Are there any benefits to applying for Early Action?

Applying to College
1

According to my counselor, it’s apparently easier to get into schools like UNC Chapel Hill and (most likely) NC State if you apply for Early Action. It shows that you have yourself together that early in the year and the admission pool is smaller. Is this really true though? I was originally going to apply for EA, but there’s been so much going on for me that I haven’t really had time to work on my essay (applying through CommonApp). I have a rough draft, but it’s…“meh” at best. I also took the SAT for the first time today (it’s a long story, don’t ask why I took it so late) and while colleges accept today’s SAT past the EA deadline, I’m not sure how well I did. In case I did bad, I want another chance to take it. However, if it’s true that admissions are easier during EA then would a poor SAT score be negated?

The only school that I’m PINING for is NC State. It is absolutely, positively where I want to go. As of now, my stats are:
-3.875 UW
-W 4.4375
-Class rank: Top quarter
-5 APs: AP Human Geo
APUSH
AP Lang and Comp/AP Eng III
AP Psych
AP Lit and Comp/AP Eng IV
(*I’ve only actually taken AP HumGeo so far. I’m currently taking APUSH and AP Eng III, and I have Psych and AP Eng IV next semester)

Overall, my stats seem to be enough to get into State as it is. I feel like I scored anywhere between 1200-1400 on the SAT today, for better or worse, and my essay right now isn’t bad but it could use some work. I’ll definitely edit it within the next two weeks, but it definitely won’t be Harvard quality by then; I just hope it’ll be NC State quality.

Another reason I’m interested in EA is because APUSH is killing me right now. I’m not sure if I’ll get a C or a B in this class, and I’m not sure I want to wait and find out; I don’t want my good GPA to be adversely affected by this class. On the flip side, should I wait for RD to improve my essay and/or SAT scores? Or will my current stats compensate for that?

TL;DR: Are there any advantages to applying for EA, and is it really easier to get into a school if I do?

2

You have almost 2 weeks to meet the Oct 15 NC State EA deadline. Do it! That is plenty of time to revise your essays 5 or 6 times until they are reasonably coherent. If you get stuck on a common app topic start on a different one and use whichever sounds better. Work with parents, friends, your GC etc. to help you revise the essays. Your GPA is above admission average, and if you score even at the bottom of your SAT estimate you will be fine. You can continue to revise your common app essays , plus any school specific essays for other schools as most EA deadlines are Nov 1. Make sure that you put NC State on your SAT score reports to avoid delays. Good luck!

3

I think it is true. Make time.

4

Your SAT is more important than that 1 grade. It sounds like there are more reasons to wait than go ahead in a rush when you have no idea what those scores will be. You do really need to put the work in for APUSH though at least until they send in the mid-year report. The acceptance rates for EA and RD are essentially the same anyway.

5

Bump I’m in the same boat!

6

If you get an early admission to the school (and division/major if it admits by division/major), and you know that the school is affordable, then it becomes a safety.