Should I do Early Action? (Class of 2019)

Colleges and Universities A-Z Boston College
1

<p>This is my first time posting here, but I mainly lurk around because I’m afraid someone I know irl will recognize me. Oh well.</p>

<p>I am a rising senior. And I’m interested in BC (not necessarily as my first choice), but it is definitely at the top of my list. I wanted to know if applying early would help my chances or hinder my chances or pretty much do nothing but give me the reassurance that I WILL end up going to college somehow (if I get in) or encourage me to apply to more safeties (if I get rejected).
Here are some of my stats:
Female
Asian :frowning:
SAT: 2280 (CR: 710, M: 770, W: 800) - one and only
Subject Tests (kind of very disappointed): Math II 770 Chemistry 700
GPA: 3.95 UW / Unsure of Weighted but so far I have 7 APs and all honors (when possible)
Rank: UW 11/507 but weighted should be much higher (at least top 5?)
Senior Year Schedule: AP Biology, AP Physics C, AP English IV, AP United States Government & Politics, AP Calculus BC, and AP Computer Science (Java)</p>

<p>Extracurriculars (kind of weak):
Golf - Varsity/State Qualifier for all four years (9, 10, 11, 12)
Math Team - Secretary/Treasurer (11, 12)
National Honor Society (11, 12)
Non-Profit Organization (going to be vague for privacy sake) - Project Manager, ??? (9, 10, 11, 12)
Academic Coaches (11, 12)
Tutoring 4th/5th graders in math (9, 10, 11, 12) ~Hours vary throughout the school year</p>

<p>Awards:
Bausch and Lomb Science Award (not even sure if this is even considered an award)
Possibly NMSF?</p>

<p>I would apply to the College of Arts and Sciences. Right now, I’m interested in Computer Science but that could easily change. For now, I’m definitely interested in a STEM field.</p>

<p>Other schools I’m interested in: Bowdoin College, University of Rochester (because of the B&L Science Award), University of Washington, and several other LACs (Colby, Smith, Amherst, etc.???)
Bowdoin is my top choice as of now, but I am not doing Early Decision because I want to be able to compare financial aid packages.</p>

2

<p>In my humble opinion you should save your binding early action for another school. Your stats are good enough that the early action boost is unnecessary. On the other hand if BC IS your number 1 choice (which you said it isn’t) go for it.</p>

3

<p>@JellyFishh‌ Is there actually a slight boost for early action even though I won’t be an athletic recruit/legacy, etc.? I checked the website, and it listed BC as a non-binding program where I can apply to other Early Action schools but not Early Decision. Since I am not doing Early Decision, this is an okay option for me. But I don’t want to do early if it will actually hinder my chances (being placed in a more competitive pool of applicants that include athletic recruits, etc.). It also is one of my top choices right now, and it’d be helpful to see if I’m realistic about my options before I submit my other applications. </p>

4

<p>@student197 Since applying Early Action to BC will not limit your other college options, go ahead and apply Early Action. If I may make one suggestion- it would be a good thing for you to take another SAT Subject Test in another subject in which you excel to replace the Chemistry score of 700. You have time to do this in the fall and it can only help your application no matter which school you would like to attend.</p>