<p>Hello! I was recently reading the “Why or why not to apply ED” thread on this forum and I got the general idea of it (DON’T apply ED with low scores/a need for financial aid). However, I am still split on whether or not I should apply ED. I don’t need financial aid, and my ACT score is above the Barnard average, but my GPA is below it. I love the school and I would love to have a decision in by December, but I don’t want applying ED to hurt my chances. Do you think it will? Or do you think I’d have a better shot if I apply RD (assuming I have good senior year grades)?</p>
<p>Stats-
ACT:34
My school actually doesn’t calculate GPA on a 4.0 scale. Instead, its out of 4.5 with at A+(95 or above) counted as a 4.5, an A(90-94) counted as a 4.0, a B+(85-89) counted as a 3.5, etc. My school also does not weight GPA, and we don’t have class ranks. On my school’s scale my GPA is a 3.998/4.5.
UW GPA on a 4.0 scale: ~3.72 I know, its bad. I started out freshman year pretty average (all honors, but three B+s). Sophomore year sort of went down (all honors and APUSH, but one B in honors chemistry and one C+ in the hardest math course offered at my high school). Junior year I took 4 APs and maintained straight A+s all year.</p>
<p>AP Classes (so far)-
AP English Language: 5
APUSH: 5
AP Macroeconomics: 5
AP Microeconomics: 5
AP Calculus AB: 4
Senior Year Schedule: AP Biology, AP English Literature, AP European History, AP Spanish, AP Statistics </p>
<p>Extracurriculars-
Newspaper:
-Co-Editor in Chief of my high school newspaper
-Was Business Editor/Advertising Manager last year
-Currently a beat reporter for a local online newspaper; I cover board meetings every week and occasionally do feature stories. I also get paid for every article.
Piano:
-Grade 10 Practical Diploma from the Royal Conservatory of Music
-Have been playing since I was 6
-Played at various festivals and competitions and performed in Carnegie Hall
Literary Magazine/Creative Writing:
-Editor-in-Chief of LitMag
-Published short stories in it sophomore and junior year
-Co-Founded a Creative Writing club at my high school during my junior year
Model U.N.:
-Co-Founder and Co-President of my high school’s chapter
-Started it during the end of my freshman year
-Have attended various conferences and received a few awards
JSA:
-Vice President
-Been an active participant throughout my high school years
Spanish Club:
-Secretary
-Member since sophomore year
Summer Activities:
Summer 2009- Counselor-in-Training at local summer camp
Summer 2010- Taught Art, Music, and Math in a school for underprivileged children run by the Indian NGO for 5 weeks in New Delhi
Summer 2011- Iowa Young Writer’s Studio, Internship with local Councilwoman, Taught at the school in India for 2 weeks
Volunteer Hours (excluding foreign volunteer work): ~300 hours at local food banks, nursing homes, and summer camps
Work Experience: Have been working at the local YMCA leading children’s birthday parties every weekend since the beginning of junior year</p>
<p>Other:
-Major:Undecided (probably Political Science)
-Ethnicity: South Asian
-Gender: Female
-Income: ~$175,000
-Public HS in New Jersey</p>
<p>Thanks!</p>