<p>I've decided that my top three choice of colleges are Georgetown, Duke, and the U of Chicago. The U of Chicago website says that their early action program is non-binding, so I plan on applying for that. But Duke and Georgetown both have binding early action programs, so I can only choose one. </p>
<p>I like both colleges equally, and the price is going to be roughly the same for both, so my only concern is my likelihood of getting admitted. My academics and test scores are on par with Georgetown and slightly below par with Duke.</p>
<p>So my question is which school I should apply using early action on. Is there any advantage to one program over the other? Is one early action program more effective at getting me in than the other?</p>
<p>By binding EA do you mean ED? At some schools ED does give a slight advantage over RD applicants. But, IMO you should not apply to any school ED unless you are 100% positive that it is your top choice and if accepted you will have absolutely no regrets about not seeing if you got into the other schools. Take some time and think about which school is the best fit for you. My D visited her top two choices again in the fall of her senior year and after that she felt certain where to apply ED. If your top choice is Duke or Georgetown, you may be able to apply ED there and EA to Chicago as well.</p>
<p>That was my mistake, I meant ED. I don’t think I’ll have a choice to visit DC or Chicago anytime soon. I visited Chicago recently and liked the town, but I didn’t visit the school. (It was before I got serious with looking for college.) My main reason for my choices is that they all have good law schools, and it might be easier to transfer to a law school that’s in a university I got my bachelor’s in.</p>
<p>@RunningForLife </p>
<p>SAT: 2120 (770 CR, 710 M, 640 W)
SAT US History: 760
SAT Math II: 630
ACT: 32 ( 34 E, 30 M, 34 R, 29 S)</p>
<p>Unweighted GPA: 3.9531
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<p>OP, you seemed to be misinformed about Georgetown’s Early Action policy, as it is not binding at all. From their website: “…students applying under the Early Action program may not apply to any binding Early Decision programs since they then would not be free to choose Georgetown if admitted. Students are welcome to apply to other Early Action programs or other Regular Decision programs while at the same time applying to Georgetown’s Early Action program.” </p>
<p>If you are certain that Duke is your number one choice, then I would apply ED (assuming that you and your family will be able to afford it). If not, I think you should considering applying to Georgetown and UChicago EA, as I am :)</p>
That’s a pretty terrible reason, to be blunt. I suggest rethinking your college list and selection strategy. Selecting a college is an expensive and important decision. Make sure it’s a place you really like. </p>
<p>if you apply to georgetown, you can apply to chicago at the same time. if you do Duke, which is ED, you CANNOT do any school other than Duke, including chicago. Also, with Duke, if you get in, you HAVE to go. hope you understand that commitment before you make a decision.</p>
<p>When you state, “My main reason for my choices is that they all have good law schools, and it might be easier to transfer to a law school that’s in a university I got my bachelor’s in,” you indicate that an individual “transfers” from one of a university’s undergraduate programs to its law school. That is entirely untrue. Regardless of what institution you attend at the bachelor’s level, you will necessarily have to apply for law school admission. This is a separate and extensive process, which is quite similar to application for and admission to undergraduate school. With this said, some – but certainly not all – law schools may have a slight preference for candidates who have received their baccalaureate degree from the same university.</p>
<p>I suspect the foregoing is what you intended to convey, but you did not do so because your vocabulary and grammar were imprecise. Further, in this very brief CC thread, this is likely the second time your inexact language has created confusion:
“Binding EA” Is not ED
“To transfer” is not to apply</p>
<p>karry9001, I am NOT trying to be difficult or to demean you in any manner. However – and this is truly important and the very reason I am devoting considerable time to this reply – there is probably no profession where absolutely clear communications, exact language, precise definitions, and exhaustive vocabulary are more important than the law.</p>
