I know I’m kind of a clanging gong on this, but what I don’t get is the concept of bringing up fall grades. Let’s say you have a 3.7 which is lowish by ND standards. The 4.0 first semester senior year gets you to a 3.74. That’s a 1.1% increase. Does that really prove you’re a better student than you were with the 3.7? Plus, while 3.7 is lowish overall, it has to be taken in context and your context is that it’s the highest GPA in your class! Is that small possible increase given by a 4.0 this semester likely to be a tipping point in a holistic application review? Maybe it is. The worse thing that happens to the OP by applying EA is deferral to RD. Are EA deferrals to RD considered second class citizens compared to the kids that only applied RD? I’ve never heard that. Still have to do well first semester but valedictorian at a school ND probably knows, 31, good ECs has a fighting chance EA. I do think taking ACT again is a good idea. I think you could make a significant impact on your app there, but bringing up fall grades for the valedictorian of the class just doesn’t seem like a reason to wait with your app. I’m not claiming any special insight here; it’s just the way I see it. FWIW, my kid’s college counselor sees it that way, too, but that doesn’t make it fact either. Good luck!