ED Strategy

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think he's good for anything outside HYP. My DF's kid with similar stats (also valedictorian) did not get into HYP but got in everywhere else including a couple of Ivies (she did not apply to Duke).

Just wonder, what else do you think HYP want besides this kid's stats and activities?

Something unusual, something that stands out. OP said it herself - sports captains and class presidents are a dime a dozen. There are the traditional hooks - URM, FIGLI, geography. Or have the stats listed above and ALSO pursued multiple, very different passions at a high level. Think: Broadway actress AND did 3 years of science research at a top lab. Won Math Olympiads AND wrote original compositions for the bassoon that were performed at Carnegie Hall. Get the idea?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:He should ED to his first choice. That's the only strategy.

This. There is no other strategy to it. This applies to top stats kids like OPs and lower stats kids as well. You ED where you really want to go, to the school that you need a boost for.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Penn and Duke are such different schools. I truly can’t imagine that the same person could possibly be happy at both schools.

OP here - his major at both these schools takes a distinctive approach that fits with his specific focus. There was another school outside the top 15 that did as well - and he would also be happy at that school, which is why i asked.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:DC is torn between Duke and Penn for ED but I'm wondering if he should consider using ED to apply to other schools he likes.
DC is #1 in class at large Virginia public (outside DMV area), 1540 SAT, Football captain, Student Body President and social science major with EC's including an internship that relate to major. Sounds good but there are tons of team captains and student body presidents. No research or state/national awards. Would it be more realistic for DC to target schools outside top 15 for ED? What schools sound like a good fit for him?

For Upenn or Duke , these seem pretty sufficient.

Sufficient for Penn CAS not Duke though in my experience

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:He should ED to his first choice. That's the only strategy.

This. There is no other strategy to it. This applies to top stats kids like OPs and lower stats kids as well. You ED where you really want to go, to the school that you need a boost for.

Or where you want to lock in admission and be done. My kid is applying ED to a school where his stats put him above the 75th percentile. But it’s his first choice, so ED provides the opportunity to (hopefully!) be done with the admissions process in December.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Sounds like a Duke kid to me!

+1. Much more than Penn

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:He should ED to his first choice. That's the only strategy.

This. There is no other strategy to it. This applies to top stats kids like OPs and lower stats kids as well. You ED where you really want to go, to the school that you need a boost for.

+1

Keep it simple. ED your first choice. RD the rest.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:He should ED to his first choice. That's the only strategy.

This. There is no other strategy to it. This applies to top stats kids like OPs and lower stats kids as well. You ED where you really want to go, to the school that you need a boost for.

+1

Keep it simple. ED your first choice. RD the rest.

+2 Only ED to your absolute first choice. If kid can’t decide, that is a sign to just go RD. He will get into great schools in RD with those stats.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:He should ED to his first choice. That's the only strategy.

This. There is no other strategy to it. This applies to top stats kids like OPs and lower stats kids as well. You ED where you really want to go, to the school that you need a boost for.

Or where you want to lock in admission and be done. My kid is applying ED to a school where his stats put him above the 75th percentile. But it’s his first choice, so ED provides the opportunity to (hopefully!) be done with the admissions process in December.

This is actually a great strategy. It is a mistake to ED to a school where you are under 50%, thinking that the ED will boost it over the average. ED is a boost for those in the 50-75% range. And, at Chicago, for everyone! (Sorry, couldn’t resist).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:He should ED to his first choice. That's the only strategy.

This. There is no other strategy to it. This applies to top stats kids like OPs and lower stats kids as well. You ED where you really want to go, to the school that you need a boost for.

Or where you want to lock in admission and be done. My kid is applying ED to a school where his stats put him above the 75th percentile. But it’s his first choice, so ED provides the opportunity to (hopefully!) be done with the admissions process in December.

Yay!! You all are super lucky - the fact that it's his first choice makes it easy!

Things get a lot harder where the kids' stats are below the 75th percentile for their first two choices, but above it for the rest. Do they take an ED shot at their top choice or play it safe and get it overwith by December.

Or . . . when they're at or above 75th percentile for a 6% admit type school, which guarantees absolutely nothing. (Ex. Duke or Penn with a 4.0uw + 12APs + 1570 SAT)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:He should ED to his first choice. That's the only strategy.

This. There is no other strategy to it. This applies to top stats kids like OPs and lower stats kids as well. You ED where you really want to go, to the school that you need a boost for.

+1

Keep it simple. ED your first choice. RD the rest.

+2 Only ED to your absolute first choice. If kid can’t decide, that is a sign to just go RD. He will get into great schools in RD with those stats.

This is terrible advice. Don’t have an absolute first choice unless you are a fickle teenager. Pick a handful of great schools you would love to go to, and, from that handful, discard schools where ED won’t give you a realistic boost and where you do not have a reasonable chance of admission. Then, if there are two school left, say, pick your favorite only then.

Don’t leave things to RD because then you piss away your ED card and will not get into any of your top 4 schools…

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:He should ED to his first choice. That's the only strategy.

This. There is no other strategy to it. This applies to top stats kids like OPs and lower stats kids as well. You ED where you really want to go, to the school that you need a boost for.

Or where you want to lock in admission and be done. My kid is applying ED to a school where his stats put him above the 75th percentile. But it’s his first choice, so ED provides the opportunity to (hopefully!) be done with the admissions process in December.

Yay!! You all are super lucky - the fact that it's his first choice makes it easy!

Things get a lot harder where the kids' stats are below the 75th percentile for their first two choices, but above it for the rest. Do they take an ED shot at their top choice or play it safe and get it overwith by December.

Or . . . when they're at or above 75th percentile for a 6% admit type school, which guarantees absolutely nothing. (Ex. Duke or Penn with a 4.0uw + 12APs + 1570 SAT)

PP here, and my kid had two schools he really liked, one of which is the type of school you mention above. He chose purely based on which school he liked more; if anything, the second school stayed in the mix because of prestige, which he knew was not a reason to select it over the school he preferred in every other way. He never would have ED’d to a school that wasn’t his first choice, and being done in December was not the priority.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The whole ED strategy thin is causing colleges with low admit rates to lose really strong candidates. Bad for the college, but good for the student who will end up at an amazing college with far less of the grinders, prestige seekers, and pressure.

It makes the whole game harder for the families who need financial aid.

Why do families think they are entitled to this? I’d like a beach house and a Mercedes but I don’t think I am entitled to something I can’t afford. ED is not for people who are worried about the cost and that is just fine. Everything in life is t “fair.” Get over it.

Beach homes don’t have the same level of government subsidies as colleges. My kids don’t need financial aid but I still think colleges that accept government grants and are non profit should not be able to have early decision.

That said for the OP I would look at which school gives more of an ED bump - Duke or Penn and ED there. My guess is odds will be better at Penn. Schools in the south are hot right now and I think Penn’s negative press post Oct 7 probably hurt them a bit.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Yup ED to where his heart is.

Seriously. With those stats he’s earned it. If ED doesn’t not happen, the “next best” will work out just fine for him.

[Anonymous]

I think Duke or Penn is a good reach for OP's kid.