<p>I'm a prospective junior, and I'm not sure if it is to my advantage to apply ED to CMU this upcoming year. If I did apply ED, CMU wouldn't see my first semester grades from senior year, which would bring down my GPA and hurt my overall application. But the whole "meeting all demonstrated financial need" coupled with the chance to demonstrate a desire to attend are making me seriously consider it. Carnegie Mellon is my absolute top choice. My GPA falls short of the CMU average even with the first semester of my senior year, so without out, I feel like it's almost crippling. And the fact that CMU doesn't defer really scares me. But again, I really want CMU to know that they're my first choice.</p>
<p>And I feel that because my stats aren't up to par, I should compensate through things like demonstrated interest. Unless CMU's ED is like ND's; a significantly more competitive ED pool. In general, how much more competitive is CMU ED when compared to CMU RD? Oh, and I copied/pasted my complete stats further down if you're interested, but here's the sparknotes version: </p>
<p>UW Sophomore year GPA (2 AP, rest honors): 3.1
UW Junior year GPA (3 AP, rest honors): 3.8
Cumulative (at the time of ED): 3.45
ACT: Results aren't in yet, probably 30-32. Recent practice scores were 31 and 33.
Major ECs: All State Debate team and 3rd @ ISTA State. </p>
<p>Assuming I get a 3.8 for my first semester of senior year (straight As except a B in AP calculus), my new cumulative average would be a 3.57. The CMU average is a 3.62. 3.57 is much closer than 3.45...): To ED, or not to ED?</p>
<p>GPA:
Unweighted: 3.52 (Fr - Jr)
Weighted: 4.18 (Fr - Jr)
Trend: Sharp upward trend
Rank:
top 10% - possibly higher, but our school only tells us what tenth we're in, and i'm in the top tenth.
Course Rigor:
I took the hardest classes my school has to offer - all honors and AP classes. The AP classes are:
AP Government
AP Microeconomics
AP Language and Composition
AP United States History
AP Environmental Science
AP Microeconomics
AP Psychology
AP Calculus AB
AP Biology
AP Literature
Standardized testing:
Took the April 9th ACT, not too sure how I did yet. I'm predicting a 30-32. My most recent practice test scores (practice tests are retired former tests, so results should be fairly accurate) are a 31 and a 33 for the ACT, and a 2040 on the SAT. i'm taking the ACT again in a few weeks for school, and will probably take it two more times. I'm hoping to get a 34 the last time I take it. I feel like with the prep classes I'm taking right now, it's certainly possible. </p>
<p>ECs:
Debate Team - Captain Jr & Sr year (I'm not a senior yet, but the coach already let me know in advance that I'd be the captain for the 2011-2012 year as well)
National Forensics League (Speech and Debate Honor society) - Excellence/Sapphire (Well, the last time I checked I was excellence. Possibly distinction now?)
Newspaper Club - Associate Sports Editor Jr year, coming back Sr year
Tennis - Sophomore year
Volleyball - Freshman year
Football + Wrestling - Freshman and Sophomore year
Roughly 100 volunteer hours at a PADS homeless shelter
Planning on attending a National Youth Leadership Forum for Law over the summer
Awards:
3rd place at Conference for Lincoln-Douglas Debate
3rd place at ISTA State Tournament for Lincoln-Douglas Debate
All-State Lincoln Douglas Debater @ N</p>
<p>I want to eventually go to law school, and I'm hoping that my ECs demonstrate a specified interest (Debate, the NYLF Law, Newspaper club, Business Law Class).</p>