upwardstrend

I've made this thread seeking counsel on my current options. As of now, my UW GPA is 3.6875 and I am barely in the top 10% of my class. This is below average for MIT. This will be the GPA/rank that MIT will see should I apply EA. Assuming expected grades, by the time of midyear report submissions, my UW GPA will be ~3.73 and my class rank will be top 3%. My grades follow a consistent upwards trend throughout high school and my senior year will be my best yet. Does this senior boost warrant RD over EA? Is it worth it to wait and forego any advantage EA may confer? Also, I ask this question for not only MIT, but also Stanford and Caltech. I'd greatly appreciate any advice

lidusha

I don't think there's that much of a difference between a 3.6875 and a 3.73, though of course I may be wrong. MIT is a lot more interested in you as a person than your GPA. If you apply EA and MIT wants to see your senior fall grades, then you will be deferred and MIT will see your senior fall grades.

Maybe if you're borderline between deferred/rejected EA round you would want to wait to apply, but in that case your chances wouldn't be much improved RA round. If you're going to be accepted, you'll either be deferred or accepted EA; if you get rejected EA, a 0.6 point increase in your GPA wouldn't have helped. I don't see any harm in applying EA.

Best of luck.