Strong Senior year vs. Early Action

Applying to College
1

<p>I'm thinking of applying to Stanford SCEA or Georgetown EA... </p>

<p>But I was wondering, what happens if most of your "tough" courses are during senior year (due to scheduling)?</p>

<p>I'm taking the following:</p>

<p>AP Calc A/B
AP Physics
AP Lit
AP Spanish
AP Art History
AP Gov/ Hon. Econ</p>

<p>ACT - 34
GPA: 4.3 (W) 3.7 (UW)
Rank: Top 4%?</p>

<p>I'm fairly confident that I can get good grades 1st semester of Senior year; consequently improving my rank and GPA and perhaps improve my ACT from a 34 to a 35</p>

<p>What do you guys think? I feel like I should wait for RD instead of EA because I wouldn't be as strong a candidate as I can potentially be</p>

<p>Thanks! :)</p>

2

<p>I think you should impress them by doing well in your senior classes first :)</p>

3

<p>It depends how you did in previous years… what did you take this year?</p>

<p>But really, you’re best applying early. Everyone should apply early to at least one school. They’ll see what courses you’re taking this year, and if they want to see your actual grades in these courses they’ll just defer you.</p>

4

<p>This year I took:</p>

<p>AP Psych
Pre-Calc
AP Lang
AP USH
Hon. Anatomy
Spanish III</p>

<p>My senior year load is definitely tougher…</p>

<p>So if I’m going to be deferred anyway, should I just apply regular?
Stanford is my top choice (Computer Science) and although my grades aren’t perfect I’ve shown interest and initiative in that field, so I’m thinking I’ll just EA somewhere else and save Stanford for RD</p>

5

<p>Stanford also likes to reject REA.</p>

6

<p>bump 10char</p>

7

<p>If you don’t get accepted at Georgetown EA, they defer all unaccepted applicants into the regular decision pool, so they will see your senior grades/ any improvement in glass rank.</p>

8

<p>at stanford REA means nothing. If anything, its worse.
It will make a huge difference at Georgetown though.</p>

9

<p>My daughter only had had three AP classes before her senior year and was accepted EA to Georgetown from our very overrepresented area. They do look at what you are taking.</p>

10

<p>Given that your record so far is good, I think the admissions benefit of EA would outweigh the benefit of a strong 1st semester senior year. Even EA schools will see your senior year schedule and see that you are challenging yourself. </p>

<p>Students with poor grades can potentially benefit from waiting until 1st semester senior grades are available, but that doesn’t seem to be the case for you.</p>

11

<p>I would go ahead and apply to Georgetown EA, but not Stanford SCEA. If you go with Georgetown, you can also apply to some safeties EA.</p>