Does anyone have experience with the Candidates Choice Decision app? One must apply ED to be in the running? Are there any advantages, or do colleges just want to increase their number of applicants? Please advise! I have heard so many conflicting reports. Thanks everyone!
Probably the smartest thing is to call RPI directly about their rules. Back when my oldest son applied he got an invitation from RPI to submit a priority application. They said if he applied early they would let him know within three weeks of getting his first quarter grades if he was accepted. There were no strings attached and the essay was much more straightforward - I think he just reused whatever he’d already written for the National Merit people. He knew before Thanksgiving he was in. He ended up getting in other places he liked better, but it was great to have a rock solid safety that he liked in the bag. He was an excellent candidate - top 2% of his class, great scores. They also offered him merit aid, which they told him he’d be getting with the acceptance letter, though they didn’t tell him the exact number until spring.
My daughter got this invitation last year as did everyone she knew that had expressed interest in RPI. You don’t need to apply ED to use it but honestly since she was already doing the common app, she didn’t bother with the candidates choice application. She was still accepted with the RPI medal merit scholarship.
Thank you for your insight. I really appreciate it. I think they’re asking for the Common App essay and just one other question. After he tours the campus he will send it in. He’s also at the top of his class with solid scores. What is the RPI medal merit scholarship? Is there a separate application for it?
Just researched the RPI medal merit scholarship. Thank you for your help!
@CSmaven don’t worry too much about the RPI medal scholarship. They give similar levels of merit scholarships to qualified students who are not RPI medalists as well.
@mathmomvt…thank you! That’s great information.
The priority application is more streamlined than the Common App one. I don’t even think it requires an essay. Besides that, doing either or does not change your changes at getting admitted to RPI.
There is no difference whether you apply via Common application or RPI Candidate’s Choice application. I have confirmed this information with RPI.
@AJC If you applied early using common app for regular decision, would you still be able to know whether or not you got accepted within 3 weeks of them getting your first quarter grades?
@blazinamazin2023 My understanding is that for regular decision, each college requires January grades((1st semester/2nd quarter) in addition to the first quarter grades. First quarter grades are only required for early decision / early action applications.
@AJC Thanks for clarifying. Would submitting the common app early also have the same benefits as submitting the Candidate’s Choice priority application?