without a retake, your best options are L&C, Loyola LA, USD, SCU, and USF.

this moronic response reminds me of that "TLS in less than 2 minutes" video.

Quick question. Why is it moronic?

[HopefulFish]

Quick question. Why is it moronic?

Because you touch yourself at night.

[Mike12188]

Quick question. Why is it moronic?

Because you touch yourself at night Because I have a 164.

FTFY

[2014]

No shot at Hastings, Davis, and UW. Without a retake, your best options are L&C, Loyola LA, USD, SCU, and USF.

this moronic response reminds me of that "TLS in less than 2 minutes" video.

It's not moronic it is accurate.
Without a retake the OP isn't getting into any of the 3 schools pointed out by im_blue, leaving the other ones as schools in the same region as the "best" options.

Unless you are one of those people who really believes that anyone with any numbers has a chance to gain admission, but anecdotally OP is going to get declined from those schools every time unless he is a URM, and even URMs are up in the air in California.

[tiggaplease]

*sigh*

I suppose I posted the question wrong. If this were an exercise in palm-reading, I would have posted a "what will I get in to?!?!" question in the palm-reading forum.

My question is in the subject line. How much does Early Decision matter really? Does it give one a significant advantage over simply applying early, without the commitment? Or do they just accept people who were shoo-ins anyway?

[whymeohgodno]

*sigh*

I suppose I posted the question wrong. If this were an exercise in palm-reading, I would have posted a "what will I get in to?!?!" question in the palm-reading forum.

My question is in the subject line. How much does Early Decision matter really? Does it give one a significant advantage over simply applying early, without the commitment? Or do they just accept people who were shoo-ins anyway?

It won't matter because you wouldn't get in with or without Early Decision. Why is this even relevant?

[bk1]

To assuage your fears, ED does help but it isn't going to get you in anywhere that you are already below both medians. ED helps borderline candidates, it does not help autorejects.

[nihilism is key]

It won't matter because you wouldn't get in with or without Early Decision. Why is this even relevant?

The OP is asking in general for all applicants, not for him/herself. So it is relevant to any applicant wrestling with the "to apply early or not to apply early" question.

[094320]

..

[northwood]

It helps people slightly below the medians. It will not help you if you are significantly below both medians ( more than .3 on the gpa or 2 lsat points). IF you are above both medians, it is a nice way of telling the school that its number one on your list and you will go, and be happy to pay full sticker.

IMO, if you are above or at both medians, it would be foolish to apply ED. My reasoning: since its not that much of a booster, you would probably get in anyways ( and maybe if you are above median with some money). Plus, you can get in at peer schools, and even get some money from them as well. Why shut yourself off from lowering your cost of tuition ( even for one year), when you can roll the dice and try to get your costs down?

[beachbum]

To assuage your fears, ED does help but it isn't going to get you in anywhere that you are already below both medians. ED helps borderline candidates, it does not help autorejects.

/thread

[tiggaplease]

Thank you to the real responses. Helps for borderliners, not for those below the medians. Got it!

To the idiots still bent on whether I'll get into Hastings or not, I can handle the fact that I probably won't get in. But answer the freaking question I asked, which is how much ED affects situations, not whether or not I'll get in. Stupid trolls.

[Mike12188]

Retake