Should I do Early Action? (Class of 2019)

student197
Wed, 02 Jul 2014 10:46:08 +0000

This is my first time posting here, but I mainly lurk around because I’m afraid someone I know irl will recognize me. Oh well.

I am a rising senior. And I’m interested in BC (not necessarily as my first choice), but it is definitely at the top of my list. I wanted to know if applying early would help my chances or hinder my chances or pretty much do nothing but give me the reassurance that I WILL end up going to college somehow (if I get in) or encourage me to apply to more safeties (if I get rejected).
Here are some of my stats:
Female
Asian
SAT: 2280 (CR: 710, M: 770, W: 800) - one and only
Subject Tests (kind of very disappointed): Math II 770 Chemistry 700
GPA: 3.95 UW / Unsure of Weighted but so far I have 7 APs and all honors (when possible)
Rank: UW 11/507 but weighted should be much higher (at least top 5?)
Senior Year Schedule: AP Biology, AP Physics C, AP English IV, AP United States Government & Politics, AP Calculus BC, and AP Computer Science (Java)

Extracurriculars (kind of weak):
Golf - Varsity/State Qualifier for all four years (9, 10, 11, 12)
Math Team - Secretary/Treasurer (11, 12)
National Honor Society (11, 12)
Non-Profit Organization (going to be vague for privacy sake) - Project Manager, ??? (9, 10, 11, 12)
Academic Coaches (11, 12)
Tutoring 4th/5th graders in math (9, 10, 11, 12) ~Hours vary throughout the school year

Awards:
Bausch and Lomb Science Award (not even sure if this is even considered an award)
Possibly NMSF?

I would apply to the College of Arts and Sciences. Right now, I’m interested in Computer Science but that could easily change. For now, I’m definitely interested in a STEM field.

Other schools I’m interested in: Bowdoin College, University of Rochester (because of the B&L Science Award), University of Washington, and several other LACs (Colby, Smith, Amherst, etc.???)
Bowdoin is my top choice as of now, but I am not doing Early Decision because I want to be able to compare financial aid packages.