Wait for updated rank or apply EA?

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

<p>There are a few schools I am considering applying Early Action to, most notably UNC Chapel Hill (out-of-state). My current rank is 11/495 (2.2%) at a pretty competitive PA high school (I started off in the 50s-60s, been working my way down ever since).</p>

<p>I am wondering if I would have a better chance of admission if I waited until after first marking period is over (and thus apply RD) when my rank is recalculated. I am taking all AP classes, so I am fairly confident my rank will be within the top 10 after first marking period. Does anyone have any advice? Chapel Hill is my number one and I know how competitive OOS admissions are, so anything helps!</p>

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<p>I really don't think a rank difference of one, two, or even three places will make that much of a difference. If I see 8/495 or 11/495, well, it pretty much all looks the same to me. Colleges will not hesitate to tell you how heavily they weight EA applicants, and if they favor them much more. E-mail the UNC admissions office and ask if EA applicants are looked at in a better light than RD applicants. At most schools this is the case, but I know at Dartmouth for example applying ED won't really help you get in. In this case your choice should be easy...</p>

<p>If EA is weighted heavily I would def. apply ED/EA.</p>