Hi everyone. So, I don’t want to name any schools or anything, but basically I’m a junior and I’ve done some college visit s and there’s one school I’m just stuck on. I’m seriously considering applying ED in the fall because I love it so much but the only thing holding be back is that I’m well above their 25th percentile for GPA and SAT scores, and I keep feeling like my “top” school should be a more prestigious, household name university but I just really love this school and want to go there. What should I do? Is it stupid to feel this way?
if that school is where you want to be and you love it, i don’t think you should be concerned whether you are above average if anything apply to their honors college if they have one
happiness > prestige; however, you still have loads of more time to visit colleges (if you’re physically and financially able to do so), so research some schools within your range, visit, and see if you love them less or more than your already number one choice. 
Visit other schools on your list and see if you still feel the same way about your current favorite school. Also the school seems more like a target school than a safety. It’s not so crazy to apply ED to a target school.
The only reason I didn’t apply ED anywhere was because I was afraid that the school would accept me without offering any financial aid or scholarships. I wish I had applied ED somewhere because the wait is AWFUL (coming from someone currently waiting until April for 9 decisions). ED also helps demonstrate that school is your #1 choice which can help with admission, but sometimes there are other places in the application to make that known. That being said, the wait is the only bad part about RD. If you are above their ranges, you will likely be offered not only admission, but a good amount of scholarship money. However, sometimes they give more $ to RD applicants to draw them in, as they already know ED applicants will go there. In the end, I am satisfied with my choice to do RD because I will be able to choose the school with the best offer. However, none of my friends that applied ED have any regrets. Once you get into your first choice, you get college fever and go crazy with your new school pride with tshirts sweatshirts etc., and you can go ahead and start finding a roommate, planning dorm arrrangements, getting ready for rush, etc. (BEWARE OF SENIORITIS). I say go for ED. I never really had a school I was comfortable applying ED to and going all in, so if you have one I would say get the college search process over with quickly so you can enjoy the rest of your senior year and get pumped for college.
Go for it! If you know it’s the place for you and you will be happy there, apply ED. Being at the top of their stats will garner you great merit money and will most likely guarantee you an acceptance. I would suggest to interview and demonstrate interest beyond the ED application. I believe it will help with scholarship money. Most likely you will do well there, earning a high GPA for grad school (if you so choose) and will have a great experience. How many students do we read about on CC who are miserable? Either in high school life trying to get to those top schools or once they are there? Success will find those who work for it now matter what the name of their school is.
You’ve got quite a bit of time to decide this, so you can see if you still feel the same way in August and make your decision then. Eight months is quite a while from now, and I think if you still feel the same way then then it’s probably a good choice for you. In the mean time, try to learn about some other, similar colleges and maybe visit other places if you can, too.
It’s not stupid to feel that way - it’s understandable. But lots of people go to colleges in which they are in the top 25% of accepted applicants and get great educations, and also have a great time. I was in the top 25% at my college, and I attended in large part because they gave me a full scholarship to attend, and I loved it! My 10 year reunion is coming up this spring and I have no regrets. Go where you’ll be happy.
RUN THE NPC before you think of applying ED anywhere.
Do you know whether your college meets need? If you run the NPC and your college meets need and your parents can afford the net cost as indicated on the npc then you can apply ED.
If you need merit aid and/or your college doesn’t meet need and/or the net cost isn’t affordable for your parents then apply ea/REA/SCEA/rolling and RD.