<p>Hi! So I haven’t really posted on the Emory University thread before, but I had a question thats been gnawing at me for awhile. How holistic is Emory? How much do they consider EC’s or essays? Can a somewhat bad gpa and decent sat scores be offset by amazing EC’s?</p>
<p>ECs are used to separate qualified candidates. Not take the place of qualifications.</p>
<p>I mean, a truly extraordinary EC (like, the Olympics) might get an otherwise unlikely candidate in, but only when the admissions office believes that candidate can succeed in the coursework. Unfortunately, many candidates believe that “ZOMG! I’m president of 5 clubs and my principal thinks I’m the best thing since sliced bread” constitutes a set of amazing ECs and recommendations that will overcome otherwise uncompetitive statistics. </p>
<p>In admissions generally, colleges often separate applicants into three piles: 1. Beyond hope. 2. In the middle, significant debate. 3. Clearly in.</p>
<p>You might look at Oxford ([Oxford</a> College - 2012 Admission Statistics](<a href=“http://oxford.emory.edu/admission/admission-statistics/index.dot]Oxford”>Facts and Stats | Emory University | Atlanta GA)). Since their data are not included in the US News list, they can afford to take risks and have a bit more freedom in deciding who to admit.</p>
<p>Really?! Oxford is likely rapidly approaching a 1300+ SAT average (and for those, who get in, that is lower than average), which is in line with almost every other selective college (as in top 35-40). They can certainly take more risks than main campus, but let’s not kid ourselves. The only reason their admit rate is even as high as it is is because it receives less applicants (and cross-applicants that are admitted to both get counted too. I have to wonder how those who only apply to Oxford fare. As in those, who may consider places like UGA or Oxford as matches/reaches and would not bother applying to Tech or main campus). You need like a 1250 to be relatively “safe” (as in have them strongly consider you), it appears. It may only be a 2 year entity, but admissions there is hardly a joke (in terms of admissions, it makes places like Mercer University, which ought to be doing better, look like a cake walk). I mean, I guess I would consider cross-applying it if I was below 1300 (or 1350, which may or may not get you into main campus), but still, even then it’s becoming a little interesting.</p>
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<p>I predict that our admissions rate will drop nearly 10% with the incoming class, which had ED for the first time (30% of this year’s class was filled with ED admits). What I’ve heard second hand is that Oxford is really concerned about whether a student will benefit from the Oxford education and how they’ll contribute to it. As a two-year program, half the students are graduating each year and we don’t want a year where no one is involved in any clubs or student activities. I can only imagine that the Atlanta campus is largely on an enrollment management approach of how they can get the people with the highest test scores and grades while maintaining a reasonable yield rate.</p>
<p>Also, while our acceptance rate is about to drop significantly due to ED, the incoming class actually has slightly lower stats this year than last year (the data’s in an article in the summer alumni magazine), presumably because Oxford isn’t need-blind anymore.</p>
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<p>I was admitted to Oxford, but not the College, with a 1440/1600.</p>
<p>Have to wonder why the college did not like you though. You’re well above average (I had around your score). I thought need blind would make the scores go up (because in general, more privileged students should have higher scores), however seeing the issue with Emory, I am likely wrong. For example, one may be able to argue that many of the internationals recruited on main campus (who have to pay in full) skew the scores down some. This reveals that maybe getting the money is more important than improving the stats. Seems to not have worked in terms of rankings, enrollment level control, and financial stability. Seems like this admission scheme has led to Emory in a struggle to catch up to its peers in terms of admission stats/selectivity. Perhaps more diversity is worth more than 30-40 points? I have no idea. I sometimes wonder if Emory having a 1420-1450 vs. the current 1350-1380 average would make a noticeable difference. I’m not sure if it would. Perhaps the place would become more cut-throat. As indicated by EC accomplishments of peers at say, Vandy, ND, and Rice, there won’t likely be much of a difference in that arena.</p>
<p><a href=“http://www.emory.edu/EMORY_MAGAZINE/issues/2013/summer/oxford/class-2017.html[/url]”>http://www.emory.edu/EMORY_MAGAZINE/issues/2013/summer/oxford/class-2017.html</a></p>
<p>Didn’t know that number is lower. Also, aren’t a lower number of states normally represented?</p>
<p>Reading the Oxford articles makes me wonder if ECAS relies too heavy upon its reputation. The college just seems less ambitious and open to change (except negative ones), despite all of the rhetoric. Up until recently, it just pretended as if it was doing everything right. I really wish we could pilot some INQ type courses for example. I know there are teachers willing to do it (as they do something similar). It would just be cool to have a legit program.</p>
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<p>Being need-blind makes scores go up; being need-aware makes them go down because you replace meritous low-income students with less meritous high-income students.</p>
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<p>Perhaps I’m cynical, but I can only imagine that the diversity at Emory is quite accidental. We admit and enroll those with the best applications that we think we can enroll (and at Oxford, can pay).</p>
<p>All i’m worried about is my gpa. For accepted applicants from my high school (I used Naviance to get the data), my gpa is a match.
