<p>Now that D1 is done, its time to help D2 who is a Jr. She is a very different student than her sister, but a great kid with amazing talents. Her grades have fallen slightly this past year. We had a family issue which deeply affected her as she is very close to me.</p>
<p>She is trying to get her gpa back up but it is not strong. Her SAT's are good. She was hovering 3.0-2.9, now she is up to 3.1 (yeah!!) and hopefully it will continue. Her EC's are good and she is an amazing athlete. </p>
<p>Do you find its tougher to get in with a weak GPA during EA. She is afraid that her first choice college would view applying RD as not being that interested. She doesn't want to be rejected right off the bat. She had her meeting with her GC this week and it has her worried. I suggested she contact the rep. from our area at the college and simply ask is it a stronger applicant pool during EA, and what the percentage of EA vs. RD admits. I remember during my campus visits with D1 that some schools said if you are a weaker student, apply later. </p>
<p>Anyone have any views on EA vs. RD. for an average to low GPA. Thanks -</p>
<p>Try to get info from each college as to whether it is better to apply EA if you're trying to get grades up. The most competitive colleges often have a much more competitive pool early on; but less competitive colleges may favor the early applicant with lower grades. If your school has Naviance or a comparable system for showing past applicants track records; that will be very helpful.</p>
<p>Agree with Muffy about getting info from schools. Also remember that many lower GPS applicants tend to be deferred EA or ED so that the school can see grades well into senior year.</p>
<p>I think if anyone has any interest AT ALL in a school that offers EA, then they should take it. It's really only a win situation. It's not binding, you get to hear back early, etc. If the student get in, hooray, if the student gets deferred, there's always the RD round, and if the student gets rejected, the college probably wouldn't have accepted them in them later anyways. </p>
<p>Regardless of low/high GPA, I think your daughter should apply to the school EA if she likes it. While I agree that the whole "stronger applicant pool" is true in terms of EA, if your daughter has a chance, she will not get outright rejected in EA.</p>
<p>At some (usually the more competitive colleges) colleges a deferral rarely turns into an acceptance so the applicant may be better off trying to get the GPA up and applying regular.</p>
<p>Muffy333 - what is naviance. Is that something the GC can help my daughter look up. I agree with you and glasses, about lower gpa applicants and deferrals or possible rejections. Her top school might be someones safety, and they are waiting to hear from their top. Her GC wants her to check with each school. I do know there are some that outright tell you to wait if your gpa is not stellar. thanks to all for responses.</p>
<p>Naviance is a computer program to track grads from a certain hs so you can see who (anonymously) got in where with what GPA and SAT from THAT high school (and broken down by EA/RD) If your school doesn't have it some have paper records that work just as well!</p>