Help me find school to apply ED to?

Applying to College
1

<p>I'm an upcoming senior. Huge upward trends, but overall low GPA until Junior year. I have a great essay topic to explain the huge upward trends. High SAT score. </p>

<p>Can you guys please help me find a good school to apply ED to? Something that isn't a match/safety, but more like a mid/low reach, if you get what I mean. I was thinking maybe Carnegie Mellon Early Decision II.</p>

<p>I think I have relatively good EC's for a Comp Sci Major (Please check them out!) and great standardized test scores, but I wanted to get your guys' opinions. I'm extremely interested in Computer Science, as I've always really enjoyed it. In my essays, I will try to emphasize the reason for the sharp GPA contrast, and my genuine interest/passion for technology. </p>

<p>Background Info:
- High School: Extremely rigorous, top 50 high schools in the nation
- Indian (South Asian)
- Income: 150k </p>

<p><em>Computer Science Major</em></p>

<p>GPA:
I messed up really bad in high school until junior year. W = weighted, UW, = unweighted
Freshman Year: 2.83 UW/W, 2.83 UW/W
Sophmore year: 3.0 UW (3.167 W), 2.67 UW (2.83W)
Junior Year: 3.67 UW (4.167 W), 3.67 UW (4.167 W) --- 3 APs
UC Weighted GPA: 3.62 (<- Sophmore + Junior Weighted GPA)</p>

<p>SATs:
SAT I:
1st try (Barely any prep): 1980 (720 M, 620 CR, 640 W)
2nd try: 2240 (760 M, 710 CR, 770 W)</p>

<p>SAT II:
Math (760)
Bio (770)</p>

<p>Extracurriculars:
- 150+ hours community service</p>

<p>DECA (Business Club):
- 3rd in Northern California for Math Marketing
- 4th for presentation, 8th overall for Advertising Campaign in California States level competition</p>

<p>YouTube Partner:
- I make videos on Technology, relates to my Computer Science major
- I make revenue from my videos
- 2,800+ subscribers
- My technology guides and reviews have been watched 1.2+ MILLION times
- My channel serves as a way for me to share my passion for technology with thousands of people around the globe daily</p>

<p>Misc:
- Currently building a website for an upcoming organization that raises money for charity through gaming
- 2 years JV Badminton
- Leo Community Service Club
- Intro to Computer Science course at Community College over the summer, got an A+
- Intro to Programming in C course at Community College over the summer, got an A
- Currently developing an iPhone app! </p>

<p>Reason for Sharp GPA Contrast:</p>

<p>I have been slacking throughout high school until junior year. At the summer, end of the sophmore year, I went to India and realized I'm taking everything I have for granted. While others in India are yearning to learn but forced into crappy, mediocre schools, if any, I am slacking off, even though I am given the opportunity to attend one of the nations top 50 high schools. This revelation changed how I look at things - I was just sitting in one of the top schools in the nation of opportunity, slacking off and not applying myself. The vacation to India opened my eyes, and I realized I need to make the most of my situation. I somewhat applied myself junior year, with 3 AP courses, and got a 3.67 unweighted, 4.167 weighted GPA. Keep in mind I go to a really competitive/rigorous (80% asian) high school.</p>

<p>I'm absolutely positive I will have <em>atleast</em> a 3.67 Unweighted GPA, 4.3 Weighted. My relatively rigorous schedule next year:
- AP Calc AB
- AP Physics B
- Finite/Discrete
- AP World
- Regular English
- Gov/Econ</p>

<p>What universities would you recommend that I apply ED to? I'm looking to apply ED to one that is a low/mid reach school, since ED admit rates are a bit higher. Please let me know your suggestions! So far, I'm considering Carnegie Mellon. I'm looking for colleges where I might even have a chance of getting in ED rather than some college blatantly outrageous of course, like Harvard LOL.</p>

2

<p>If you don’t know what school you want to ED to you shouldn’t be EDing anywhere <-this is the answer you’re going to get from mostly everybody here.</p>

3

<p>Well the thing is, I just want to go to a really good college. Something that might be a bit out of my range if I apply ED, feel me? </p>

<p>That’s what I want to apply ED to a low/mid reach school, one that can possibly overlook terrible freshman year and really likes great EC’s and genuine passion/interest from its applicants.</p>

