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

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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][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]

If "perfect" SAT is actually 1600, that is impressive IMO. [/quote]

While it is impressive, no selective college cares once you cross a threshold. My DC has 1600 first attempt and got a full ride to a state school. Looked at admissions file after matriculating to Ivy, not one mention about 1600 or internship. DC had something most kids don’t though so OP’s kid might have a shot if unique..[/quote]

yup, 1600 isn't treated differently than a 1570.  It's obviously an excellent score, but schools seem to use test scores mostly to verify  gpa. [/quote]

I think this will change, schools will want higher top end to draw their 75% or overall up. It will become more valuable because it will allow them to be more open in taking the 25% and below. [/quote]

It will not change at the ivies and couple others that had 1570ish for the 75th%ile pre-test-optional and during test optional and have the same thing again now that it is back to test required. Those schools do not want more than 25% of the class to be 1570ish. All of the ivies could have 75% 1570+ but they do not. That is not how they build the class. 30-40% are athletes/legacies/FGLI/rural/rare state, some of whom are 1570+, then a bunch of kids are the top cellist or national poet laureate, or the quintessential "tuba player", champion debater, community changemaker, with top grades and in general 1500+, sure some are 1570+ but like the hooked group, not many. These are the future artists and/or general leaders. Then the rest of the class, about 25%, are the power academics. Their academics are their strength: they are almost all valedictorians, apply with all 5s, max rigor and have academic accolades. Most of them also have leadership or arts or something else too, but they are predominantly there for their brains. The schools want them for that: they will ace the MCAT, LSAT, get the top grad/phd fellowships, be the possible future ivy professors and nobel laureates, discover the next tech, be leaders in academic fields. Not one school not even MIT wants an entire class of that type. [/quote]

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