Daughter is a rising senior and trying to decide which of these 4 schools to apply to for ED1. 4.5 weighted GPA, 12APs upon graduation, 33ACT, varsity and club athlete, white. Not looking for financial aid. Top 5% in her HS, although the school doesn’t provide exact rank. Interest in Economics. Would be happy to attend any of the 4. Any advice would be appreciated! Is Vandy too high of a reach for her even in ED?
She should apply ED to her top choice school.
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Agreed but she cannot decide which of the four
I think if she wants to go to Vanderbilt she should ED to Vanderbilt, but if she can’t decide then I wouldn’t ED anywhere. A lot of growth happens between now and May 1, so unless a student is really clear on one school, I would skip ED.
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She would have to pick one school sooner or later though…seems unwise to give up the acceptance chance advantage of ED
Given that she’s undecided, you shouldn’t apply ED to any schools. Apply RD and then go to the spring admitted students days of the colleges that have admitted her.
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That’s it. She needs to know which is her favorite. If she has two, ED1 and ED2 would be avail.
These schools have differences. Has she been ? I can’t imagine being equal on the four. Weather, campus, location to city, Vibe, party atmosphere - they’re not the same.
If Vandy is the top chance, then she should not ED to the other three.
ED is not a game - it is meant for that most desired school.
The ACT at 33 is below Vandy’s 25% but it’s a 25% # so there are 33s and likely lower. And many don’t submit at all.
RD is brutal there so that’s her best shot (ED) if truly the top choice.
Tufts loves full pay. U Miami - your stats show very well. Not an easy admit but certainly with your stats a reasonable shot even RD.
Ultimately I’d apply to my favorite but with this group you never know. Statistically Vandy is a slight reach. Then Tufts, Wake, and Miami (especially here) in that order. I’d imagine she has a chance (even RD) and with need aware schools (the last three), full pay is a boost.
But I’D ED to #1 and 2 however she ranks them - if she can decipher between them which she should since they are different from one another.
Has she visited each ??
Good luck.
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Why does she want to ED then? If she doesn’t have a clear preference I agree with the other posters who have said to not ED then.
What are her career interests with an econ major? Has she done a deep dive into the major required classes in each econ dept? The research that profs are doing? There are likely clear differences among them.
If she ended up not liking econ, what other major(s) would be on the table…then see if each school has those options.
Has she looked at the gen Eds of each school? For example, the language/culture requirement at Tufts is not appealing to some students. https://students.tufts.edu/academic-advising-and-undergraduate-studies/undergraduate-advising/liberal-arts-babs-advising/requirements-graduation-liberal-arts-babs
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We have visited Vandy, Tufts, and UMiami. Agree that the schools are different, she just likes various aspects of all…hard for a 17yr old to be sure about anything
Because ED offers a big acceptance rate advantage
It probably varies based on your location and high school, but I know from our school, Vanderbilt would have been the toughest admit, followed by Tufts. So if those are either of her top schools, I would consider those for ED. I know several kids who got into U Miami RD with stats not as good as hers, but again, it depends on your school, rigor, etc. A Naviance-type tool and your school’s college counselor could help with this decision.
But agreed not to ED unless there is a clear, affordable favorite.
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If she likes access to a vibrant city, Wake might be the cut out.
I think Vandy is the least likely in RD but that doesn’t mean she should ED.
That she can’t decide and is 17 is exactly why she shouldn’t ED. It’s a huge decision. You have to be 100% certain. Every year we lots of kids who ED’d for the advtg but then are sad they are bound bcuz they decided another was better.
What does she like in regards to weather, sports, etc.
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After accounting for hooked applicants (recruited athletes, FGLI, Questbridge, posse, etc) in the ED round, the difference is not as great on first blush, so something to think about. Generally these schools won’t accept an applicant in ED that they wouldn’t accept in RD.
Again, if she’s not sure…and I agree many 17 year olds just aren’t sure, I wouldn’t apply ED…and a lot can change by spring of senior year as someone else noted. At the very least I would encourage her do the work on the differences in Gen Ed and major requirements, and the type of research the econ profs are focused on. At Miami, she has to decide if she would apply to arts and sciences or to Herbert…both schools have econ majors.
I would also suggest visiting Wake Forest, without that I would not ED.
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This. Remember that legacies tend to ED and all the athletes. Some schools still have a good bump but really it isn’t that large for most.
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That’s not a reason to Ed unless the top choice - and the stats are not exactly truthful due to athletes and others.
If it’s the I 100% definitely want to go, the acceptance rate is still very low but then it would make sense.
If it’s not 100%, it’s the wrong choice - even if she gets turned down RD (statistically its likely an altogether turndown but you never know).
She will be somewhere four years, day after day.
Does she like warm or cold ?
Football or not ?
Is she a member of a religious group that’s important ?
What did she like about the three? Each one ?
She likes Nashville, Miami, and Boston. As far as Wake she likes the culture there as described by current students that she knows. But yes, we still have to visit it for sure.
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I’ll say one more thing although keep in mind it’s just one random person on the internet’s opinion. Although I can see similarities between all these schools, to me, Tufts is the odd man out. In general, the student body is more quirky and less mainstream than the other three, which I do see as more similar. YMMV of course, and others here may disagree.
Lastly, based on what we know about your D’s stats, I wouldn’t say that a Vandy app would be a waste. I am on the fence about submitting the 33 to Vandy. I defer to her HS counselor about submitting the test score or not, and ultimate categorization of schools.
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Great points certainly. Econ offers broader career options although it is more math oriented than business/finance
Nashville (Vandy is in but a few miles from downtown), Miami - the school isn’t in and Tufts - the school isn’t in - the big city. All are accessible though.
Vandy is smack across from Centennial Park, The Parthenon, and a farmers market. Surrounded by hotels and restaurants. It’s different than the others. And is adjacent to Belmont U and Music Row is close.
I don’t think anyone is saying not to ED. But if there’s a chance you ED to one, get in, realize it’s not your fave as happens often - now what ? The other thing full pay families have to remember too is someone like your daughter, depending on her overall list May see merit bringing costs down half or 75%. While families are willing to pay full, when they realize their kid earned a huge discount, for some it changes the mindset but they are bound.
The good thing about these mid size schools - there’s more of these don’t work out - SMU, Denver, Rochester, Butler, Syracuse, Pitt etc. WUSTL, Emory, Rice and Tulane too but those are hard admits as well.
I think your student has great odds for Miami and ok for Wake.
But if Miami was the favorite I wouldn’t ED Vandy etc.
I think you get it - make sure you are 100% in love with the ED school or don’t !!
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Doesn’t not submitting a good score put you at a disadvantage right away since now the school assumes that your score is bad?