Is Carnegie Mellon a good bet for Early Decision 2?

I'm thinking about applying to Carnegie Mellon via Early Decision 2. Does anyone know how ED2 might affect my chances of getting in? Would this improve my chances compared to regular decision?

Applying Early Decision (ED) can boost your chances at being admitted to many schools, and Carnegie Mellon University (CMU) is no exception. The ED acceptance rate at CMU tends to be higher than the Regular Decision (RD) acceptance rate. This is largely because the admissions office knows that ED applicants are committed to attending the university if accepted, which can help the school to secure high yield rates.

ED2 operates in much the same way, allowing students who miss the ED1 deadline, or who haven't yet decided that CMU is their absolute first-choice school, to also signify their strong commitment to attending the university. The advantage of applying ED2 is typically smaller than applying ED1, but it still shows your commitment to the school.

However, committing to ED or ED2 is a significant decision, since it's a binding agreement. Before you decide to apply ED2 to CMU, you should be certain that CMU is your top choice school and that it's affordable for you and your family. I would recommend checking out CMU's net price calculator to estimate your expected financial contribution and ensure your family is comfortable with it.

In conclusion, applying Early Decision 2 to CMU could improve your chances compared to Regular Decision. But this commitment should only be made if you're confident that CMU is your first choice and a feasible financial option.