I want to apply ED, but

<p>I’m not sure if my stats are good enough. If I apply ED do I have any shot at all of getting in?
Rising senior.</p>

<p>Not submitting SAT (2050 over three sittings: 710 CR, 670 math, 670 writing for those interested. However, my first sitting was a 1670. Even with score choice I feel that my ACT is stronger.)
ACT: 31
Sat II Chem: 700 (Probably will submit)</p>

<p>Rank 17/568
4.0 UW GPA</p>

<p>AP Chem: 4
Senior year: AP Lit, AP Stat, AP Calc AB, Physics Honors, Spanish III</p>

<p>EC:
Varsity swimming grade 9-10 (with letter)
Academic team grade 10-12 (co-captain)
Math Honor Society grade 10-12 (president)
Mu Alpha Theta Math Team 10-12 (president)
NHS (11-12)
FIRST Robotics grade 11-12 (3rd in state; officer)</p>

<p>Great essays and recs.</p>

<p>100+ service hours.
Summer job in grade 9 of camp counselor.</p>

<p>I would apply as an economics or statistics major.</p>

<p>Just a general picture. Thank you!</p>

<p>To me, it’s a reach. I think you could make it, though. A 31 <em>is</em> in the middle for them.</p>

<p>As has been stated to excess before, judging based on objective criteria is not only fairly ineffectual but also not in accordance with the heavy emphasis that Brown places on the highly subjective essays. With that said, make sure you really love Brown head over heels above the rest if you are applying ED. I say that not because I fear you may regret your decision, (not many accepted to Brown do) but because with your objective stats it would seem to be strategically advisable to use the early application process to suit other needs. By this I mean do not be misled by Brown’s higher acceptance rate - this has been justified by legacies and athletic recruits. Therefore it would be advisable to maybe consider a college that is more statistically feasible to apply early action to as a fall-back to a Brown application in the regular decision pool.</p>

<p>Well, the only hook I have anywhere is Princeton. They don’t have ED or EA, plus my stats are very low for them.</p>

<p>I really love Brown, so I am applying there ED. Simple as that. If I do not get in, I will be fine with it. I am kind of already expecting to just go to a good state school; but I tucked away my other applications in the deep recessions of my brain just so I am not discouraged as I write my essays.</p>

<p>I didn’t know the ED rate was artificial.</p>

<p>Also, what schools do my stats fall under?</p>

<p>I think you’ll get in easily.</p>

<p>If you were my kid I’d be asking you why you’re asking the question … to me ED is to be used if you have one school you absolutely love (and can live with an OK financial award) … no ones chances of getting into Brown are very good however I can tell you exactly what the odds are if you do not apply. If Brown is the school you love then it is a worthy ED attempt … hopefully I will talk any of my kids out of picking a non-favorite school (over their favorite) as an ED application because of the supposed addmissions advantage.</p>

<p>What kind of admissions advantages are both of you talking about? This is confusing me? If Brown is his first choice, and he’s using the advantage for it, what is wrong?</p>

<p>^ my point was … if Brown is his first choice and FA is not a big issue then go ahead and apply ED … the odds of acceptance shouldn’t really enter into the discussion IMO … for the OP this looks pretty straightforward (without knowing the FA situation).</p>

<p>I say that because many other posters on CC hunt for school to apply to ED not because they like it best but because they perceive it gives them the best admission shot at a top tier school. Personally I can’t get my head around skipping ones favorite school to apply to another school ED (unless they are very-very close in the student’s mind). One of my issues with this straetgy is I believe most people are overvaluing the advantage of applying ED … the admission rate is higher in the ED round for almost all ED schools … but the ED round includes recruited athletes, legacy admits, and developmental admits among others all of which have much higher admit rates so the ED admit rate for an unhooked ED applicant is not nearly as advantagious at it would seem at first glance. Unless a school explicitly says it gives a big advantage to ED applicants I’d tend to think the difference in admit rates is mostly driven by the hooked applicants in the ED pool. But I’ll cricle back to even if a school has an ED advantage I want my kids to always give their first choice school a shot.</p>

<p>That I agree with. Thanks for explaining.</p>

<p>Please note I did not recommend for him to apply ED to another school, I said EA. Since most of us are agreed an early application does not confer a significant (if any) admissions edge at Brown, I simply pointed out many schools do offer a lot more weight to an early application. However, my response was skewed by my misinterpretation of the OP’s sentiments in applying to Brown. While at first it seemed like he was simply looking for an admissions edge at a high-caliber school, it is clearer now that his desire to attend is indeed genuine and because of that I recommend he does apply ED.</p>

<p>“I simply pointed out many schools do offer a lot more weight to an early application”
Wait, why do schools offer more weight to an early application versus early decision?</p>

<p>This is my fault again as I may have been a bit vague. By early application I mean early action in which an application is submitted sooner and the applicant is notified earlier, but an acceptance is non-binding. It demonstrates interest and of course good work ethic on the part of the applicant in being able to finish all his essays and such way before standard admissions deadlines.</p>