Regular Decision or Second Early Decision?

Colleges and Universities A-Z Pomona College
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<p>First of all, I want to say that Pomona is a great school. I love the atmosphere there.
Many ask that if I like Pomona so much, why don't I just ED there?
Right now, I am having trouble deciding whether to do Regular Decision or 2nd Early Decision. I have feelings toward Regular Decision because I've applied to A LOT of schools, and I sorta want to see where I get accepted and rejected, and decide my final school in the end.
On the other hand, I want to 2nd Early Decision because I've heard that doing early raises your chances of getting in since it shows that you would be willing to do a binding contract with this school.
I believe that I am not too strong of a candidate for Pomona, so early decision with the higher chances of getting in is tempting...but I can't get rid of my desire to do regular and just choose from all my options in the end. (Of course, there's no guarantee, I'll get into Pomona Early or Regular)...</p>

<p>My stats are as follows:
SAT I: 670(CR), 800(M), 700(W)
SAT IIs: 790(Math II), 720(Chem), 720(US history), 790(Korean)
ACT: n/a
APs: 5(AP Lang), 4(APUSH), 4(Chem), BC-Calc(n/a), AP Psych(n/a), AP Lit(n/a), AP Spanish(n/a), AP Enviro(n/a)
GPA (UW,W): 4.10UW, 4.81W
School Rank: 8/445
Honors: National Merit, FBLA Competition, Principal's Honor Roll, AP Scholar, Nomination to ***** University Science Research Program
EC: Founder of my own nonprofit organization to raise money and items for people in Africa and Mexico; Praise band leader; neuroscience/physics research in *****University Science Program; Entertainment Coordinator/Mental Ward Volunteer at local senior home; vice-president of Science National Honor Society; president of social studies honor society; treasurer of national honor society; secretary of spanish honor society; member of the national english honor society; volunteer at soup kitchen; assistant concert master to school orchestra; volunteer at hospital; volunteer at local animal pound
Work exp: Spanish tutor; English tutor; math tutor
Essays: common app was pretty good. im a pretty good writer; wrote the supplement about one my extracurricular activities
Teacher recs: both should be good since i know them well
Counselor rec: should be good as well since i have known him well for 4 years
Hook: none
State: New Jersey
School type: public school
Ethnicity: Asian
Gender: Male</p>

<p>Can anyone chance me?
Do you guys think I will have a better chance at 2nd ED or Reg?</p>

<p>Thanks for reading~</p>

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<p>If you apply ED and need financial aid, if you are accepted but the aid you’re offered is barely enough, will you want to accept the offer, or take a chance that some other school will offer you more aid at RD time? (If the offer is great or not enough, you’ll accept or decline, resp.)</p>

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<p>Double check the numbers for ED boost for Pomona. We were told, when visiting last summer that there was no boost for ED. My son checked the numbers and felt that there was no boost. If you want to know your choices, I would definitely take your chances. You have a lot of interesting activities, if you are able to do a great job articulating your passions, they will be interested in you ED or RD. Good luck!</p>

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<p>This is your answer, right here. Only apply ED to a school if it truly is your first choice, no matter where else you might get in. The advantage is not that great and not worth taking a chance that you will be committed to a school before you are really ready to commit to it.
For Pomona, being male and being not from Southern California will help you as much or more than applying ED, imo. Good luck!</p>