Should I apply Brown or Wesleyan Early Decision?

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

<p>My top school is Brown, and Wesleyan is my 2nd. I originally wanted to apply to Brown ED, but it's a reach school (as is Wesleyan, but not as much), and I don't know if the extra <em>leverage</em> I get applying ED would be useless at Brown. What do you think? My stats are below.</p>

<p>3.7 UW / 4.04 W
- have always taken as many APs/Honors classes as possible.
Top 10%</p>

<p>Asian -Viet, CA, low-income, 1st gen</p>

<p>2100 SAT (680 CR, 710 M, 710 W), retaking Oct
SAT II - US History 660, Chinese 620, retaking Nov</p>

<p>EXTRACURRIC
Speech + Debate Team - Secretary, Vice President (4 years)
Red Cross Club - Vice President (4 years)
Adopt-an-Alleyway Youth Empowerment Project - Social Chair (3 years)
Campaign Academy - Campaign Leader (3 years)
CSF Representative (3 years)
The Eagle School Newspaper - Editor-in-Chief (2 years)
Eagle News Broadcast - Reporter (2 years)
Fiona Ma Assemblywoman of CA - Intern (2 years)
Student Site Council - Vice Chair (2 years)
Junior Statesman of America Club - Historian (1 year)</p>

<p>PROGRAMS
- Northwestern University - CTD Civic Engagement & Leadership Institute (Summer)
- 3 year participant World Savvy Affairs Competition</p>

<p>JOBS
- US House of Representatives Page (summer 2009)
- The Sixth Graphics + Web Design Studio - owner (6 years)
- Natural Dental Lab - assistant manager (4 years)
- Help-U-Learn Tutorial - Tutor (4 years)</p>

<p>AWARDS
- 1st Place Voice of Democracy Speech Contest: Honoring Veterans of Foreign Wars
- 2nd Place Lion's Club Speech Contest: Water - Will CA be left high and dry?
- 2nd Place Lion's Club Speech Contest: Immigration - My Solution
- 3rd Place World Affairs Competition Best Discovery Poster
- 4th Place Best Speaker - CHSSA Student Congress</p>

<p>OTHER
volunteered 200+ hours, started my own graphics/web design company to help out my family through high school, worked as page with US house of rep</p>

<p>notes: my gpa sophomore year suffered b/c parents divorce + having to work. but my junior year had only 2 B's for fall semester and 1 B for spring.</p>

<p>I'm concerned about my GPA and SAT II scores.</p>

2

<p>ED doesn’t help you get in. There is a higher acceptance rate because the most qualified applicants apply ED. I think Brown is a major reach, I’d say Wesleyan.</p>

3

<p>I’d shoot for Wes. There is a good gap (relatively) between what it takes to get into the two. While Brown will see a ton of Asian candidates from CA with much higher stats, Wes will see many fewer.</p>

<p>[Brown</a> Admission: Facts & Figures](<a href=“Undergraduate Admission | Brown University”>Undergraduate Admission | Brown University)</p>

4

<p>There really is a “fit” at colleges. They really do pick students who fit their vision of their students. The closer you match their “fit” the better chance you have.</p>

<p>I believe those who get into Brown are, to a fairly large degree, quite creative in one way or another. My cousin’s off beat child just got in last year, while several high ranking kids at my son’s school did not. They were top students - high 90s in APs - and in all the usual clubs, but nothing made them stand out from the crowd. They were the usual high achieving suburban girls. Vanilla bland.</p>

<p>You, on the other had have something interesting I think you should play up: " … started my own graphics/web design company to help out my family through high school". That could be very interesting and might be worth working your essay around.</p>

<p>Another thing you can do is have one of your parents write a special circumstances letter explaining that there was tremendous stress and strain in your life during your sophomore year due to the divorce and it had a direct influence on your academics. But, only do that if your grades went up dramatically the next year to be able to prove the point. B’s might not do that.</p>

5

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<p>I do agree. But the “fits” are chosen from those in their pool of competition once they pass the stats threshold for it.</p>

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<p>Here I’d really have to disagree. With a 50% divorce rate this is not much of a special circumstance and had I received such a letter when I worked in admissions, it would have been posted on the wall of shame.</p>

6

<p>Thanks for your input guys. It’s helping a lot!</p>

<p>hmom5–
Do you think it’s not realistic to give Brown a shot by applying ED and that if I did, I’d have a much less chance getting into Wesleyan by applying RD?</p>

<p>That’s my main problem.</p>

7

<p>Well…the divorce could have had special circumstances. Not all divorces are the same at all.</p>

8

<p>Yeah, it was also having to work to support my family, not just divorce (I’m not sure if that is not uncommon as well).
I’m aware that there will be other applicants who have been through a divorce and had no problem maintaining good grades.</p>

9

<p>If you’re asking what the best strategy is, IMO it’s to apply ED to Wes. This is because I see Brown as a major reach and don’t think ED will help you there while I do see it helping you at Wes.</p>

<p>However, if you love Brown and are the type that will always wonder “what if”, don’t ED Wes.</p>

<p>I had kids in both categories. While it’s just anecdotal, the one who went ED with a major reach didn’t end up accepted at any of his top 3, but he needed to try the big reach because he’s a what iffer! The one that strategically applied ED to a “lower ivy” with the stats for a “top ivy” got in.</p>

10

<p>hrm. thanks for your input, it’s helpful.
Do you think I have a chance at Wesleyan RD?</p>

<p>Yeah, I’m a “what-if” person – but I don’t want to apply to Brown ED and get rejected, and then be rejected from Wesleyan RD, so I’m trying to weigh the chances.</p>

<p>Do you mean the “The one that strategically applied ED to a “lower ivy” with the stats for a “top ivy” got in.” got into both the ivy RD and the lower ivy ED?</p>

11

<p>No, I mean he got into the ivy he applied ED to, but since he was in a very competitive pool he may well have been rejected from both RD. </p>

<p>None of us can tell you how much your chances go down at Wes RD. You’re no shoo in there ED either. It is a school where ED helps. We can’t give you the odds and only you know how you want to play this.</p>