<p>I am a rising senior and I'm stumped with part of the college application process. I am not sure if I should be applying early decision/early action/regular decision. If I apply early decision or early action, I am demonstrating interest in those schools. However, I feel I am going to do very well my senior year, and sending my first semester grades could be a real boost to my application (considering I get mostly A's and one or two B's). Currently, I am only in the top 18% of my grades, however at the end of the first semester I am hoping to push into the top 15%. Below are other statistics and extra curriculars as well. Please tell me what you think...I will take all advice VERY SERIOUSLY.</p>
<p>SAT: 2160
CR: 680
M:760
WR:720</p>
<p>SAT II:
Math II - 710
Chem - 720</p>
<p>ACT - 33</p>
<p>-National Honor Society
-Spanish Honor Society
-Cornell University Summer College
-Student exchange to Spain
-Vice President of Spanish Club
-Hindu Sunday School
-Varsity Soccer Team Member
-Club soccer team captain
-worked for family tax preparation business
-Clubs:chess, key club, future business leaders of america, distributive education clubs of america, end racism and sexism everywhere, indian cultural club, ski club
-over 100 hours community service
-GPA is mediocre (B to B+) and I fall in the top 18% in my school.</p>
<p>Thank you</p>
<p>P.S. - My #1 school is Georgetown (other schools include Boston College, Cornell, UMich, Boston University, Rutgers, and TCNJ)</p>
<p>The real question re your GPA is whether the trend is rising, falling or holding constant - and how it breaks out. Many schools will discount (or ignore completely) a weak freshman year - especially for guys - because they realize that there’s a maturational delay. If you show an upward trend, that’s fine - and waiting for first semest senior year isn’t going to make a big difference (going from the 18th to the 15th percentile just doesn’t matter that much). If your trend is downward, you will have a lot of explaining to do in any case. If your record is skewed - really strong on the math and sciences for example, but weak on the language side for example- you should address that too. If you are just a steady state B+ student, you’ll need to highlight what else you can bring to the school that they might be looking for. The other variable here, which you didn’t mention, is how rigorous your schedule is and has been.</p>
<p>I would certainly apply to some safety schools EA. Even if you don’t plan on going there, getting your first acceptance early will take a lot of pressure off.</p>
<p>As to the rest – here’s the tough part – with a number of schools, it’s easier to get in ED than RD. So, if you’re borderline, the question comes down to whether the possible boost from the ED process is more important than the boost from possibly getting killer grades 1st semester. Very tough call there.</p>
<p>If a school is a real reach, my guess is that showing a solid semester with difficult courses would be more important than the ED boost – but honestly, that’s only a guess.</p>
<p>I’d recommend applying EA for UMich - there earlier you apply there, the better. You’re good enough to be deferred if they’re worried about your GPA.</p>