<p>In addition and significantly, at universities with the stature of Chicago, Duke and Georgetown, such errors will not be overlooked. For example, in application essays, they would almost certainly be fatal. You should thoroughly understand that undergraduate admissions offices at those (and at peer) institutions will annual deny tens-of-thousands of applicants with outstanding GPAs and standardized test results . . . just like yours. Therefore, when you write something that is unclear, ambiguous, poorly worded, and/or inarticulate, you are providing Admissions Officers/Committees with a good reason to reject your application. Please believe me, I offer this criticism ONLY to assist you. EVERYTHING you submit (not just the formal application and its associated materials) to every university you may wish to attend should be utterly flawless. </p>
Incorrect. ED applicants are banned only from applying SCEA to Harvard, Princeton, Stanford, and Yale and EA to the restrictive EA schools (i.e. Boston College, Georgetown, and Notre Dame). </p>
<p>A student can apply ED to Duke and as many EA schools (e.g. MIT, Caltech, Chicago, UNC) as s/he wishes. </p>
<p>“Also, with Duke, if you get in, you HAVE to go. hope you understand that commitment before you make a decision.”</p>
<p>This is not entirely correct. If the financial grant estimated by Duke’s approved calculator is not provided – assuming all the family financial information submitted was fully accurate and comprehensive – the accepted ED applicant is normally released from his binding commitment. In other words, if the FAFSA data was complete and correct and if Duke does not provide at least the assistance that was estimated, the ED commitment will most likely to be waived. </p>
<p>^ That’s not really an accurate way of looking at it. If the family cannot afford the school with the FA offered then the applicant can turn it down. However, it leaves the applicant unable to compare that offer with other schools.</p>
<p>^ ^ ^ @Erin’s Dad: With respect, I am quite sure my pervious post is wholly factual. With intent, never did I mention comparisons (I believe you introduced that matter, which certainly is germane, but which was not within the scope of post #10). Rather, I only indicated that if the accepted Duke ED applicant has thoroughly and accurately completed the financial forms and if Duke does not at least equal the estimated/computed FA grant, then the binding ED commitment will likely be nullified. While I agree that your post (#11) adds a worthwhile perspective, there is a key difference between incomplete and inaccurate. What did is state that is erroneous? </p>
<p>I suggest going to a cheaper state school than applying for law school after you graduate, or you will have up to 300,000$+ in debt not including interest and be making 50,000$ a year as an entry level lawyer.</p>
<p>Average cost of local private school, 25000$ tuition plus 11000$ for room and board plus 500 for books plus 2000 in other fees vs 2500$ for tuition plus 7000$ for room and board plus 500$ for books plus 2000$ in other fees at the local HBCU university.</p>
<p>If you didn’t do the math that is (rounded to the nearest 1,000) !2,000$ a year vs 38,000 a year for basically the same product.</p>
What does this mean in english? The FAMILY gets to decide if the FA offer is sufficient. If it is not the applicant gets to say no. It is entirely possible that the family does not use the NPC on the web site (which is NOT advisable) and thus gets no Estimated/Computed FA. That not good but not something the college can do much about.</p>
<p>Obviously, it means that if Duke fails to equal of exceed the NPC estimated FA grant – after the applicant/family provides fully comprehensive and accurate data – then the accepted ED candidate can likely be released from his binding ED commitment.</p>
<p>I’m afraid you don’t understand. The family decides if the FA is sufficient. The school doesn’t release anything. The school is just told we can’t do it for that amount. Sorry, goodbye. And on to new applications.</p>
<p>^ ^ ^
ED applicants make binding commitments that, if accepted, they will attend. Obviously, such obligations are not enforced through legal action. However, I perceive a clear distinction between a university releasing an accepted ED candidate – under the conditions that we have discussed – and the student/family just “walking away” from a responsibility. For example, I have repeatedly heard (although I have no quantitative documentation to prove this) that some institutions are more reluctant to admit future applicants from the secondary school of an admitted ED’er who reneges. I sincerely would like your opinion; do you not see a difference between a university “honorably releasing” an individual and a student/family breaching a trust? </p>