Your thoughts about the Early Decision Program (EDP)

[Maiden]

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Hi Guys, I was wondering what you think about applying through EDP. Has anyone here applied through EDP and been accepted? Is anyone considering EDP for this application cycle? Has anyone applied to Yale through EDP? What are the advantages or disadvantages of this program? Your thoughts will be well appreciated.

 

[armybound]

well the disadvantage is if you're not accepted to your EDP school you end up having pretty late applications to the rest of the schools you'd apply to. you should be pretty sure that you're a strong applicant to Yale if you choose to do that.

 

[mongrel]

Yah, call their admissions office and ask them what your specific chances are in their EDP. I've heard that most schools, understanding what a gamble it is, will give you a fairly straight forward "yeh" or "neh" upfront.

Another side of the coin. If you applied EDP and were accepted, there wouldn't be any reason for them to try to entice you with a big financial aid package.

 

[Captain Fantastic]

I'm applying EDP this cycle.

I recommend contacting the schools and discussing your EDP candidacy. They will not guarantee you anything, but they can let you know if you are competitive with the typical EDP candidate. In my case, I went in for a quasi-interview with the admissions director at the school. During the interview, I gave them copies of my CV, transcript, and MCAT scores. Then she and the dean discussed my application and then emailed me their decision, encouraging my application through EDP.

The schools have virtually zero risk with EDP. If they don't like you they can decline your application and still have hundreds-to-thousands of applicants to fill the slots through the regular pool.

For me and my situtation, the risks are tolerable. Still, I wouldn't have done it if the dean and DOA hadn't given me the go ahead.

 

[Maiden]

Thanks for all the answers guys. You've given me much food for thought especially about the financial aid offer mentioned by Mongrel - I was wondering about that. I wish you success Captain Fantastic. Pray you get in.

 

[mongrel]

Thanks for all the answers guys. You've given me much food for thought especially about the financial aid offer mentioned by Mongrel - I was wondering about that. I wish you success Captain Fantastic. Pray you get in.

If you're really interested I'd still talk to admissions office, especially about the financial aid point. This may differ from school to school but it does stand to reason that they wouldn't need to offer you as much. I've also had one of the resident SDN adcom members confirm this train of thought. Still I'd check 😉 Good luck!