Applying ED is one way of showing a high level of interest. So if it becomes the top choice for a high stat student, an ED application may be particularly helpful.
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Yes, while I do not believe in generic ED boosts (meaning every applicant regardless of qualifications or context gets a boost just by applying ED), I think high numbers kids applying to colleges like American and indeed Tufts might well be able to avoid a waitlisting or even rejection with an ED application.
I also believe both offer ED 2. So not that this is at all mandatory, but the OP could, say, REA Stanford, then ED 2 a college like this if Stanford was a rejection. It gets tricky if your REA/SCEA school defers you instead, which is a large part of why my S24 did not ED 2 WUSTL, but fortunately they accepted him RD anyway (after his SCEA school deferred then rejected him).
Of course there are lots of potentially suitable colleges for the OP, so I would not do this just to do it. But in their own ways, American and Tufts really are special schools for IR, so it is worth thinking about as a possible option.
Yes but itâs just a name for a safety being thrown out there. So unless it trumps Stanford and then another school from the initial list for ED2, any suggestions for a safety/target would not be on the potential ED list.
Which is in fact possible. Personally, I think the only two colleges on the initial list that would usually be seen as âbetterâ than American or Tufts for IR are Stanford and Georgetown, neither of which has ED at all.
That said, you cannot apply to both Stanford and Georgetown EAâGeorgetown will let you, but Stanford will not.
So, if the OP wants to apply to Stanford REA, and then Stanford defers or rejects them, the OP will have to decide if they want to ED 2 anywhere (including possibly Tufts or American), or keep open the option of attending Georgetown if admitted RD.
Obviously the same is true for various other colleges on the list, if the OP actually preferred them. But my point is if I were the OP, Iâd at least look carefully at Tufts and American, because for IR kids they might well rise up high enough on the preference list to be viable ED 2 (or indeed ED 1) candidates.
By the way, I didnât mention it before because I consider it a bit larger, but George Washington would be the other big IR college I think a lot of IR folks would consider for ED 2 even though it might counts as a Target for them (maybe even Likely for some applicants with ED 2).
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I would read each collegeâs definition of first-gen studentâand the definition may change over the summer! There is no consensus on what this term means in higher education. If you qualify as first-gen for that particular school, then by all means make it clear on the application, essay, etc.
Tremendous accomplishements, which can be tough when the local educational scene is more relaxed. Good luck to you during application season.
Iâm not talking about rank in a major. OP selected schools he - Iâm assuming - likes. Itâs great we threw random names at him but this was more target safety after we found out he didnât love the big school. It doesnât mean heâd favor our names - and within those names there were many with strong IR reps and not just AU. I used that as a filter as my daughter is studying in the arena and turned down AU.
OP can also remember â ED is not a must. If you are sold on a school and your parents are willing (we know they are able) to pay - then great.
But one doesnât need to ED. Yes at some it provides an edge.
But you will be somewhere, day after day, for four years - you want to make the right choice.
William & mary just established a School of Data Science, CS & Physics. And they have excellent polisci and IR. There are a ton of W&M undergrads and grads on The Hill in DC. The combo with data science is smart.
Itâs not on your list by UMd has interesting options for this combination of majors also. The Gov & Politics major houses an IR option plus the program as a whole is a bit heavier on quantitative/data requirements than many. Plus you have two options for data science by doing comp sci or info science which can be tailored to a data science degree. And you are close to DC and more urban than W&M.
Btw the admissions test scores/grades stats at W&M and UMd are actually quite similar now. Just sayinâ⊠similar applicant pool.
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I was also interested in UPenn. What do you think are my chances at UPenn ED?
Not great - but not because of you but because of the school.
Your focus here really should be schools you can get into.
You listed three in my mind - but if you didnât like OSU, you need smaller.
So sure you can name other reaches - but itâs those targets and safeties that are most imp0rtant and where you should put focusâŠbecause itâs likely youâre going to end up at oneâŠnothing about you but itâs just the luck of the draw.
So please look at schools and programs some of us posted above.
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Congratulations on a very impressive record, and from an ordinary public high in flyover country. You have a shot anywhere, and may only get into your safeties. As long as you are satisfied with potentially going to OSU, which is perfectly fine, this list is great.
Could you clarify this statement a bit? Is this statement a reflection of the admit rate for the school being incredibly low, or something that you see in OPâs record for UPenn in particular that gives rise to this statement?
The admit rate - 1204 were accepted ED of 8109 - and that includes hooked people.
