Generally speaking, does applying Early Action boost your chances of acceptance if you have a pretty low GPA (lower than the school’s average), but you’re showing that you REALLY want to go to there and that’s why you’re applying early action?
Generally speaking, with a lower than average GPA and no hooks, no.
In terms of expressing a high level of applicant’s interest, generally ED > REA/SCEA > EA. However, high level of applicant’s interest is most relevant for “overqualified” applicants who might otherwise be seen as using the school as a “safety”.
GPA is the most important evaluative factor – much more important than “interest”
True – for an applicant on the low end of the school’s qualification range (by GPA, etc.), the school will assume a high level of interest and high likelihood of matriculation if admitted, regardless of ED, REA/SCEA, EA, or RD. Of course, such an applicant has a relatively low chance of admission.
Applying early action really does not show interest at all, you can apply early action to 400 schools if you want to. If anything, a low GPA student should apply Regular Decision so that the midyear report can be seen, hopefully showing an improvement of GPA.
I disagree to other posters. In my experience applying EA does increase your chances. Go on a website like collegedata.com and look under the admission tab and see the breakdown for gpas and the percentage admitted with that GPA. If you can find at least 15 to 20% admitted with your gpa then I would go for it EA.
I agree with @itsv
I personally know several highly qualified applicants rejected/waitlisted RD and lower qualified applicants accepted EA.
Ok. I went to collegedata.com and for the two schools I’m considering applying EA, Oregon State had 21% in my GPA range and University of Oregon had 15%. My SAT scores are a bit higher in critical reading and writing compared with both schools’ averages, and well within the average for math. I’m going to be a graphic design/digital arts major and I’m in a specialized arts program at my high school so that might help? I just don’t know what to do and don’t want to blow my chances.