Early Action Low GPA

Daughter has 3.1 gpa, is in a selective digital media/graphic arts program in high school and gets A’s in that and in English, (but the Cs in math has dragged down her gpa), highly creative, 1500 SATs. Wants Oregon State for interior design, graphic design. Loves school. I know applying early action is ideal when a student has stellar stats but what about for kids with lower gpa’s and super skills in their intended major and great ECs in that field as well? Would early action provide an edge or would applying regular admission be better?

Based on their web site I would recommend going RD

http://oregonstate.edu/admissions/main/admission-requirements-1

It looks like most of the pool at that point is focused on merit scholarships which would not be a good comparison.