Do I have a better chance of being admitted if I apply early?
Early DecisionEarly Decision applicants are admitted at a higher rate than Regular Decision applicants. The practical advantage to applying early, however, is that you receive a decision in December. If admitted, you will attend your first-choice college (Dartmouth!) and you will not have to file other applications.
Keep in mind that the published higher percentage of applicants accepted early is somewhat misleading because it includes recruited Division 1 athletes, whose credentials have been reviewed in advance. With recruited athletes removed from the Early Decision numbers, the statistical advantage isn’t as large.