In your opinion, is early admission a good idea?

G

GenericUserName

Member
Joined
May 3, 2018
Messages
76
SAT Superscore: 1420
Reading/Writing: 670
Essay:
Reading: 6/8
Analysis: 5/8
Writing: 6/8
Math: 750
Class rank: 44/402
UW GPA: 3.744
Varsity track and cross country plus team caption
DECA 2nd place in DECA state for group project
NHS
Math,science, engineering club.


Should I wait till regular and try to improve class rank and GPA?
I'm taking ap calc ab, ap physics 1, ap English and 2 community college classes.
 
GenericUserName said:
SAT Superscore: 1420
Reading/Writing: 670
Essay:
Reading: 6/8
Analysis: 5/8
Writing: 6/8
Math: 750
Class rank: 44/402
UW GPA: 3.744
Varsity track and cross country plus team caption
DECA 2nd place in DECA state for group project
NHS
Math,science, engineering club.


Should I wait till regular and try to improve class rank and GPA?
I'm taking ap calc ab, ap physics 1, ap English and 2 community college classes.
Click to expand...

I’m assuming you’re applying to the Coast Guard Academy. I haven’t had a kid apply there, but of my 4 kids, 3 did EA at top tier colleges and it was a definite advantage. The reason being is that the applicant pool is much smaller, so you have a better chance. You have impressive credentials, I’d go for it!
 
Your Stats are strong. It also looks about middle 50% for Early Action to USCGA. Early Action stats for 2022 was populated on this Forum last fall. You should look for it. I think you have a chance for a good look. I honestly don’t think you can improve much on your academics unless you plan to take SAT again or ACT to offer higher score. Your GPA won’t move much neither your class rank with fall grades. The risk is it can go down. To me it’s 50/50 chance. I have read on the forum that some are given flat no if you don’t get Appointment in Early Action. Don’t know how true that is. As NROTC Dad posted, you do have better chance in Early Action. USCGA admits 50% of their class through Early Action. My DS was Appointed through Early Action last year in Early November. If you turn in your App early they can let you know Earlier. DS turned in his App in Sep 2017. If unsure and want to further improve your package I would take that test again. Other than that I don’t see much else you can improve at this point. Others look good to me.
 
GenericUserName said:
SAT Superscore: 1420
Reading/Writing: 670
Essay:
Reading: 6/8
Analysis: 5/8
Writing: 6/8
Math: 750
Class rank: 44/402
UW GPA: 3.744
Varsity track and cross country plus team caption
DECA 2nd place in DECA state for group project
NHS
Math,science, engineering club.


Should I wait till regular and try to improve class rank and GPA?
I'm taking ap calc ab, ap physics 1, ap English and 2 community college classes.
Click to expand...
Early Action is where it’s at. Your resume will look almost identical to its current form in January. If you go early action you will know by then if you’ve gained an appointment, wait listed or a prep school offer.
 
My son had pretty similar stats and was very happy to have gone the EA route, he was notified by Dec (2017) of his appt and was able to concentrate on getting ready for Swab Summer and enjoying senior year. Definitely keep in touch with the uscga XC/track coach it helps show interest. Good luck :)
 
If you don't make it through Early Action you are done for the year. You do not get moved over to regular action. The average grades / ACT /SAT are higher for early action, so you are competing with a more difficult group. If your record is good enough to get accepted for Early Action then it is also good enough for Regular Action where the talent pool is less competitive. So why would you risk Early Action? The only advantage is having an answer by 24 December vs. getting an answer in March. Many competitive schools will not inform anyone until May 1st. I just don't see the advantage of EA although many will disagree with me.
 
