Apply ED to Reed?

So I really think I want to be at Reed next year, but I’m worried about applying ED because of affordability (Even though they do have great financial aid).
I just need to know if I could make it during regular admissions
I will be scheduling an interview in the Fall, and will hopefully be visiting (I live across the country)
I plan to contact alumni in my area, and I am also tutored in math by a Reed Alumni

ACADEMICS
-I go to a very small and competitive high school that does not rank it’s students
-Unweighted GPA is about a 3.1 (Honor Roll except for math)
-Weighted GPA: 4.3
ACT: 32 (first time, will be taking it again after tutoring myself)
SAT (the new one): 1280, (first time, will be retaking it)
AP’s: AP Lang (4), APUSH (4), AP Gov, AP Econ, AP Enviromental, AP Psych, AP Lit
I have taken only honors or AP classes throughout high school

EXTRACURRICULAR
-I have been volunteering with the Girls Rock organization in my city, which is a music program with the aim of educating girls and trans youth on political issues, media, and youth organizing. Through this program I teach 12 year old’s the bass guitar every summer (Will be an organizer this coming year)
-JV soccer my freshman and sophomore year
-Club sailing team sophomore year
-Diversity in Education club, leadership role/ organizer
-Editor of the school newspaper
-Volunteer with Hillary Clinton’s campaign
-Member of the Black Lives Matter branch within my city
-Participant in the Girls Rock After School Program
-Generally just super involved with social justice issues
-Member of my school’s GSA

LEADERSHIP/ HONORS
-2016 Delegate of Palmetto Girls State
-Organizer in several school clubs
-Published contributor in a local LGBTQ based magazine
-Sold 2 pieces of original artwork
-Newspaper editor

By the time I apply I will also have completed a large college level thesis project which I hope to send to multiple academic journals for publishing (not that I am at all confident that it will be publishable, but I have heard that even the initiative to send it out will be impressive)

Any Feedback would be awesome, thanks!

You really have to visit before applying ED. Also, every college has a net price calculator on their website. Work with your parents to run it for Reed to see what you may be expected to pay.

yeah, I will be visiting if I apply ED of course. And I went through the net price calculator but I’m not sure how reliable/realistic it is? I’m just afraid of being stuck with no way to pay if something changes.

If your parents have a small business, are divorced, or own rental property, it may not be as accurate. If you need to compare FA offers, apply RD. If you visit and then decide to apply ED, have a solid list of EA and RD schools you like and would be willing to attend. Don’t slack on preparing applications to the other schools, and don’t pull your other apps if you get in until you see your FA package and are sure you can afford it.

Love your ECs! I don’t think you need to retake ACT at all. Time would be better spent explaining the 3.1/4.3. Coming out of Florida (I’m assuming) with those amazing ECs, you could have a very strong RD application. After you visit Portland please post again about your impressions.

Um…, time to explain the GPA is minutes. The OP can do both. Your UW GPA is on the low end, and that is too late to fix. If you think you can improve your ACT, then I’d study and take another shot at it.

Well, er, if OP twiddled her fingers and, you know, posted the first thought that just- WOW- popped into her head, then, um, oh yeah, look, two minutes!

Reed’s average ACT is 31 and 75th percentile is 33. Is it possible to score a 33, 34, 35, or 36 on a retake? Sure, but not easy, and what does it gain? More than many private schools Reed looks for fit that shines through a well crafted expressive personal statement that skips contrived hem and haw laziness.

If the OP thinks they can get a higher score, they should retest. If they had a higher GPA, I’d say not to if they know they really want to go to Reed, because generally that score would be high enough. But an UW B average raises questions about whether the OP is up for Reed academically. Higher test scores will help offset those concerns with admissions.

“I’m just afraid of being stuck with no way to pay if something changes.”

You can’t be stuck; if the ED financial aid offer is insufficient to support attendance, you say thanks but no thanks, and apply elsewhere RD (or perhaps ED2). This is true at all schools.

It is stressful if it happens, though. Keep up with your other apps until you have an acceptable FA offer in hand, and be ready to walk away if it is not sufficient.