As noted - the student is first gen - so thatâs a hook if they have it. Here is how Penn defines first gen (at the bottom):
This is - without question - a very strong student. But we are talking about Penn - thatâs the basis of that comment. Nothing else.
There is no doubt this is a top student that could get in anywhere but you can say that about many kids who donât. I do hope OP likes schools after visiting and not just on paper - because visits change a lot of things. One has to be at a place four years, day after day. Hence they really need to be focused on targets and safeties so while schools like Tufts are excellent suggestions, they are just more of the same.
He does have safeties and we donât know about UIUC or Purdue but we know he didnât like Ohio State - donât know why yet (too big??). But there are smaller and very strong schools - would he like those (Miami in state - rural), Pitt out of state (urban) or a Delaware with its Biden ties - I suppose in between the first twoâŠas an example.
But the competitiveness of the school and not the student was the basis of my comment.
Thanks
First-generation in this context is used to describe any student whose educational background meets one of or all of the following criteria:
- One or more of your parents or guardians had not completed their bachelorâs degree at the time of enrollment at Penn or took more than 6 years to complete said degree.
- One or more of your parents or guardians did not complete their bachelorâs degree in the United States.
- You are the first person in your family to attend a research university with the resources and opportunities a Penn education provides.
- You have a strained or limited relationship with the person(s) in your family who hold(s) a bachelors degree.
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That is a very broad definition of âfirst generationâ, since the criteria listed above could define a kid of two graduates from Amherst, Williams, Swarthmore, Pomona, or other non-research universities, or non-US universities like the IITs, Oxbridge, Tsinghua, Beida, NTU, or University of Toronto, as âfirst generationâ.
Talk to Penn about it. I took from them.
I thought my chances might be better cause I come from a really small area where no one really goes out of state
They might be better - but better doesnât mean assured.
Again, you have a list full of reaches - with the exception of Ohio State (which you donât like) but have yet to tell us why.
But Iâll assume you then wonât like Purdue and Illinois - assuming theyâre big.
If Penn and Stanford are your 1-2, Iâm not sure if you can do both as Penn doesnât have ED2 - but someone will know and otherwise pick one.
But all these names above - theyâre great - but you asked about targets/safeties and thatâs where attention needs to be paid to - assuming you donât like your three safeties (which means they shouldnât be on the list).
Have you visited Penn or Stanford? You should never ED anywhere (Penn) you havenât been.
Listen, none of us are the AOs that will read you app (in itâs totality). We can only give an asseessment.
Sometimes our assessments are different.
But no one on CC can ever give anyone an assurance short of a school with criteria for admission that a student automatically meets.
If you want to ED (thatâs choice), then itâs great.
But you still need to focus on those schools that arenât reach schools.
You might get into one of the big names. Youâre a great candidate.
But itâs more likely that you wonât. And thatâs why you need a full plan!!
You want to ensure you have a safety that youâll love - and not just on paper.
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Yeah, the only reason I didnât like OSU was that it wasnât too big, it was just I went there and no one seemed to be talking to each other and everyone was doing their own thing. When I went to CMU and UPenn, I noticed a lot more people were with each other and it felt more inclusive. I also liked Purdue cause they were very hospitable and they wanted me to go there, whereas Michigan seemed almost too proud of their school. Idk, right now Iâm probably going to apply to UPenn ED and if I get rejected, so be it. But, in terms of a safety I really like, probably Purdue.
OK - good to know. Funny I walk college campuses (in Gainesville as we speak) and I always see people alone - at restaurants (studying), etc.
But yes, a picture is worth a thousand words and you see what you see.
This is exactly the right attitude - Iâm going to apply ED and if I get rejected, so be it.
Thatâs the right way to look at it because you canât control it. Youâve done everything you could - and thatâs all you can do.
if they take you, then fantastic. If they donât, their loss.
While my son didnât choose Purdue, he chose a lower ranked school - he was also highly impressed.
So this is important - you have Purdue that you could see yourself at. And I think itâs safe.
But you need one more. What are your thoughts on the other safe choice UIUC?
If youâre good with those, great.
If you want smaller - myself, @NiceUnparticularMan and some others gave alternative safety and other choices - up to you whether to look into them.
But have twoâŠthey are more important than the U Penns of the world because they are likely where youâll end up. Hopefully notâŠbut likely.
Thanks for the updated info.
As good as any other unhooked high stats applicant, which means <5%. It is not you, it is them. You are fantastic, will do well absolutely anywhere you wind up, and have the career you want, including coming out of your safeties.
I think what you might be asking, is where to spend your private ED or private EA.