Early Decision?

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

I’m thinking about submitting an early decision for Duke or Boston University because I want to maximize my chances of getting into my reach schools; however, I’m not sure which one. I would love your input! The biggest setback on my application would be my suspension and ACT. For Duke, I may have a very small advantage because my sister is currently studying at the university. I also love USC, but I think my ACT score is too low and they don’t offer ED.

GPA (unweighted): 3.94
GPA weighted: 4.83
Ranked top 1%
ACT: 26 & 27 (this is going to be a huge setback to my application)
AP Scores:
Ap calc ab: 3
ap Lang: 3
Ap Spanish: 4

All IB & AP courses

Extracurricular (in school)
NHS president
DECA officer
National Spanish Honor society
STRIVE president

Extracurricular (outside of school)
Wilhelmina Modeling Agency (one of the biggest agencies in Colorado) photographer for new faces
Own photography business
Published spread in Senior Style Guide Fall Issue
Published as Featured Photographer on Whim Magazine Australia
Runner up for cover contest in Whim online magazine Australia
Published in Reign magazine fall 2015
Featured photographer for Senior Style Guide
2nd shooter for Free People Denver
2nd shooter for Ruckus Apparel
Published in Denver Style Magazine for Patterns & pops launch shoot
Nordstrom fashion board ambassador

Awards
DECA nationals 2014
Western state orchestra violinist
All state orchestra violinist
2nd place Far East invitational for tennis as 2 singles player
Scholastic art & writing gold key
Scholastic art & writing silver
Scholastic art & writing honorable mention

I really value your honest input! This has been a huge decision for me as far as submitting an early decision.

2

USC doesn’t offer ED, but I think Duke’s avg test scores are higher than USC’s
I would be very impressed if Duke accepted you, purely bc of your ACT score, unfortunately…

I wish you luck though! your other stats and EC’s seem good! :slight_smile:

3

No, unfortunately USC doesnt offer early decision. You can submit the app early for scholarship consideration.

Would you recommend BU over Duke for early decision? Their stats are lower than Dukes for ACT.

4

Yep, I’m doing the merit deadline too! :slight_smile:

and yes, I would. but make sure you REALLY want to go to BU.
Are you not going to retake the ACT to see if you have a shot at a higher score? Over 30 would be great for you

5

Nice! :slight_smile: good luck! I love USC!
I already took it 3 times, so I won’t be taking it again. I’m horrible at test taking!

6

ohh I see… yeah… standardized tests are really dumb haha

good luck though!

7

Your app looks very strong except for the ACT score. Are you a URM?

Maybe try the SAT once?

If you just hate testing, Boston University is probably the best choice (if you are 100% committed to going) as they value applicant interest as “Important” which means ED will help quite a bit, and it is less selective than Duke.
Also, if you’re applying to BU, subscribe to their mailing list, try to get an interview if they offer one, request for additional info like a brochure. All that also shows demonstrated interest which will help as well.

8

Don’t ED at Duke. You won’t get in because of the test scores unfortunately. You can/should try BU. You would have a shot there. Actually you should probably do the merit deadline for USC and then just apply ED2 to BU if you got rejected.

9

Unfortunately, Duke seems way out of reach for you. They require your full ACT testing history, btw, so if you apply, send all three scores. If handled properly, I think you can get past the suspension but your test scores (including your AP scores) are too much of a hurdle for you. I don’t know enough about BU and USC to comment. Your ECs sound really interesting and set you apart in some ways. Good luck with everything!

10

Thank you! What are the regulations for ED? If I get accepted but cannot pay the tuition, what are the consequences? What is the difference between ED2 and ED?

11

The rules of Early Decision (ED) are fairly simple.

-ED is binding. By applying ED to a school, you are committing to attend if accepted.* This allows the school to boost its yield (the % of admitted students who attend) and lock in as much as half its graduate class by December, which is why your chances are better applying ED than with a regular decision application. You need to be 100% sure you’re happy attending the school, however, for reasons I’ll get into below.

-Applying to multiple schools ED is forbidden. Applying to any college after you’ve been accepted ED is forbidden. If you’ve sent any other applications between the date of your ED application and the day you get the acceptance letter, you’ll need to cancel them (or turn down the school’s offer, if you’ve already received the other school’s reply). Some schools (Georgetown comes to mind) won’t let you apply Early Action, or EA (a non-binding version of ED) if you’re applying to another college ED.

-If you’re accepted ED, your guidance counselor will more or less force you through the university’s gates, for their (and your) good. While ED isn’t legally enforceable, if you apply ED and then don’t attend, that college isn’t going to trust ED applicants from your high school for a long time. This is why you need to be absolutely sure about ED. Otherwise, your poor ED decision and your choice to renege on that commitment are going to disadvantage tens or hundreds of applicants long after you leave high school. The technical term for students who do this is “jerks.” Don’t be one.

Your ED school will also “blacklist” you, meaning they’ll ask your guidance counselor where else you’ve been admitted and notify those universities, who will then retract their own offers of admission. You’ll be left without a college in the fall. Seriously, don’t do this.

*The one acceptable reason not to attend after applying ED is if you don’t get enough financial aid. No school is going to ask you to attend if the difference between tuition (minus aid) and what you can pay is in the tens of thousands of dollars. If this happens, contact the university and ask to be released from your ED commitment. They’ll usually say yes.

On the difference between ED1 and ED2:

ED1 is an application in the fall. The deadline for ED1 is November 1st at most schools. If you get in ED1, you probably won’t be applying to other schools (maybe an EA application or two, but that’s it).

ED2 is due at the same time as regular applications. It’s the same as ED1, and follows all the rules described above, except you can typiclaly apply ED2 until January. That makes it an option for students who didn’t get in anywhere ED1 or EA, but are willing to commit to a college anyway (regular decision applications to other schools, including some safeties, are still a must in case you don’t get in).