<p>I ranked seven colleges for QuestBridge College Match Scholarship like Dartmouth, Stanford, and Northwestern University. NU gives finalists who applied for Match with them the opportunity to apply ED by December 2. In the Match, I was rejected by all seven, but here's the rub: I'm not sure if I was rejected because of my "quality" or finances (my EFC is $1000-$4000, but I'm under $60,000 and a QB finalist). If I would have a chance for universities like Dartmouth, Stanford, or Brown in RD (in other words, if I was rejected because of finances), I'd rather not ED to Northwestern. However, if I was rejected because of "quality," I need to take this ED opportunity. What should I do?</p>
<p>Objective:</p>
<pre><code>* SAT I (breakdown): 2290 (750 R, 740 M, 800 W)
* ACT: 35
* SAT II: 770, 740, 760 (Bio-M, Lit, History)
* Unweighted GPA (out of 4.0): 4.0
* Rank (percentile if rank is unavailable): 3/375
* AP (place score in parenthesis): Cal BC (self-study) (5), US History (5), Eng. Language (3), Bio (5), Stats (5), Macro (self-study) (5), Env. Sci. (self-study) (5), Psych (self-study) (5), Human Geo. (4) all junior year.
* Senior Year Course Load: Most rigorous possible, courses at my local university and lots of self-studying.
</code></pre>
<p>Subjective:</p>
<pre><code>* Extracurriculars (place leadership in parenthesis): Interact service club (president), Community Emergency Response Team (founding member), martial arts (many hours), theatre (lead roles, stage manager), Key Club (vice-president)
* Job/Work Experience: none.
* Volunteer/Community service: Interact service club, key club, city work (lots of hours overall)
* Summer Activities: stage managed children's theatre production
* Essays: heard they were great, who knows?
* Teacher Recommendation: seemed to be just fine
* Counselor Rec: I saw this one, all perfect scores.
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<p>Other</p>
<pre><code>* State (if domestic applicant): TX
* School Type: rural public
* Ethnicity: White
* Gender: M
* Income Bracket: <$60,000
* Hooks (URM, first generation college, etc.): nope!
</code></pre>
<p>Should I apply ED to Northwestern or do I have a strong enough shot at the Ivies/Stanford?</p>