<p>i know of a kid who got into mit w/ a c.</p>
<p>all depends on what ur courseload is</p>
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<p><a href="http://www.admissionchances.com%5B/url%5D">http://www.admissionchances.com</a></p>
<p>Honestly, I can't believe no one has said this yet. You should not apply ED just because you think it will help you -- it's way to much of a risk, both financially and psychologically, to do so. In fact, at most schools, applying ED does not help you at all: the admissions rate is inflated simply because all of the recruited athletes, who are basically in anyway, apply ED. That said, if you find that you truly, truly love Dartmouth or Brown (so much so that you can't possibly bear the thought of attending, or even applying, anywhere else) and visit at least once, preferably twice, then apply ED. If you don't, apply Yale SCEA since it's non-binding, and you have nothing to lose. But don't apply ED just because.</p>
<p>Also, though ivies tend to be better schools than most, in reality, it's just an athletic conference (or at least, that's why it was formed). Just like you shouldn't apply ED just because you think it might help your chances, you shouldn't apply to an ivy just because you assume it's more prestigious. I'll be going to Dartmouth next year, but it's the only ivy out of nine that I was planning on applying to (technically, I was planning on applying to Cornell, but more to quiet my alumni father down than to actually go there). I found that schools like Vassar, Wesleyan (well, except for the drastic difference in campus politics), Bowdoin, and Middlebury seemed to fit me (the same me who fell in love with Dartmouth) more than even Brown or Yale, which are usually considered the closest to Dartmouth. That's not to say you'll feel the same way, but you need to find out. I hated Brown when I visited; I've known other people to love Dartmouth and hate Middlebury. Figure out what you want (for me it was a rural-ish school with a strong science and language department and a small student body) and narrow in based on that, not reputation.</p>