Where do I ED?

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

<p>I've got no major hooks, and I can't decide on my EDs, so I'm looking for any advice you all can give.</p>

<p>Thanks in advance!</p>

<p>School: Highly competitive public school in CT (we've got a ridiculous amount of Intel semi-finalists, finalists, and the same applies for Siemens; at least 3/4 of students go to highly selective schools)</p>

<p>Rank: Top 10% (top 15% at worst) of a class of ~420 (I way, way underestimated class size until I looked at my school's published stats)
GPA (F/S/Junior): 3.9<X<4.0 (weighted), low freshman year GPA significantly harmed me (Junior year predicted based on semester grades)</p>

<p>SAT (I took the March SAT and am retaking the SAT in May)
CR: 800
M: 610 (had intensive tutoring, aimed for 700, but didn't reach it)
W: 710 (was aiming for 750 or better)</p>

<p>ACT Composite 31</p>

<p>SAT II: 780 US History (taken in June of last year), ??? Lit (taking it this June), ??? Bio (Ecology, maybe, maybe, this June)</p>

<p>APs Taking Currently: AP Environmental Science, AP US Government & Politics, AP English Language and Composition</p>

<p>APs To be Taken: AP Euro, AP Calc AB, AP English Literature, and AP Econ</p>

<p>Independent Research – Economics related, highly regarded by PhD candidate at Ivy where I took a summer class on economic growth and development, also well received by UConn professor and UMass-Amherst professors; I'm trying to get published</p>

<p>Have won awards from CT science fair, a regional fair, attending more fairs, and hoping to do well elsewhere; won "gold key" (1 of 3000 awardees in the nation) for the Scholastic Art and Writing awards, won award at Columbia Scholastic Press Association conference in NYC; numerous community service awards; got letter saying I can send PSAT scores to 2 schools (i.e. Commended, at worst, maybe, if I'm lucky, semi-finalist)</p>

<p>ECs:</p>

<p>Viola - 6-ish years w/private teacher, formerly in school orchestra, dropped it for a local youth orchestra (at least 3 hrs. week of orchestra practice in that group, which was audition-only)</p>

<p>Administrative assistant (volunteer) at local hebrew school, 4 hrs. per week</p>

<p>12 hrs. a week at local Barnes and Noble –cashiering, customer service, etc.</p>

<p>School newspaper (highly regarded, old, Columbia Scholastic Press Association gold award every year for half a decade-ish) –
9th gr.: ombudsman,
10th gr.: copy editor (managed copy editor staff of 5 persons)
11th gr.: opinions editor (position is shared with a senior), about 10-15 hours per week
12th gr.: managing editor</p>

<p>Highly involved in local and state Democratic politics: Worked for mayoral candidate in two most recent elections, worked for local Democratic Town Committee in past three local elections, worked for ("intern") House of Representatives candidate in 2004 and 2006 (lost both times); all of those jobs were for a considerable amount of hours worth of phone calls, clerical work, research, canvassing, etc.</p>

<p>Also:
Applied for Bronfman Youth Fellowship (apparently highly regarded), didn't get in, but I beat out 78% of the students (was a finalist and got interviewed)</p>

<p>If you could make some suggestions for my APs next year (either AP Physics C: Mechanics, AP Physics B, or AP Bio, in addition to those mentioned earlier) and what I should do about SAT IIs, that would be much appreciated.</p>

<p>So, my options for ED are as follows (EAs mentioned below, too):</p>

<p>Brown – legacy (not much in the way of donations or anything, <em>tear</em>)
Vassar
Haverford
Wesleyan – might have adcom connections?</p>

2

<p>I'd suggest not applying ED someplace unless you know that's really the place you want to go above all others. We can't really help you decide that...it's a fit thing. Have you been able to visit these schools (preferably overnight)? I know it was the overnight that clinched Wesleyan as ED for me...it just felt RIGHT.</p>

3

<p>As Weskid said, I think unless you have ONE school that you absolutely no-doubt-in-your-mind want to go to above ALL others, you should not apply ED anywhere.</p>

<p>If you visit those four schools and one really stands out to you, then go for it. Otherwise...I'd stick to applying EA (if the school has that option) or RD.</p>

<p>As to SAT IIs--definitely do literature (it sounds like you're planning on it). Not sure about the others.</p>

<p>For AP Physics classes--if you choose to take a physics class, I would go with Physics B over Physics C Mechanics. I think you cover more material (That's not true if you do physics C mechanics AND EM, but just doing one or the other you don't cover as much, I don't think. I could be incorrect about that though.). I think Physics C involves Calculus, which you would be taking at the same time. You might also want to check with colleges because you might be more likely to receive credit or skip beginning Physics courses if you do one, but if you do the other you might be unable to.
I'm no expert on this. I'm taking physics B this year and feel that it's been a really great course that's covered a lot of material. But I don't know as much about Physics C. I'd ask your physics teacher before making a decision.</p>

4

<p>I've visited all of them and over a dozen others. Those four stood out the most. Among them, I want to ED to one, so I had thought that if I applied ED to one of my top four and applied to the others too, I could plan it out strategically to maximize my chance at getting into one of the 4.</p>

5

<p>Anyone have any ideas? I'm seriously considering ED at Brown, I think – best way to maximize efficacy of ED (legacy and so forth). Plus I really loved the school when I visited.</p>

6

<p>pretend that you got accepted to all these schools and money was not an issue. where would you go, and do they offer early decision?</p>

7

<p>How did your May SATs go?</p>

8

<p>Brown legacy ED gives you a 45% chance of acceptance. Brown has strength in Economics and the Brown Daily Herald is an excellent paper. That, in my opinion, is the way to go. As a Brown legacy applicant, you will be able to use the services of The Brown Alumni College Advising Program (ACAP), which is a free college advising service for the children of Brown alumni. Take advantage of this and get them to advise you.</p>

9

<p>I actually signed up for an ACAP session, which should be cool. Apparently they "chance" you, which should be interesting.</p>

<p>May SATs were good. Hopefully my math goes up from 610 to the range from 650 to 700. Writing, hopefully, will go up to maybe 750? I was pretty happy with my essay. I'm thinking 11 or 12 (as opposed to the 10 I got my first time).</p>

10

<p>I'd say ED at Brown. Your ACT score is good, I received the same score and was offered a guaranteed transfer to Cornell (non-legacy), which is usually as competitive as Brown. Vassar is close to where I live and it is an AMAZING college and the area is nothing short of beautiful, so you may want to consider that as a close second. Good luck! You have plenty of time to decide.</p>