I'm planning to apply Early Decision 2 at the University of Chicago. I'm curious about how competitive it is compared to other rounds. Does anyone know if ED 2 offers any admissions advantage?
Sure, happy to help with this. Early Decision II can still confer an admissions advantage as it demonstrates a significant commitment to the school, similar to Early Decision I. You are essentially telling the school that it's your first choice and you will absolutely attend if accepted, which can be a strong factor in your favor.
However, numbers-wise, UChicago, like many colleges, typically accepts a larger proportion of its class during ED I. Hence, it is naturally more competitive in ED II merely because there are fewer spots left. Nonetheless, keep in mind that the pool of applicants in ED II can be different from ED I, which can make a direct comparison tricky.
In short, while it might be more competitive in ED II due to less availability, there's still an advantage because you're showing strong interest. So, if UChicago is your top choice, applying ED II could still be a favorable strategy. Just make sure your application is as strong as it can possibly be.
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