But everyone who seems to get in has a 4.2+++. I’ve taken all APs and honors throughout high school and my high school is a nationally ranked, competitive high school (if it means anything). Regardless, my gpa isn’t as stellar as I wish it would be. My SAT scores (and SAT 2s) are pretty good, and i’m retaking the SAT and trying the ACT in a few months. </p>
<p>I’m not an olympian (haha I wish, that would be awesome). But I have started my own nonprofit, a nationwide outreach program (with 70+ volunteers in multiple states around the USA and a few internationally), and i’m in the process of putting the finishing touches of another commercial business.
I’ve gotten into a couple of newspapers, a news show, and we won a couple of grants and awards and a sponsorship.
i’ve done 7 internships (Smithsonian, BoA, republican committee (2x), National Building Museum, USKAF, Givology)
I’ve gotten a couple of scholarships and awards
And like everyone on this site, i have a couple of leadership roles inside and outside of school. I also play piano and got a few awards for that. Those are pretty much my major ECs. </p>
<p>To be honest, i really am just only interested in Emory. Its a school that I would love to go to, adn i would apply ED or ED2 but finances are still a bit of an issue. Anyways, thanks for the current responses! I appreciate it! 
If you guys have anything else to add about emory’s admissions process, I’d love to hear it.</p>
<p>If you go ED1, you should be fine.</p>
<p>Just pique their interest like you did mine with the nonprofit organization.</p>
<p>I wouldn’t worry about financial aid becasue you can bail out of your commitment if you can not afford your school. I think.</p>
<p>aig: I meant need aware, my bad. I initially thought need aware would draw more privileged students with higher scores. However, I have to remember that such students are not as likely to yield if admitted. The ones who can pay and have lower scores may yield. And yeah, you described what Emory does pretty well. However, again, the situation with the internationals makes it look as if that is clever way of being need-aware for a portion of the applicant pool. I suppose they are also less risky to admit because many from say, places like S. Korea, may end up yielding. I still wonder what happens if Emory aims higher in the admissions. I imagine the yield would suck (significantly below 30%) for a couple of years (3 or 4), but that may actually help control the enrollment numbers some, and they may get slightly “better” students. </p>
<p>I also forgot that the heavy use of ED1 and ED2 may perhaps be both a blessing and a curse in terms of what the admissions office wants to achieve at a superficial level (a more statistically qualified student body). You will get a larger amount of students happy to be at the school, but you can’t necessarily expect higher stats. recruiting so heavily from that pool.</p>
<p>Although I love the school, finances wise, I wouldn’t apply ED or ED2. A few of my friends have actually said that its really hard to get out of an early binding ED contract. </p>
<p>I was just wondering if it would be overkill if I only talked about my nonprofit, outreach program, and my other company (depends on how successful it becomes), reasons I started each of them, impact on me and my community, etc in my essays. It’s a really good selling point for me, but i’m worried admissions might find it redundant and would want me to talk about something else</p>
<p>One thing that Emory stresses is community outreach. Volunteer Emory is one of the most popular programs on campus, and at Oxford, getting into the Bonner Scholars program is quite competitive. Absolutely discuss your non profit and how you think your commitment to service fits into Emory’s overall mission.</p>
<p>You may also be interested in the B-School’s “Business and Society” concentration. Check it out: <a href=“http://www.goizueta.emory.edu/degree/undergraduate/curriculum/secondary_area_depths.html[/url]”>http://www.goizueta.emory.edu/degree/undergraduate/curriculum/secondary_area_depths.html</a></p>
<p>“A few of my friends have actually said that its really hard to get out of an early binding ED contract.”</p>
<p>It’s not a contract (it’s an honor system agreement), and if the FA offer is insufficient, you say thanks but no thanks, and apply elsewhere RD. Consider the rule, not hearsay:
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<p><a href=“https://www.commonapp.org/CommonApp/docs/downloadforms/ED_Agreement.pdf[/url]”>https://www.commonapp.org/CommonApp/docs/downloadforms/ED_Agreement.pdf</a></p>