If you would like to avoid an ED I commitment to an LAC, why not consider an ED II application?

Anonymous wrote:Good stats + something they need.

All As with highest rigor and 1500+ SAT.

You are correct that most spots are filled before RD, so they are looking for students to complete their class. Maybe they need an extra theatre kid or an environmental activist. The typical applicant won’t stand out, even with the stats above.

Full pay will help. Look at good places that are still need aware.

Yes, this. So if you're applying to a number of them, odds are good your kid will fill a slot somewhere.

My kid got into a T-20 to T-30 last year. Asian male. Humanities. SAT in the low 1500’s. GPA around 3.8ish. Private school. Active in student clubs and part-time job. Top 10%. I don’t like to bring in gender or ORM because I want my kid to be in a well-balanced college environment, but just to give a sense of the metrics. I know it would have been very different if my kid was STEM or female.

This list suggests a pretty even split between private universities and LACs for schools with best financial aid.

https://www.princetonreview.com/college-rankings?rankings=top-20-best-schools-for-financial-aid-private-schools

Agree full pay big plus

Also lots of demonstrated interest

My two nieces got into top-25 LACs without much fuss. They simply were fully qualified for admission and applied ED. One had a letter of recommendation from an alumnus.

Good stats + something they need.

All As with highest rigor and 1500+ SAT.

You are correct that most spots are filled before RD, so they are looking for students to complete their class. Maybe they need an extra theatre kid or an environmental activist. The typical applicant won’t stand out, even with the stats above.

Full pay will help. Look at good places that are still need aware.

Anonymous wrote:Swarthmore RD last year
Female
MoCo HS with AP and IB rigor incl IB diploma
4.0 uw GPA (4.9 w)
Long term music and dance EC’s

Not enough dancers applied ED. Lucky you!

It's random in RD. The classes are really small, so they are filling gaps in RD, sometimes pretty specific gaps at that point for the schools that take a big percentage ED.

And 35 ACT^^

Swarthmore RD last year
Female
MoCo HS with AP and IB rigor incl IB diploma
4.0 uw GPA (4.9 w)
Long term music and dance EC’s

Random luck

My kid got into Williams RD. Unhooked, female, not an athlete. Can’t say why she got in though.

Full pay, will be applying RD. Worried because there aren’t many spots left in RD after athletes, questbridge, and ED.

What is needed to be a competitive applicant to these schools in RD?