<p>Basically, I've narrowed the schools I'm applying Early Decision to Columbia and Duke. Columbia, because its my dream school/amazing campus/location/Model UN/programs/etc. Duke, because its practical and more likely for me to get in with its 30% acceptance rate ED but only 10% RD acceptance rate. </p>
<p>Here's the dilemma:</p>
<p>My unweighted GPA at my school from 10th-11th grade is 3.9(only 1 B). But if you consider freshman grades, its like a 3.75 overall because I did rather poorly. I understand freshman grades don't count as much and it wouldn't be a problem for me EXCEPT that I have not gotten a flat A...All of the As from my sophomore/Junior year were A-'s. That being said, I attend a top 50 private school on the east coast. </p>
<p>I have decent ECs and an ACT+Writing score of 33 composite/12 essay. </p>
<p>Here's the question: </p>
<p>Is there a conceivable situation in which I can get into Columbia ED despite having only gotten A-'s??</p>
<p>There is much more that goes into the process than just your grades so if the A- is holding you back… don’t let it!! If you love Duke and Columbia equally, I would suggest applying to Duke ED because as you said, the acceptance rate is very high compared to the 10% usual acceptance rate. Columbia is much much harder to get into than Duke both RD and ED, but Duke is just as great as Columbia… it’s a school that as great as an Ivy but just doesn’t have the “ivy title”. Good luck !</p>
<p>Apply to Columbia ED, and see what happens. You might regret never having gone to Columbia if you do end up with a binding acceptance at Duke.</p>
<p>really, hundreds were admitted off the waitlist? I doubt that’s even close to true. I heard that 0 were admitted off the waitlist for 2013. Rarely, for any top college, are more than several people admitted off the waitlist. And hundreds of transfers? Get your facts straight!</p>
<p>Just cause your butthurt that your not good enough for Columbia, doesn’t mean you go criticizing the stats (especially with stats that aren’t true!)</p>
<p>And I’m just curious, where did you end up EDing @MarchSAT ?</p>
<p>Both schools are difficult to get in to; so are 10-15 other “top tier” schools. As a parent of four (Florida, MIT, U Penn, with the fourth applying next year), I can tell you it’s a crapshoot without a true application hook. So I would apply ED to your dream school and let the chips fall where they may; my three did and got in ED/ EA each time. We’ll see next year…</p>
<p>@alicejohnson</p>
<p>“It would also be nice if Columbia included the school of general studies in its statistics”</p>
<p>High school students cannot apply to The School Of General Studies, it’s their adult education division, that’s why I think they don’t include that school in the statistics.</p>
<p>“and the hundreds of kids it takes off the wait list each year”</p>
<p>Is that true? That’s very very surprising. I couldn’t find wait list statistics for Columbia, I agree that it should be public information. Based on previous threads, Columbia seems to have not accepted anybody from the wait list sometimes though, so I wouldn’t gamble on a wait list acceptance.</p>
<p>“a school that reports all its data and accepts less than 3% of its transfer applicants”</p>
<p>Duke has in the past not pursued transfer admissions, but they say they will now look to increase transfers. Imho, it makes the school less “exclusive”.</p>
<p>[Admins</a> seek to increase number of transfers | The Chronicle](<a href=“http://www.dukechronicle.com/articles/2013/08/27/admins-seek-increase-number-transfers]Admins”>http://www.dukechronicle.com/articles/2013/08/27/admins-seek-increase-number-transfers)</p>
<p>If I were to apply RD to Columbia and Duke and get in, I would most likely choose Columbia. Duke would be a close second.</p>
<p>Disclaimer: I applied ED to Columbia</p>
<p>entertainingly enough, I had a friend who was admitted off the wait list last year, albeit late. So the 0 people begin admitted off the wait list is definitely true.</p>
<p>I had the exact same dilemma, but I did some thorough research and came up with an answer on my own. It’s really not worth going to CC for an answer like this, especially since its where you are deciding to apply to. Look up the nuances to each and decide which one would be a better fit for you. good luck!</p>