<p>Female
White
Live in new York.</p>
<p>SAT: 2000
Subjects: 710 lit, 710 us
ACT: 30 (retaking in sept.)</p>
<p>GPA: 3.6 - 3.7 uw
School does not rank
Taking the only 4 aps my school has, taking 4 or 5 college classes offered through my school, rest honors if honors was offered.</p>
<p>ECs:
Marching Band 4 yrs.
Jazz band 3yrs
Band officer junior year, will be treasurer senior yr.
Volunteering at local library fresh-junior year.
Summer volunteering at local hospital.
Summer/senior volunteering at different hospital and nursing home.
NHS
Young scientists research program at canisius college</p>
<p>Do I have a shot, it's my top choice, I've visited campus twice and have contacted my admissions rep a few times.</p>
<p>If it’s really your top choice and you can affor to go, apply ED. I think you’d get in with no problem. Regular decision is more random, and people get disappointed every year.</p>
<p>If it’s really your top choice and you can afford to go, apply ED. I think you’d get in with no problem. Regular decision is more random, and people get disappointed every year.</p>
<p>Yeah, I was thinking about ed, but financial aid is an important factor. So I’m not sure if I’ll be able to or not.</p>
<p>I think you have a good shot. I got in this past year with the same ACT score and an SAT score of 2100 RD and a slightly higher gpa (though that could be due to different schools. My advice (other than retaking tests and keeping your gpa up), would be to schedule an interview. That’s what I did, and in the interview I explained that I loved GW and would apply ED if I could, but that without a scholarship there was no way I could go there. And luckily I not only got in, but got a large scholarship plus financial aid! Also, I don’t know if this is out yet, but the essay is basically “Why do you want to go to GW?”, so make sure that you put a lot of research and thought into that (aka not just that the school is in DC). I think you have a pretty good chance though so good luck!</p>
<p>Wallflower</p>
<p>IF GW is your 1st choice - seriously conside EDI. Since GW is a CommonApp School - you can be released from the ED agreement if the FA package is not satisfactory to you and your parents to attend.</p>
<p>I know the talk out there is to not apply ED “IF” FA is a concern in order to compare FA offers from other schools. However, from what I’ve heard - GW uses the same formulas for FA regardless of ED vs. RD.</p>
<p>Directly from the “CommonAp” ED agreement.</p>
<p>Early Decision (ED) is the application process in which students make a commitment to a first-choice institution where, if admitted, they definitely will
enroll. While pursuing admission under an Early Decision plan, students may apply to other institutions, but may have only one Early Decision application pending at
any time. Should a student who applies for financial aid not be offered an award that makes attendance possible, the student may decline the offer of admission and
be released from the Early Decision commitment. The institution must notify the applicant of the decision within a reasonable and clearly stated period of time after the
Early Decision deadline. Usually, a nonrefundable deposit must be made well in advance of May 1. The institution will respond to an application for financial aid at or
near the time of an offer of admission. Institutions with Early Decision plans may restrict students from applying to other early plans. Institutions will clearly articulate
their specific policies in their Early Decision agreement</p>
<p>CJ</p>
<p>This short thread is excellent!</p>
<p>I wish my S1 and I had known the info. in this thread when he applied RD (instead of ED) a number of years ago. He had very high SAT scores and GPA (we think), but as you said, RD is more random. S1 got rejected by GW RD. </p>
<p>S2 got in with more info. (e.g., putting a lot of effort in the Why GW essay?, etc.) under our belts. Although S2 had higher stats than S1, maybe if we had known the info. in this this thread back then, maybe my S1 may have had a better chance applying ED.</p>
<p>This is a really good thread for future applicants to GW!</p>
<p>Thanks for the advice everyone. I’ve got a lot to consider, and a lot to talk to my parents about. They’re very apprehensive about letting me apply ed.</p>
<p>Wallflower</p>
<p>I totally understand your parent’s concern since I’m one too.</p>
<p>Remember - Applying ED to ANY college just means you can’t apply ED or EA to any other college until the ED college lets you know of their acceptance and FA package. You can still apply to as many other college RD as you want. ED doesn’t restrict that - only that you have to withdrawal the RD apps if you’re accepted to GW and the FA award is agreeable.</p>
<p>FYI.</p>
<p>CJ</p>
<p>Yeah. I think the thing they’re most worried about is the money. And I’m pretty worried about that too. I don’t want to be in debt the rest of my life. They’re generally thinking, what happens when you think you don’t get enough FA from gw, so you have to turn down an acceptance for financial reasons (assuming I’d get in) but then it ends up being the most you were offered. So I guess being able to compare is the main issue.</p>
<p>Wallflower</p>
<p>Totally understand. You can get a decent idea of how much GW will offer once you know your EFC. You can checkout the FAFSAFORECASTER to calculate. The COA is about 60K/yr. Your FA “Need” is the COA-EFC=Need. Depending on your Grades/SATS’ you may also get an academic scholarship and grants.GW “tries” to meet 100% of your “Need”. However, this package can be scholarships/grants. work-study, loans, as a package deal.</p>
<p>My “S” received a presidential scholarship 25K/yr and another 5K in grant aid. The other 30K was loans. 30K/yr is less expensive that most private colleges. Ivy’s do not give any merit-based FA. GT offered my “S” nothing despite him be offered a space off the waitlist. He chose GW/Elliott.</p>
<p>Good Luck.</p>
<p>CJ</p>
<p>Does anyone know if I have the stats for being considered for merit aid? Or are they a bit too low?</p>
<p>Wallflower</p>
<p>I think the reason you’re not getting many responses it because the awarding of FA (both merit/non-merit) varies from year to year and depends on many variables not just your grades/SAT’s, but the amount of money GW FA has to award that year. As well as the strength of the incoming freshman class.</p>
<p>It doesn’t hurt to apply - we felt GW was very generous and the “free” aid was about 50% of the COA - i.e. 30K/yr. That left 30K/yr for us as parents to pay. Still better than GT’s offer, any Ivy or other private colleges.</p>
<p>It wouldn’t hurt to actually talk to an admissions officer and ask your specifics and see if they could guestimate for you.</p>
<p>CJ</p>