Should I Bother Applying ED?

Colleges and Universities A-Z Swarthmore College
1

Hey guys! so I’ve been looking at the stats for admissions on cc (i know, highly subjective and might not apply to me but I’m worried, so…yeah) and I worry Swarthmore will be a high reach for me

Abt me: hs senior, low income, ORM, not first to go into college in my family, planning to major in science (won’t be too specific), ED @ Swat and am looking at its sister schools

UW/WGPA: n/a
Rank: top 10%
SAT:1530 superscored
SAT subjects: 780 math ii, 780 chem
Course load: All honors/5 aps past 3 years(5 chem, 5 lit, 5 psych, 4 & 5 on other two), honors + 5 aps senior year (again, won’t mention as it’ll be obvious who I am otherwise but most likely 5s on these)

ECs: Marching band (4 years)+indoor(3 years), 2 volunteer clubs (VP in one of them), a debate club, I’ve been doing art for all my life (planning to submit an art supplement as it’s ap level work) but I’ve never submitted my art for any competitions
Volunteer work: hospital 100+hrs and other various things

//I’m planning to do a campus visit & interview soon but idk how much that will help. My grades freshman year were ridiculously high and then flatlined to a low A(bringing it up senior year), so combined with my ecs I feel like my stats make me look too mediocre because I just didn’t try hard enough all of hs

Any and all info is really appreciated!

2

Well, you’re too late for ED1, your next choice is ED2. I’m not sure if that’s as big of a boost.

You look like a reasonably competitive applicant, though. You probably have an average chance at the regular decision round.

3

@ninakatarina Swat has an 11/15 ED deadline, so she has time to submit.
The SAT score looks good for Swat, and ED definitely gives a boost, so you may as well try if it’s your first choice. But if you have not visited yet, ED probably not wise

4

I only recommend applying ED if: 1)you are absolutely positive that it is your top choice college and 2) if your family has no need to compare financial offers between colleges.

5

I agree with both of the above comments; you are certainly in range (esp. for ED) but you need to be sure that financially and emotionally you are ok with ED.