4

<p>You’re hoping that you’ll get a boost from ED so that you’ll get into a “better” school than would be the case if you were applying RD. Sometimes ED does give a boost, but not always. The US News and World Reports list of school ED rates from 2009 shows that RD acceptance rates at Carnegie Mellon were higher than their ED rates. Not sure about the rates last year, but applying there in computer science would be a high reach.</p>

<p>But it doesn’t make any difference, because as nyctempo said: if you’re not madly in love with a school, you don’t apply there ED. If you’re admitted ED and the financial package works out OK, that’s where you’re going to college. You don’t make that kind of decision because a bunch of strangers on a message board say that College X is great. </p>

<p>So, go do some research, figure out how much your family can afford to pay, and come up with a list of schools that interest you. Apply to them RD (or nonbinding Early Action). </p>

<p>Good luck!</p>

5

<p>Why don’t you apply rolling admissions to the State universities, like U of IL, Urbana, U of MI, Ann Arbor, Georgia Tech, etc. They have great comp sci programs.</p>

6

<p>I agree with the above; if you’re not positive then don’t apply ED.</p>

<p>While ED can sometimes have a higher admit rate, because your GPA will (hopefully) be notably higher with senior year first semester factored in, you would probably have better chances increasing that upward trend and applying RD.</p>

7

<p>Yup, I’m already applying to Georgia Institute of Technology and University of Illinois-Urbana Champaign (EA). </p>

<p>Do you guys think I have a chance at uMich? Oh and I’m applying to all UC’s (I’m in California). BigFuture.collegeboard shows that CMU’s ED acceptance rate is 30% RD, and 35% ED. Should I apply Cornell instead? It’s 17% RD, ~30% ED according to BigFuture.Collegeboard.</p>

<p>Is BigFuture.collegeboard accurate?</p>

<p>As far as paying for college, there should be no problem. My parents already have college funds set aside for both my little brother and me. If I get into a great college out of state, they will have no problem paying for it. That’s why I’d like to apply ED to a great Comp Sci college that may be a bit out of reach in RD. </p>

<p>Can you guys recommend some colleges that I can apply ED to? So far considering Cornell and CMU.</p>

<p>@Lagging Hm. So part of the admissions process is looking at Senior year 1st semester grades/rigor? How do they receive Senior year Grades/Rigor to make their decision anyway? Sorry if it’s a dumb question.</p>

8

<p>Remember if you apply ED and get in, you HAVE to go. So don’t just do it because somebody tells you to, make sure thats the school that you are certain is your number one.</p>

9

<p>I understand, which is why I’m applying ED to a relatively prestigious school (CMU or Cornell, go figure) so if I get in I won’t mind going at all, especially since I wouldn’t get in RD.</p>

10

<p>Have you considered finances? Are your parents ok with paying ~$60,000 a year or are you anticipating enough financial aid?</p>

11

<p>Just because a school is prestigious doesn’t mean you’ll like it…</p>

12

<p>The thing is though, if you apply ED, and apply for financial aid, there is really not a lot of negotiating. They have you because you HAVE to go to the school, so you can’t threaten and say that you’ll go somewhere else because you can’t. So be really careful with applying ED. The best advice I would give is apply ED to only one school that you really want to go to and can afford. Because once you’re accepted, there is no going back and making another decision and they control your financial aid because you can’t leave. So be very careful and make sure that you can get enough financial aid before you apply ED</p>

13

<p>nickolai, there are a few ED schools that say you must attend if admitted regardless of your FA award, but most ED schools will allow you to decline an ED offer if you say that the financial aid award doesn’t make the school affordable. </p>

<p>

</p>

<p>Your school sends your records. This is part of the application process.</p>

14

<p>If you apply early some schools will make their decisions before you have your first semester senior grades. I got my decision in November- way before first semester grades. Regular decision schools almost always see first semester. </p>

<p>Your school will send the grades but you will need to use whatever school form/request method your school uses for them to send grades. Also, note that schools can rescind you if your second semester grades are poor. So all of senior year matters, but usually only first semester for RD admission.</p>

15

<p>Just saw this link in another post. 3-2 programs are a possibility too.</p>

<p>[3-2</a> Dual Degree Engineering/Liberal Arts Programs | College Admissions Counselor in Los Angeles and the San Fernando Valley](<a href=“http://www.audreykahane.com/articles/college-search-selection/3-2-dual-degree-engineeringliberal-arts-programs/]3-2”>http://www.audreykahane.com/articles/college-search-selection/3-2-dual-degree-engineeringliberal-arts-programs/)</p>