<p>I go to a public high school in Northern NJ, applying to Business.
Lehigh is one of my top choices.</p>
<p>GPA: 3.67 W (Steadily increased)
APs: Gov and Calc</p>
<p>SAT:1990/1320
M- 680
CR-640
W-670</p>
<p>Strong common app and Lehigh essays and rec's.</p>
<p>Have a very strong rec from a Lehigh alumni, and have visited the campus twice</p>
<p>EC's
3 years Varsity Basketball, Captain senior year, All Conference and County as a junior.
Future Business Leaders of America
Key Club
Student Council
President of Weightlifting Club(lol)
Various Work Experience
Habitat for Humanity Trip to Alabama (Wrote my CA Essay on it)
About 100 hours total Community Service
4 year Fellowship of Christian Athletes Member (Habitat group)
NHS Member
Writer for school paper</p>
<p>My dilemma is that my rec says I should apply ED2 as that will all but guarantee admission (his reccomendation has worked for students less competitive than me), but I want to keep my options open. Should I apply ED2 or do you think i'll get in RD?</p>
<p>Your GPA is good but I don’t know what kind of classed you took. I know you did 2 APs but what else? Honors? IB? What’s your current year’s schedule?</p>
<p>Your SATS are right in line with what Lehigh typically accepts. They aren’t high but they’re not low either. They’re about at the 50th percentile.</p>
<p>Good essays and letters of rec will always help a lot but don’t expect them to get you accepted! Lehigh takes a holistic approach to reviewing applications so everything matters.</p>
<p>Your ECs are also good. Do you have any leadership positions other than in sports? Any and all leadership positions are helpful, I’m just curious. Work experience is also a huge plus, so good job there.</p>
<p>Personally, I would not say applying ED2 will “all but guarantee admissions.” You have a great chance of acceptance assuming everything you didn’t mention is in line with everything you did mention. However, applying ED2 will give you a significantly better chance than RD will. I’d say you’ll probably get in either way but the Lehigh business program is very competitive. </p>
<p>If you really like Lehigh then I’d recommend you apply ED2. I applied and was accepted under ED1 and don’t regret it at all!</p>
<p>KEEP SHOWING INTEREST either way!</p>
<p>2017, i had about 10 honors courses before senior year and my schedule is strong this year. How was your financial aid under ed1? Thats really my only concern.</p>
<p>jrusso34,</p>
<p>Only apply ED2 to Lehigh if you are absolutely willing to make that high level of commitment to the university. Being accepted ED2 will virtually eliminate your other options unless you face a terrible financial aid package. I applied ED1 and my aid package was very generous - but it varies person to person.</p>
<p>I agree with previous posts, applying ED does not automatically guarantee acceptance, no matter how exceptional the student - it’s all about demonstrated interest. And in your case, since you visited twice, you don’t have an issue with that.</p>
<p>jrusso34 - to answer your question, my financial aid package was pretty bad. I didn’t expect much but still. I got a $5,000 - $6,000 per year scholarship (community service award), $2,200 in work study, and the rest (I think $12,000) is mostly loans with some grants. Overall my cost of attendance is $36,000 per year.</p>
<p>When you do estimate your Financial Aid, look at the Institutional Methodology when calculating Estimated Family Contribution. I was a little surprised to see my Aid to be less than I expected but that was only because I was assuming that my family contribution would be what the Federal Methodology calculated.</p>