Colgate or Emory ED? Better shot at getting in?

College Search & Selection
1

<p>I can only apply to one of these schools early decision, which one do I have a better shot at getting in with these stats? My ACT will probably be 30+ after the oct 24 ACT.</p>

<p>Intended Major: Finance or Economics
OOS (Hawaii)
Filipino
Private School (doesn't offer a great selection of AP, most of the classes are IB in fact)
Will be applying for Financial Aid (last year EFC was 7k-9k for my brother. ithaca met the full need for him)</p>

<p>GPA: 3.6 (had a bad freshman year due to slacking off, sophomore and junior gpa is around 3.8)</p>

<p>SAT: 1890 (660M, 600CR, 630W) one sitting. may retake again but i think im gonna focus on the ACT</p>

<p>ACT: 28 (retaking in october, will probably get 30+ since im practicing like crazy)</p>

<p>Senior Schedule: Full AP/IB classes, no regular level classes (except for photography which is a graduation requirement)</p>

<p>AP/IB/Honors: Honors Soph. English, Honors Asian Studies, AP/IB English HL (2 year class), AP US History, IB French HL, IB 20th Century History HL, IB ITGS SL, AP Calculus AB, AP Enivornmental Science</p>

<p>AP/IB scores so far: AP US History 5, AP English 3, IB French HL 4 (out of 7)</p>

<p>Very good counselor rec and teachers recs</p>

<p>Extracurriculars:
JV Basketball 2 years
Varsity Basketball 2 years, captain senior year (i play basketball year round)
JV Waterpolo 1 year
Habitat for Humanity Club, president senior year
Pacific Asian Affairs Council (participated in WorldQuest competition 2 years, finished 6th in the state last year)
Interact Club
traveled to pennsylvania last summer to participate in a habitat for humanity build
coaching special needs kids (community service, not sure how many hours I have but a decent amount)</p>

2

<p>If you need financial aid and neither of these is your dream school, then don’t apply ED. Compare FA packages from various schools at RD time.</p>

3

<p>Demographics are EXCELLENT for both schools; GPA a llittle low which can be compensated for by ED, but I agree with vossron: not a great idea to apply ED if you need FA unless school GUARANTEES to meet 100% of need…</p>

4

<p>doesn’t emory and colgate guarantee to meet demonstrated need?</p>

<p>and out of those two, which school do i have a better shot at getting into ED?</p>

5

<p>And do they use the same criteria to calculate demonstrated need?</p>

6

<p>Both of these schools are reaches for you, especially Emory. Your GPA of 3.6 is in the bottom 25th%-tile and your test scores are below 25th%-tile. Bringing your ACT up to 30 will only get you to the 25th%. It’s unlikely that ED can overcome those numbers. Your saving graces are a 3.8 for the last two years and the fact that you are coming in from Hawaii. That may be enough to sway things your way, but I’d guess your chances are 50/50 on the ED front.</p>

<p>The story is a bit better at Colgate, your GPA (3.6) is 50th%-tile and if they ignore freshmen year then you’re well above the average, however your test scores are still below the 25th%-tile, that makes it a reach.</p>

<p>Use the EFC calculator here at CC. It should give you a rough idea of the amount of aid you’ll be offered. The biggest problem with ED and fin aid is that your idea of “meeting need” is very different than the school’s; a school can meet 100% of the EFC but that may still leave a substantial burden on your family.</p>

<p>Finally, being from Hawaii, do you have any idea how cold it gets at Colgate?</p>

7

<p>Not sure about Colgate, but Emory has a lot of in-staters. They also wanted to see you’ve demonstrated interest. i.e. visited</p>

8

<p>On what basis are you considering both of these schools? is it just because of where they rank on a list?</p>

<p>With my sons, I visited each of these schools, and they could not be more different than one another. Colgate is small, isolated, has a rah-rah athletic culture, and no business major per se: Emory is bigger, in a large city, athletics are basically ignored, and there is a defined business school. </p>

<p>I think that as far as getting in, you are a marginal ED candidate at either school, perhaps getting an extra point or two for being from Hawaii. But an ED application should be used for a clear first choice school and I’m confused about how two such very, very different schools could be competing for the top spot on your list.</p>

9

<p>well my dad wants me to apply to one of my reaches as a ED. i really like colgate and emory despite their severe differences. Colgate has a very good econ program (which can lead to investment banking) and emory has a very good business school. i can see my self at both colleges and if i got into one or the other id go for sure. i know i wont get into both, and ED is still a steep reach, but its worth a shot. </p>

<p>with that in mind and my stats, which college do i have a better shot of getting into ED? i like both equally. i do love sports which colgate definitely has over emory but i love emory’s b-school. so since my interest level for both are equal, which one should i apply to ED in terms of chances?</p>

<p>oh and im looking to go somewhere very cold. call me crazy, but its jsut something i want to experience. i dont mind warmer climates though too. im applying to schools all over the map.</p>

10

<p>also, i think im adding northwestern into the mix. i was originally just going to apply RD as a mega-reach, but now that i think of it, i may apply ED. i loved the school when i visited. i just figure that I would have a better shot at Emory and Colgate as an ED (right?). </p>

<p>which of these 3 do i have the best shot at ED? northwestern definitely seems the most unlikely.</p>

11

<p>Just be sure you do the financial aid calculations for each school. You don’t want to be in the position of being accepted ED but then have to turn it down because the FA package is insufficient to allow attendance.</p>

12

<p>ive talked to my dad and he said if i get in ED to one of these schools i will be able to go becuase they guarantee to meet full need. (i think emory is 96% but he said if i get into emory he’ll make it work out).</p>

13

<p>Do you want to be in warm weather or cold? Urban or rural? Rah Rah sports team spirit or not? Go skiing or go to the pool? Opportunity for internship opportunities with local connections to the school? Do you like Coca Cola?? All else being equal, as you say, consider these variables.</p>

14

<p>to be honest i mind all of them. i dont prefer one over the others. i just want the school where i have the better shot of getting into ED.</p>

15

<p>Retake the SAT. I think both are reaches. Colgate probably is a better shot than Emory.</p>

16

<p>ED will not save a below average applicant who doesn’t have a hook, (i.e., legacy, recruited athlete or URM - I don’t know if a FIlipino from Hawaii would qualify as a URM, it may be worth contacting the three schools and asking them if you are a URM in their eyes).</p>

<p>Your stats are below the 25th%-tile for NU and Emory, without the hook I suspect you will be rejected. Your best shot ED is Colgate where your stats are closer to the average and your ethnic and geographic diversity is more likely to stand out.</p>

<p>I assume that you have some safety schools on your list.</p>