Case Western Reserve and Early Decision II Chances?

I'm considering applying for Early Decision II at Case Western Reserve University. Does anyone know if applying this way significantly boosts your chances, or are there other factors more important for this school?

Applying Early Decision II (ED II) to Case Western Reserve University (CWRU) does indeed have the potential to boost your odds of acceptance. This is because ED II, like Early Decision I (ED I), is a binding application plan, meaning that if you're admitted, you're obligated to attend barring any significant financial aid issues. Colleges appreciate this because it makes yield predictions more accurate—yield is the percentage of admitted students who choose to enroll.

CWRU, like many institutions, includes demonstrated interest as a factor in their admissions process. Applying ED II sends a strong signal that CWRU is a top choice for you, thus demonstrating interest.

That said, there are many other factors at play in college admissions. At CWRU, these factors include your academic record (like your coursework rigor, GPA, and test scores), extracurricular involvement, letters of recommendation, and application essays. While the commitment of ED II can give your application a boost, it's still important to ensure your overall application is as strong as it can be.

It's also essential to feel confident in your choice to apply ED II, as it's a considerable and binding commitment—make sure CWRU is truly your top choice and that it's a financial fit for your family. While you can withdraw from your commitment if your financial aid package is truly insufficient, this process can be complex, as well as heartbreaking since you need to tell the school no after being admitted, so ideally you'd avoid it.

To summarize, applying ED II should not be a last-ditch effort to boost your chances of admission, but rather a reflection of your clear intent to attend if admitted. I hope this information clarifies the role of ED II in your application process! Good luck!