Reply to How did you decide: ED, or gamble?

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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]DD has high stats (perfect SAT, 4.0 gpa, highest rigor across STEM and Humanities at her high school). She has a few writing awards. She also has an unusual science passion that translated to a prestigious (not pay to play) internship, which might pique the interest of universities. She's been doing an artistic extra curricular since she was little and has measurable third party indicators of progress, and some community involvement relating to it, but nothing flashy or on a large scale, apart from her years of dedication. The atypical scientific spike is probably what sets her apart, because it's not the usual STEM suspects. On the other hand, she's not sure that's what she wants to do all her life, so she would like to hedge and attend a university where she can switch majors.

At that level, how do you decide whether to ED at a school where ED significantly improves one's chances of admission... or gamble on other reaches in the hope that one of them comes through? If she had a preference for one of those ED schools, it would be easy, but she doesn't, and some of these schools lock you into a path.[/quote]

It's very hard to tell how strong this kid is from op's description -- 4.0s are a dime a dozen from local publics schools where 20 percent or more of the class has them.  Resume seems light on leadership and research is also common these days for high stat STEM applicants.  Not sure what an atypcial science spike could possibly be, nor a life long arts extracurricular.   OP wouuld get better guidance with more specificity.

If aiming high and don't have a clear ED choice, I would REA or SCEA somewhere to get a sense of how strong her application actually is.  Our private regularly has unhooked kids accepted at H/Y/P/S early, in fact, much likelier early than RD.   You don't lose much because only restricted from applying EA to private schools, very few of them even offer EA.  If denied or deferred, add some less selective schools to the list and/or reconsider ED2.  [/quote]

That was my thought. If it is really a 1600 and the GPA is top one or two in the graduating class, the rigor actually means has taken every hard stem and humanities possible, maxing out the schedule, and has A/A+ in all of them, then unless the LORs have a red flag or even a hint of one, the student could do very well at ivy/T10 level.

It is hard not to be skeptical of these types of postings. This kid could be the real deal and get in to multiple T10/ivy and have their pick among many. However I know more than a few who have had "4.0uw" (but really was mix of A and A-, or As but no A+ in a school where A+ is more common at the top, the weighted GPA was not top 10% and for one student, not even top 20%); "top rigor" meant they had taken an AP in every subject yet they had missed more than one "hardest-course" the school offered, or they were not top math group they only thought they were, or the awards and "niche" interest were quite inflated and not at a level comparable to ivy admits...None of these had an actual 1600 though a couple of them had 36 ACT. Each of them got shut out of all T20, from a private that sends about 10% to T20ish not counting UVA in state which is more like T25. The one recent student with a 1600 and also valedictorian got in to a private non-ivy school that usually ranks 15-18, in RD. They did not get any ivies or T10, mostly rejections, not even WL. They had some above-average activities and a national academic award, but overall kind of rubbed people who met him the wrong way. That factor is hard to discern as a parent. [/quote]

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