REACHES: Where should I apply ED (early decision)?

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

GPA unweighted: 3.85/4.0
GPA weighted: 5.47/6.0
SAT: 1970 CR: 590 M: 710 W: 670 (i know, i know)
SAT II: Math II - 710
AP scores: Calc AB - 5, Language & Comp - 4
Ethnicity: Asian
Gender: Female
Class rank: 44 out of 408 (hoping to raise by end of semester)

ECS:
100+ hours of community service
National Honors Society (team leader) (11, 12)
French National Honors Society (11, 12)
Swim team manager (10,11,12)
French club (officer) (9,10,11,12)
School newspaper staff writer (10,11,12)
Student Council (secretary) (9,10,11,12)
Community service club member (9,10,11,12)
Tutoring club tutor (10,11,12)
Varsity golf (9,10,11,12)

Work history:
Intern at local township (2016)
I work part-time as a swim instructor and babysitter

Awards:
Youth Fellowship Award (explained in Common App)

Side note:
I know my choices for ED is a reach, considering my stats but I figure if not now, when?
I plan on taking ACTs this October

ED choices:
University of Pennsylvania, NYU, Cornell University

What other schools would you recommend for an undecided major?

I am also applying to several other schools, but I’m not listing them because I plan on applying to one school early decision and the rest regular decision so that if I do get into my ED school, I don’t waste all my money on application fees.

So my final and main question is: Which of the 3 schools is my best bet for ED? NYU is probably the most practical, but Penn is my #1 and I would feel that I’m not taking the chance if I didn’t apply ED and Cornell, pretty much the same way, but I’m definitely more passionate about Penn.

Thank you!

2

Penn ED, a reach, but they like ED, and that is the school you really love… If you don’t get in, try NYU ED2 (due Jan1). You would also need to apply to your other matches and safeties in January. In the grand scheme of college costs, don’t worry about the app fees. Many are free anyway.

Other factors: where do you live, is tuition cost an issue?

3

Thanks so much! I think I will do just that. Maybe apply to one safety school so that im not completely distressed if by a good chance I don’t get in penn.

I live in NJ, tuition cost is an issue however my parents are willing to pay for UPenn. They are willing to pay for NYU only if I go into business or a field that NYU is incredible for.

4

I agree with Petula. Penn loves ED, and their ED acceptance rate is a massive difference than their RD. In my opinion, it depends on what you like, because NYU and Penn are much different location and campus wise than Cornell. Do you want to live in the heart of a city like NYU and Penn or do you prefer to be a bit more isolated like Cornell?

5

Can you afford all of these schools? If you’re unsure, run the NPC for them and ask your folks if they can – and are willing to – pay roughly that amount each year.

If a school passes the NPC test, then you want to figure out which schools meet the “fit” criteria you believe are most important. Some common areas to consider are academic, social, environmental, and housing/food fit.

If you’ve spent the time researching some schools and Penn is your #1, I would do exactly what @PetulaClark said and apply ED there. You’d probably have roughly twice the chances of getting in through ED at Penn than you would in the RD round, maybe even more. Penn appears to be a school that really likes ED.

If you didn’t get into Penn through ED, and you don’t mind the non-campus feel of NYU, go ahead and try ED2 at NYU.

Make sure you find a couple of match schools and at least one safety. Like all other apps, make sure you like the school and can afford it.

6

If you apply ED to Penn, you are likely to get denied with your current SAT score. You are better off waiting for your new ACT score and applying RD

7

^ This is where it gets hard. Assuming the OP pulls off, say, a 33 on the ACT – where does the OP stand a better chance?

  • 1970 in ED, or
  • 33 in RD

I think that’s a tough call. I still like the commitment the OP shows by applying ED. GPA is solid.

Another thing to consider is this: what if the ACT comes back and it’s not much better than the SAT? If OP has missed ED to wait on the ACT score, she will have wasted the chance at ED for nothing.

8

@lhsafc17 I absolutely love the city life! I live less than 20 minutes away from Philly and I’ve visited NYU about two times (just the perimeter). I’ve visited Penn once, however I skirt around their a lot as that area is one of my favorite places to go. I’ve never visited Cornell, but I do like the cold weather, however city life is a much better fit for me.

9

@prezbucky that’s true, I agree. I don’t really see myself as having a good shot at Penn either way, I’m sort of applying for a reassurance that I tried my best to get into my top school. I guess I’m going ED!

10

Anyone want to review my supplement or common app essays? :slight_smile: