Should I apply ED?

Colleges and Universities A-Z Washington University in St. Louis
1

I had decided to apply ED a while ago but today my counselor made me question it. Here is why.

  1. My midterm report wasn't great. I've always had midterm reports that aren't great, but I always get them up by semester. I have a 3.9 GPA and will have taken 11 AP classes by the time I graduate. However, my midterm report had several Bs, several As, and a horrible C in AP Calculus, because all he had in the grade book - and most classes too - was a single test, the unit test that we took just before the reports were due. Midterm reports don't affect GPA, but WashU looks at them. If I waited until regular decision my grades would be up to their usual straigh As for sure (this happens every year usually since I started to take difficult AP classes).
  2. My essays. I was hospitalized for a week and sick for another, and my college essay is a bit rushed. I don't know how more time would change the essay, it may make no difference to my essay, but it's another factor to consider that it's a bit rushed so it's not as strong as it could be.
  3. ACT score. My ACT isn't bad but it isn't perfect or ideal. If I waited RD, I would have the chance to take the ACT one more time. Seeing as I've only taken it once and I didn't study for that time, I know I could get my score up if I studied- and I definitely would. The first time I took the ACT was the state exam and I didn't study because it was midterms week at my school and I had been swamped with 5 AP classes at the time. This year it will be before finals and while I have 5 AP classes, I have more time due to one off hour and no longer working a part time job (for the specific purpose of college applications and such).

I know ED will boost admission chances and that WashU has a much higher acceptance rate out of their ED pool than RD, but I know my application would be stronger RD and it has some weak spots right now that I could definitely fix up for RD. I want to apply ED, but more than anything I want the highest chance of getting accepted…which do you think would benefit me more? I’m looking for different perspectives, that’s all, I know ultimately it’s up to me. Thank you very much!

2

My advice is to wait if you can substantially improve your application. You want to present your best self. If you can improve it only marginally, stick with ED and hope that if you are not accepted, you’ll be deferred to RD. In any case, I would ask the GC to mention the challenges you’ve had at the beginning of your senior year.

3

What is your ACT score? The bad midterm grades can be explained by your illness and hospitalization or even better not sent to WashU with the explanation that you were ill so that is why they were not sent. When specifically do you plan to retake the ACT? Are you sure it will be in time for colleges to receive the score? Good luck!

4

@Testingearly @gardenstategal My ACT score is 31, I only tested once and am planning to test again in December (this time I will study and hopefully be healthier). WashU states on their FAQ that the latest testing date accepted is the December test, so if I am deferred to RD, there is hope, since my ACT is by far the weakest aspect of my application (My recc letters are very, very strong due to the deep bond I have with those who wrote them, my course load was intense and challenging since the beginning, and my grades are good. I also stuck to a lot of EC activities like figure skating, a community service club (in which I had several leadership positions), yearbook, volunteering at a hospital, etc).

I asked my counselor, and she said that she mentioned my health issues that I’ve had over the past few years, but she send the bad midterm grades anyway as they are required. My grades have already improved (I now have all A’s in all of my subjects), but I’m afraid that paired with my low ACT score, this will be enough to get me a rejection. I’m hoping to at least be deferred :slight_smile:

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