I’m considering where to apply early decision and I can use some help.
First off, I had another account on here but I somehow can’t log into it, so I created a new account. Some of this mind sound familiar if you read anything from that account. As far as where to apply ED I’m between Emory and Davidson with a slight edge for Davidson. Now, my absolute dream schools are Duke and Princeton, but I am fairly certain they are out of reach, so I don’t think I should bother wasting an ED application on them – or should I? I was thinking about applying ED deadline 1 (November) to Davidson, and if I don’t get in, to apply to ED 2 at Emory (January deadline). Is that permitted and/or advisable? Or should I just “go for broke” and apply ED to Duke or Princeton? Here are my stats:
Objective:
I’m a URM
ACT: 34 // SAT 2’s in the mid 700s
Rank: 40/647 (top ~6% (not the greatest, I know))
UW GPA: 3.5 with upward trend (straight A’s but for 1 B Junior year versus almost all B’s Freshman year and more A’s than B’s sophomore year)
Weighted GPA: 4.85
10 AP’s and 6 Dual enrollment classes
Extrcurricular:
I want to study neuroscience (possibly minor) and I have an interest in Developmental Psych
*Earned a Child Development Associate Certificate through Early Childhood program at school
*President of Future Educators of America (2 years) and county-level representative to same club (tutor elementary students each week as part of club)
*Summer research at Child Development lab (2 summers, 20 hours a week)
*VP Chemistry Club
*Prez/founder of Scrabble Club (have played in tournaments)
*Highly involved in church youth group (run media on Sundays, camp counselor, fundraise for orphanages, missons trips each summer)
Strong test scores. Your UW GPA is low but have you looked at your high schools profile? Top 6% of class is pretty good. I would strongly consider consulting with a college admissions consultant to get their perspective on your chances. Your EC’s seem pretty focused and you have the URM thing going for you. Normally, you’d really want a 3.85 or even a 3.9 UW GPA to consider appyling ED to Princeton but from looking at your stats and class rank, I’m guessing that your high school is very competitive or you area good test taker
Thanks for the input. Yeah, I know my GPA is way-low for Princeton/Duke (and, for that matter, for Emory and Davidson), but I am hoping the upward trend, ECs, and Test Scores compensate. I may take your advice and hire an admissions consultant.
Do you think that Davidson and/or Emory are realistic if I apply ED?
If your rec letters and essays are good, I would go for one of your reach schools! Honestly, I think you have a somewhat decent shot. It’s all about the “what if”, and I think you might be pleasantly surprised. Good luck!
If you WANT to have the whole college application process over in Dec, then
I’d apply ED to Davidson and Emory as you have planned, and cross your fingers. Your grades just arent strong enough for Princeton . You may have a better chance at Duke, but both schools use the ED round to formally “accept” their many recruited athletes, as well as alumni kids, children of faculty, and the children of major donors.
But do yourself a BIG favor- have all the essays written and the applications ready to go for all the other colleges you plan on applying to- nothing spoils a Xmas break more than having to write essays when your heart is broken.
Think very hard if ED makes sense at all. When a student presents four schools and asks which one should be the ED, that tells me you don’t have a strong preference. That lack may show up in essays and interviews. I think if you do a bit more research, the ED choice will become clearer to you.
You have a strong high school resume. The upward trend and focused EC work as much in your favor as the URM. status. Is it enough? No one can answer that. With acceptances rates under 25%, and especially under 10%, very few students can expect acceptance at these schools. Princeton may accept you and Davidson may waitlist you. In other words, for Duke, Davidson and Princeton, don’t differentiate among these schools based on their acceptance rates. Also, don’t apply ED to Emory simply because, of the four schools, you are most likely to be admitted there.
Enough about reaches, do you have a good safety or low match where you would be happy to attend? The safety is the most important school to find, especially if you’re aiming high. Don’t settle for the default directional state or even flagship state if you don’t want to attend these schools. You have many other options for safeties or very low matches. Apply rolling or EA to your safeties before the ED. Getting into college before Thanksgiving is a very nice ego boost, even if it’s not the “dream” school.
@SlackerMomMD – I don’t necessarily care to have a decision by Christmas (though it would be awesome!). I was just hoping to improve my chances at these schools. I have a couple low matches in mind: Universities of Florida and Miami. If I don’t get in anywhere I will prob go to Uni of Central Florida where the top 10 percent of FL schools is auto-admitted as long as they have average-ish test scores. I was thinking Wake Forest might be a high match and I’m also interested in applying there.
But you make an excellent point @SlackerMomMD, I shouldn’t be applying ED unless I am truly confident that is be happy at a given school. I have some visits lined up for the fall. Hopefully they will clarify things.
