I am applying to some top tier schools such as Stanford University, Cornell, University of Washington, Duke University and USC. My Transcript and extra curricular are exceptional, but because of lack of proper college mentoring, I am following behind with standardized testing. Is it worth submitting my application early action with my mediocre (1000-1150 new SAT) score, but show more interest and increase my chances- or apply regular decision but have enough time to take SAT Subject tests, the ACT, and another SAT, but have less of a chance to get in.
Thanks so much!
I hate to break it to you, but a 1100 SAT will not get you into those schools. They will all probably update your scores if you apply EA but probably only if they haven’t made their decision yet. I would suggest to email a person at the school and ask about their specific policies and see if you’re denied EA if you automatically go into the RD round. If so I would go EA. But unless your ACT and Subject Tests are 31/ 720+, there is almost 0 chance.
Standard questions:
What is your state of residence?
Do you need financial aid?
What are your safeties, both academically and financially?
You need to realize that most of those schools are reaches for students with much better SAT scores.
@drewharrahill an ED or EA reject is not considered for RD. OP, don’t apply to any of these early. You’re simply not viable. My kid’s HS average SAT is 1334.
I agree with the above poster. Focus on getting your test score up.
A Stanford admissions officer told an info session that, at least for them, there is not a preference for the EA round. they want to see you present your best self- if that means you need to wait for the RD round, then wait.
Please look at the test score ranges for schools you are interested in. You seem to have a very unrealistic idea of where you would be competitive. It seems unlikely to me that you are going to get to the score range expected by most of the schools on your list, so I suggest you rethink your list.
My kid was rejected EA from an Penn with a 35. You should retake your tests and only apply to that level of school RD, still recognizing it is a long shot. No harm in applying EA to a target or safety, just to get one in the bag.
You are not a viable candidate for top schools right now. We don’t know your GPA but with your test scores you need to find a different set of schools. Look at the Common Data Set and find schools where your test scores fall in the top half of the 25-75 percentiles. You will be able to go to college but not the ones you listed above.
Is this OP real?