Obviously the responses here won’t be my deciding factor, but i just wanted some outside opinions. I like both schools almost equally, with just a small (SMALL) leaning torwards vanderbilt, but i definitely love emory too. I also know for a fact that i will get much better FA from vanderbilt, but I also want the security of knowing that I actually have a good shot at getting into my EDII school, which makes me lean towards emory. I don’t want to have to wait until April to know where I’m going, and would rather just be accepted in February.
Here are my stats:
3.8 UW GPA with senior grades, with 8 AP classes taken, and the most rigorous schedule possible
2220 SAT
Good EC’s
I know that Vanderbilt is definitely a reach for me, so should I risk the sense of security of knowing where I’ll go in february just to chase after the better financial aid? I don’t mean to imply that i’m a shoo-in for emory, but I do think my chances there are far more realistic.
Since you like both schools almost equally, and you’d rather be accepted in February, go for Emory EDII if the financial aid won’t make much difference. However, apply RD for both if you really need to compare FA offers.
If you went through the calculators and found that Emory was not affordable but Vandy was, then ED 2 to Vandy makes more sense as there is no point in applying to Emory ED2 if you can’t afford it.
However, know that Emory gives out a good amount of merit aid you may qualify for which you probably won’t be able to at Vandy. (Vandy’s scholarships are really hard to get).
If you want to get it over with in terms of a decision in Feb and go with the higher chance of admission, then I would go with Emory.
My D didn’t apply to either school but we researched them a bit.
I’ve read elsewhere that Vandy EDII acceptance rate is almost the same as RD rate. Don’t have solid evidence of that.
Personally, I would wait until April to compare offers and FA from both schools. Both are excellent and located in beautiful cities. I do know it’s tough to wait so I understand with your wanting to getting a decision sooner rather than later.
Thank you everyone! I think I will go with Vanderbilt because I would feel so bad making my parents pay the full cost at Emory (my parents also prefer vanderbilt)