<p>Would there ever be a scenario where applying regular decision would be significantly more advantageous than applying early decision? For example, having more time to acquire ECs, having gr. 12 marks considered before admission, etc.</p>
<p>If you have an upward trend of grades and want to have your senior grades to help GPA or rank, you’d be able to do so with RD. Also there might be some competitions you could enter. </p>
<p>Whether its worth it is up to you. If you feel you really need the extra credentials for any chance, go RD. But if you are a strong candidate, the demonstrated interest with ED would probably be more beneficial.</p>
<p>To add to the above post (with which I agree … )</p>
<p>Yes, especially for reasons of academics – as for example if you’ve had a mediocre junior year and you expect a stellar first semester senior year, or if you’ve had mediocre SAT/ACT scores and you expect a significant improvement with a retake – you may want to go RD instead of ED.</p>
<p>It’s less convincing for reasons having to do with ECs. These have the highest value if they have been ongoing, rather than “senior” year based.</p>
<p>Ok, thank you both for your help. One more thing:</p>
<p>In my case, I have gone from A-'s and B’s (usually 80 -89% - it’s Ontario’s curriculum) in grades 9 and 10 to pretty much all A+'s in my junior year (94 - 99%). Do you think it would be wise to further solidify this by maintaining my high marks first semester and applying RD or do you think colleges will assume I will do so because of my upward trend and it would be beneficial to apply ED?</p>
<p>Also, if Fin Aid is important, you should apply RD since you can compare offers</p>
<p>Yeah but I’m applying to somewhere that claims to be need-blind. Anyone have an answer to my other question?</p>
<p>Do you have a sense of what your rank is at your school (both overall, and taking junior year only into account)? Grades always need to be viewed in the context of the school since some schools are more liberal than others in grading, and also course rigor varies widely.</p>
<p>Further if you’re applying as an international student to selective universities in the US then you’ll need to cross a higher bar than american students.</p>
<p>It’s hard to answer your question without more knowledge about you and your school. That said, my sense is that if your junior year curriculum is very rigorous (as for example with the equivalent of junior year core AP courses in math, lab-science, english, foreign language) and your “A+” junior year is an uncommon high average in your school, and your SAT/ACT scores are in the top 1-2% than ED is a good option. In many colleges, regardless of what many say to the contrary, ED gives you an extra edge.</p>
<p>fogcity,</p>
<p>My course rigor is very demanding (except for drama, which some people might view as less demanding but I think it’s reasonable to have one consistent fine arts course). My overall avg, which is 89-90.5% (haven’t calculated in a while) is probably top 10% but I’m positive my junior avg. (96%) is in the top 1-3%. Then again, my school doesn’t rank but these are fairly definite estimates.</p>