I’m applying to Lehigh this year, and it’s are by far my number one choice. I already visited the school in april, and I interviewed at Lehigh this past September, and it went extremely well. I am a student from Maine. My intended major is Environmental Engineering. My high school GPA through my first 3 years is a 93.47 (unweighted). Last springs SAT’s, I scored a 690 on the Reading and Writing and a 680 on the Math, 1370 overall. Throughout high school I have taken all advanced (honors) english classes and math classes (4 english credits, 4.5 math credits). I will graduate with 7 credits in Science (Advanced Earth Space Science, Advanced Biology, Advanced Chemistry, AP Environmental Science, AP Chemistry, Advanced Physics, AP Biology). I will graduate with Calculus as well. I will graduate with 2 years of Spanish, 3 years of Social Studies (including AP US History). I scored a 4 on both AP Environmental Science and AP US History. I will also have a .5 credit pre-engineering course as well. My Quarter 1 grades for senior year are looking to close at: 97 in advanced physics, 95/96 in AP biology, 99/100 in AP chemistry, 94 in Calculus, 97 in English 12 advanced, and a 97 in pre-engineering. I have worked as a waiter at my local residential home for over a year now. I volunteered for 40 hours at the Maine Audubon Society on a salt marsh this summer, studying biodiversity of insects, plants, and birds. I participated in baseball my first 3 years, Spanish club my last two years, Key club my junior and senior years, and I will be inducted into National Honor Society next week. I’m very anxious to get into Lehigh and attend next fall. However I am not sure if I should apply Early Decision to improve my chances of being accepted. What are my chances of being accepted Early Decision? What are my chances of being accepted Regular Decision? Also if anyone can, please chance me at Lafayette under both Early Decision and Regular Decision. Any Input is much appreciated!
I would think you’re in the running at both Lehigh and Lafayette. I would also guess that if you are not accepted ED, you will be deferred to RD but not rejected. If you prefer one, apply ED. IT can’t hurt. that’s the strongest indication of interest possible, and both schools like that.
Thank you @gardenstategal!
If Lehigh is your first choice AND you can afford it, why would you not apply ED? You have a chance at both schools though are definitely not a sure thing, but ED definitely helps your chances quite a bit.
The affordability is a slight concern, so that is why I am iffy on applying Early Decision. @myjanda
Have you run the numbers to see if you/r family can afford it? My understanding is that you can back out of ED if your financial aid packet isn’t sufficient to cover your need, but not if you don’t get merit awards you were hoping for. This is what I found on another site:
"Probably the most apparent problem of applying under the Early Decision (ED) option is that if you receive early acceptance, you will get one—and only one—financial aid offer. If it isn’t what you need, this is the only condition under which you can decline early admission. (Remember that little line you signed when you applied for early action? You’re committed unless the financial gurus don’t come through for you.) Do you really want to wait until late spring and then find out you may have to scratch your big plans?
Once you’ve made your commitment, the school may not offer you the Cadillac of financial aid offers, since they know it’s a take it or leave it deal. Getting early acceptance also means you’ll probably need to pay a deposit on your enrollment—at least several hundred dollars. If your financial aid offer just isn’t going to cut it, backing out of your early action commitment will not only lose you your coveted spot but the cash you laid out to insure it."
Since you really want Lehigh, why not call the school’s financial aid dept and see if they will help you figure out what you might get from them? Applying ED definitely increases your chances but as you can see it has its own issues.
Good luck!
@myjanda I did end up having a conference call with Lehighs financial aid dept yesterday with my parents, and they will be reviewing my file monday! thank you so much for you help!
Acceptance rate is highly favorable at Lehigh in the ED round for highly qualified candidates.
I’m sorry, but I don’t quite understand what you’re saying @ClarinetDad16
Here is an article from Lehigh’s Brown and White discussing the early decision advantage to prospective students…
http://thebrownandwhite.com/2014/10/31/early-decision/
Here is a quote I think is important to note since a poster above gave you some bad advice about the ease of withdrawing from an early admission agreement.
“When deciding whether to apply early decision, students must take into account what it means to send a school an early decision application. Such applications are binding if the university or college to which a student applies decides to accept their application.”
If financial aid is not a concern, and Lehigh is your number one choice applying early admissions would be a great way to increase your chances of acceptance.
Good luck and keep us posted!
Thank you @kikkydee I will keep this thread updated!
Thanks again to everyone who commented on this thread! I was just accepted into Lehigh via regular decision!