ED for dream school...or ED for slightly reach school?

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

<p>Princeton has been my dream school since, oh, FOREVER.</p>

<p>That's where I'd like to go...if given any choice at all.</p>

<p>BUT. I'm not the stellar 2400 SAT, 800s on all SAT IIs, 5's on all APs, National Competition winner, etc, like most international students (which I am). That sucks, yes.</p>

<p>So, my question is:</p>

<p>Should I apply ED or EA (whatever Princeton has) to Princeton, or should I apply ED or EA to a school that is a slightly lesser reach (like Rice, JHU, U of Michigan) to guarentee(?) atleast, an acceptance?</p>

<p>I'm not confident about anything, and have a fear of getting rejected at EVERY university I'm thinking of applying to. Plus, given that I need financial aid, I'm really scared. </p>

<p>I just want to secure a place at some decent university.</p>

<p>So what do you guys think? ED(or A) at dream school, or ED(or A) at lesser reaches?</p>

2

<p>Write an excellent essay and have good recs.
ED Princeton
Interim Decision Rice
RD all others</p>

3

<p>ED is for your first choice. Period. It is not to make sure you "secure a place at some decent" school. It's binding - use it only if you are certain that you want to go there above all others.</p>

4

<p>If you aren't a really strong applicant for admission, don't do ED/A b/c you'll be competing with the top applicants w/ the amazing grades/tests/ec's. You sound like someone who should apply everywhere regular admission and see how the chips fall</p>