I have to decide whether to apply ED to Duke (which I thought was my top choice for the last year) or REA to Yale or Princeton. My issue with Duke is that it’s far away from jobs and internships in the Northeast (which also happens to be where most of my friends will be studying). As you can see, these are some things to take into consideration. This said, I need financial aid, and applying ED and not receiving the money would mean rescinding my application. I could exchange the college community and sports experience (along with a great public policy major). I want to apply up north, but I have no clue about what to do yet. Also, Yale was one of my tops for a long time, but Princeton rarely recruits people from my community and I heard they are seeking to recruit more people from here, potentially increasing my chances of acceptance. I’m clueless as to what I should do. Any suggestions?
We can’t give you realistic advice with no info but your dreams.
But if you are this confused in October, hold off for RD. You need to learn as much about targets as you can, whether (and how) youmatch (if you match,) and be ready to offer a solid presentation. You can’t know what a solid app/supp is, if you don’t know the colleges.
Do you know what your family can afford and have you run the Net Price Calculators (parents together and not self employed.) Otherwise, you could have no idea of costs and aid.
My ACT is 33, GPA is 4.03, have 6 APs (all 4s except one 5), and president of three clubs at school. I think I can be competitive within the applicant pool, but I want advice on whether I should consider sacrificing the experience I want (Duke) for the location and connections that come with northeastern colleges.
You first need to truly figure whether you have a shot at Duke, Yale, and Princeton. It’s not just about stats and titles. The app and supp are lengthy windows into whether they’ll find you a match to what they want. Do you know what Duke looks for? They’re very open about that.
4.03 sounds like a weighted gpa, adcoms will look st the actual transcript for rigor and letter grades. So is that the unweighted gpa or what is? Most successful applicants will not have more 5 scores than 4. It’s not Composite but sub scores that matter, expecially what’s related to your major. Not a title in 3 clubs, but what they are, the actual impact, stretch, and relevance. And not just ECs in the high school.
I’m not trying to blow your mind. But it seems you’re asking which to apply Early to, before understanding your shot. For Public Policy, do you have outside experience?
Sorry, but it’s first questions first.
Based on your preference for the experience of Duke, I recommend you apply there as an ED choice. Duke is certainly well known enough to help you establish summer internships as well as post-collegiate employment in the Northeast.
If you’d like a Northeastern college with an established public policy major (https://www.hamilton.edu/academics/departments/Home?dept=Public%20Policy), as well as with available terms in D.C. and NYC with associated internships, then look into Hamilton.
For a less selective choice, I could see you sending an app to Trinity (CT).
For something in between with respect to location, atmosphere and selectivity, look into the University of Richmond.
Consider schools in D.C., notably Georgetown, GW and American.
You will need more than three colleges on your potential list in any case.
Most successful applicants will not have more 5 scores than 4.
Hope you relaize I made a mistake when I reworded. Sorry.
Most admits will have more 5 scores than 4 scores.
What should you prioritize? An application to a rolling decision likely school that you can afford and would be happy to attend. Get that done before you even think of applying to any reach schools.
Agree with groundwork 1,000x. You should prioritize and spend relatively more time identifying, researching, and applying to matches and safeties then your reaches. Statistically speaking you are more likely to be attending a match or safety next fall.
Beyond needing your uw GPA, ECs will matter for the tippy tops.
What state do you live in? Are you URM or a first-gen student?
What are you expecting from “connections”, and why don’t you think you could find them at Duke? What career field(s) interest you? Connections probably won’t help you get a job with Microsoft or the federal government. They won’t help you get into medical or law school. Internships can be a significant pathway to career employment, but I don’t understand why schools in the NE necessarily would be better than Duke in that respect. It might depend on the field, in some cases.
Agree w/others that you need a balanced reach-match-safety list.
Thanks for everyone’s comments. I do have good matches and safeties on my list, but I’m using early apps as a way of applying to a reach (I’m applying Early Action to some state schools too). Other matches on my list are USC, BU, Syracuse. Safeties include Penn State and Holy Cross. I was asking because I want to be smart about where I apply early. Thanks again!
.
I want to do public policy and eventually law school.
If you’d like, you can search “Top Lawyer Producer Schools – Infographic” (College Transitions). The list of 20 schools, which includes Duke, could create structure for your reach choices.