<p>Hi, here’s a little more about myself.
I applied as a General Engineering major:
3.75 CalWeighted, several AP classes.
2100 SAT - 800M 650R 650W
32 ACT- 33E 35M 30R 31S 08W
I have had jobs and volunteer experience.</p>
<p>I recently applied to Cal Poly as ED but I have until this Friday to make a change.
I was just doing some research and I’m just confused, would it be easier to get in as a RD rather than an ED? Also I’m retaking the ACT in December, would a higher score make a difference in the ED vs. RD situation? Thanks so much in advance.</p>
<p>Dude. I feel you. And I have no idea. But your SAT is solid, and your M+R is incredibly high (relatively speaking…it’s just…really really good, much better than mine) for SLO engineering…if your GPA was any higher I’d say you had a great shot at admission</p>
<p>I can answer the ACT question with my own research. The answer’s Maybe. The ACT takes 3-8 weeks to grade, and SLO stops accepting scores on January 15th, which means…it might. But your SAT is really solid for SLO engineering. </p>
<p>As far as it being easier to get in RD, here’s what I’ve concluded (and it’s just from hours of reading, but it’s not based on anything <em>substantial</em>): Most people who want SLO as a safety/to compare to the UCs (the bulk of the “competition”) will be applying RD. So the ED pool is smaller, but they’re more selective. You have a very marketable SAT score, but I can’t tell you your chances because your GPA is pretty low. If you apply ED you’ll be against fewer people but they will be more selective. During RD, however, they have more people, and more people (to the best of my understanding) with good scores to sift through.</p>
<p>So it’s really a toss-up. If you’d be happy getting into SLO definitely apply ED…I’m considering resending my ED because I want a school that preps for Grad school and gives me the best education and I can’t make decisions, so if you know you want to go to SLO you’re in a much better position than I.</p>
<p>If you are absolutely committed to Cal Poly as your number one choice, why don’t you leave your application in as an ED and see how you do? If on the other hand you are not sure CP is where you want to go, then you will be better off putting your application in RD. If you don’t get accepted into ED, then your application rolls over into regular decision for consideration. ED at CP is not to be taken lightly because if you turn down an acceptance from early decision, the next time you can apply is as a transferring junior.</p>
<p>I agree with swimdogmom. If you do not get in ED you are rolled over to RD. Have you visited the campus?? Are you 100% committed to attending if you are accepted ED? I would leave your application in place.</p>
<p>Thanks for all your answers, I really appreciate it. I was told that it was easier to get into ED, so I went ahead and I applied. Now I’m favoring more of the UC’s but I’m skeptical if I can get in for engineering. But if ED is just as hard to get into as RD, I’d most likely switch my app to RD. Does anybody know if the admissions office officially allows for changes like that?</p>
<p>watchthethrone, here is the link if you want to make any changes to your application–the deadline to make changes to ED application is Nov. 15th so you might want to do this right away–and then follow up by emailing the admissions department:</p>
<p>It looks like you would have to fill in your request to change from ED to RD in the space at the bottom that says “Miscellaneous Changes”. Whether you use this form or not, you probably should get in touch with the admissions office right away, if indeed you have made the decision to withdraw from ED.</p>
<p>The bottom line is stay the course. If you do not get in ED you are automatically rolled over to RD and have the same chance as anyone else. Your ACT and SAT scores are fine. If I were you, I would relax and not take the exam again. Take it easy and know that you’ve done all you can. Apply to at least 6 other schools as well. Include Cal Poly Pomona in the group as well. Good luck – relax and enjoy the ride and I hope you get in!!</p>
<p>So my college counselor informed me today that usually private schools will instantly reject you if you try and change an ED to a RD, since you’re not that confident that you like the school or not. Is this true with Cal Poly?</p>
<p>^ your college counselor is (take your pick):
a. misinformed
b. ignorant
c. overstating for effect
d. intending to mean you are instantly rejected from ED, not RD</p>
<p>My vote is on option c.</p>
<p>I’ve been around hyper elite college admissions more than most college counselors, and that notion is absurd. What does common sense tell you? Moving from ED to RD simply means your file is picked up from the ED pile, and put in the RD pile. How would that possibly influence a Reader’s impression of an applicant? </p>
<p>If there is concern that a school is managing USNWR reported yield % (aka the Tufts Syndrome) by favoring applicants who appear to be highly motivated to attend, then an applicant should send a note saying that the switch from ED to RD is due to a realization about the uncertainly of financial aid award amounts, not due to second thoughts about the school.</p>
Depends on the year. Here is an example, completely hypothetical:</p>
<p>2012:
ED Applicants: 500
ED Allocation for 2012: 50% of slots, or 55 acceptances
ED Ave SAT: 1380
RD Ave SAT: 1400</p>
<p>2013:
ED Applicants: 500
ED Allocation for 2013: 35% of slots, or 39 acceptances
ED Ave. SAT: 1420
RD Ave. SAT: 1390</p>
<p>You see it all depends on the ratio that School’s Admissions committee sets for ED vs. RD allocations. That can change from year to year. One year it might be easier to get in via ED, while in another year it might be easier via RD.</p>
for that reason alone, ED is not an ethical choice for you, irrespective of probabilities. Switch your app to RD if it is not too late. Read the ED guidelines. If accepted via ED, you are expected honor your written pledge to matriculate, barring unforeseen economic or family issues. </p>
<p>However, if integrity and ethics are not important to you, leave it as is.</p>
<p>Don’t apply ED unless you will study there if you get in. You can get out of an ED, but you need a pretty good reason. There are stories of students losing the acceptances from all of their choices for screwing with one school’s ED.</p>
. That would apply primarily to top 20 Privates, many of whom, especially Ivies, share an admissions decisions database. And yes, screw with one, screw with all, and live with the repurcussions.</p>
<p>My point has nothing to do with possible punative outcomes in breaking the ED contract … my point is that Western culture depends upon a common commitment to integrity and ethics to function properly and efficiently (completely disregarding the religious aspects of morality). My point is – don’t disregard the ED contractual commitments for ETHICAL reasons. Don’t start your adult life on that slippery slope.</p>