<p>Hi everyone-
I'm a high school senior in Texas and am notoriously indecisive, so I was always sure I would not do ED anywhere.
However, at some point I became fixated on Duke and, for several months, was dead set on ED there. But this isn't about Duke.
Then I visited Vanderbilt, hung out with some friends there, and immediately started saying I was deciding between Duke and Vanderbilt for ED. I realized that Duke was way too similar to my high school - small, intense, unbalanced.
That week, I visited Duke once more because the ED deadline was the approaching weekend. I crossed it off my list. Later that week, I did ED at vandy.
At this point, I'd had any discussions with my advisors about what to do, and they stood behind my decision entirely. In retrospect, I worry that I felt pressured to ED somewhere and by saying no to Duke, maybe I defaulted to Vandy? My initial reason for ED anywhere was my concern that these schools won't be options RD bc I won't have the ED admit boost. I wanted them to be options.
Loved how happy and friendly people at vandy were. Worried that I'll get in, and become part of a bubble and stereotype that I don't necessarily want. Maybe I would be happier somewhere like UCLA, UNC, UT, USC, where there's more diversity with the numbers and more room to explore? My interests are all over the place and i fear that I'll commit myself to the vanderbilt stereotype, ultimately blocking a lot of more unconventional or even more worldly, open interests.
Vandy, I think, has the option to switch your status from ED to RD. I have constantly been torn over whether I should do this. I don't think I feel the commitment typical of ED kids, but a Dec 15 notification date is nice, and vanderbilt had most of what I want. I could just have cold feet, or this could be something I should follow. Unfortunately, there's no way of knowing if id be happy there unless I go. I worry that I may not be preppy or southern enough to accept that environment gleefully.
I'm from austin, so UT could be too close to home. It won't be too big if I get into plan 2, and it has everything I initially wanted. And, it's cheap instate- which means I have a lot more time and money to figure out what I actually want before I pay for a degree. People tell me I should get out, though. I'd be happy at all of my schools, but I'm scared that the things I want at the end of this year won't be what I wanted when I did ED.
There is so much going on in this debate, but ill cut off here and let you guys fill in what you like. Thoughts on switching from ED to RD and waiting til spring to stress out about choosing? Thoughts on vandy vs. Other schools? I've been told my chances of getting in are high, though I'm not sure how great of an achievement that is considered.
Thanks!</p>
<p>It sounds very much like you are too uncertain to ED. Who exactly pressured you to ED? It isn’t even assured that you have any boost for ED if you aren’t recruited or legacy or other tipped candidate. I’d switch to RD. As far as your instate college, don’t listen to people tell you if those people aren’t paying your bill. You have to realize that hs students aren’t the best judge of what is important. It is hard to tune out peer pressure of college brags but that’s what you really have to do now to make your own way. If you do get an option to save a lot of money instate, that is really a big deal. </p>
<p>My daughter only did an EA, then RD everywhere and having the extra time to think it over is nice. If you are getting financial aid that might be best to compare costs. But decisions are never perfect and hindsight is 20/20, you just have to pick one decision and go with it. Such is life.</p>