davejean90 said:
If you don't make it through Early Action you are done for the year. You do not get moved over to regular action. The average grades / ACT /SAT are higher for early action, so you are competing with a more difficult group. If your record is good enough to get accepted for Early Action then it is also good enough for Regular Action where the talent pool is less competitive. So why would you risk Early Action? The only advantage is having an answer by 24 December vs. getting an answer in March. Many competitive schools will not inform anyone until May 1st. I just don't see the advantage of EA although many will disagree with me.
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Per Objee who works in USCGA admissions that is no longer the case. Early Action candidates are rolled to Regular Admissions if not successful. See this thread:

https://www.serviceacademyforums.com/index.php?threads/uscga-early-action.63062/

Stealth_81
 
davejean90 said:
If you don't make it through Early Action you are done for the year. You do not get moved over to regular action. The average grades / ACT /SAT are higher for early action, so you are competing with a more difficult group. If your record is good enough to get accepted for Early Action then it is also good enough for Regular Action where the talent pool is less competitive. So why would you risk Early Action? The only advantage is having an answer by 24 December vs. getting an answer in March. Many competitive schools will not inform anyone until May 1st. I just don't see the advantage of EA although many will disagree with me.
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There should be a dislike button too. What you said is wrong.
 
If your stats are pretty good already, EA is definitely better. Right now, they have all the appointments available to give out still. With RA, while it may be true that the population may be less competitive, they will have less appointments remaining to give out. If they have 3000 excellent candidate in RA but only 100 spots left, it suddenly becomes far more competitive than EA. Excellent candidate doesn’t always equal high SAT and GPA. If someone has much better package as a whole person, they may want him over you even in RA. You need to remember that RA applicants aren’t mediocre students either. Majority will still be very competitive. If your stats are fairly weak to not stand a chance in EA, going RA might be better, but with your stats, I’d go EA to have a better chance with a smaller applicant pool. Plus if they’re unsure, it seems you’ll now get a second chance in RA. That sounds like a win-win situation.

By the way if your stats are just not strong enough but they really really like you, they May end up giving you CGAS. This is especially an advantage for people applying EA. With RA, they just didn’t seem to have enough CGAS spots left. I remember seeing tons of CGAS waitlist folks from RA because even if they like you, they can’t take everyone once the spots are gone. Most CGAS waitlist kids do not have a chance
 
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GenericUserName said:
SAT Superscore: 1420
Reading/Writing: 670
Essay:
Reading: 6/8
Analysis: 5/8
Writing: 6/8
Math: 750
Class rank: 44/402
UW GPA: 3.744
Varsity track and cross country plus team caption
DECA 2nd place in DECA state for group project
NHS
Math,science, engineering club.


Should I wait till regular and try to improve class rank and GPA?
I'm taking ap calc ab, ap physics 1, ap English and 2 community college classes.
Click to expand...

You might find this video of interest, as it discusses the current changes to the CGA application process, and explains the holistic approach to admissions.
 
NROTCdad said:
davejean90 said:
If you don't make it through Early Action you are done for the year. You do not get moved over to regular action. The average grades / ACT /SAT are higher for early action, so you are competing with a more difficult group. If your record is good enough to get accepted for Early Action then it is also good enough for Regular Action where the talent pool is less competitive. So why would you risk Early Action? The only advantage is having an answer by 24 December vs. getting an answer in March. Many competitive schools will not inform anyone until May 1st. I just don't see the advantage of EA although many will disagree with me.
Click to expand...
There should be a dislike button too. What you said is wrong.
Click to expand...
I second NROTCDad's response.

I've been researching USCGA for awhile (and yes, I'm applying there as EA :) !) and based on what I know is that in early action pool, you will either get denied/rejected or moved onto regular decision pool.

I'm pretty sure that USCGA isn't going to be the only school that you will be applying to (I'm applying to civilian colleges as well on top of USCGA). By EA-ing it and getting it done faster, you can have more time to work on your civilian college (ex. CommonApp). I'm EA-ing USCGA not only because USCGA is school that I actually want to be in, but I want to get the App the ASAP so that I have time to work on essays for other colleges.

Good luck! (and to me as well... :) )
 
Good to hear they changed the process! It didn't make sense to deny more qualified candidates in Early Action and then not let them compete against the Regular Action group.
 
GenericUserName said:
SAT Superscore: 1420
Reading/Writing: 670
Essay:
Reading: 6/8
Analysis: 5/8
Writing: 6/8
Math: 750
Class rank: 44/402
UW GPA: 3.744
Varsity track and cross country plus team caption
DECA 2nd place in DECA state for group project
NHS
Math,science, engineering club.


Should I wait till regular and try to improve class rank and GPA?
I'm taking ap calc ab, ap physics 1, ap English and 2 community college classes.
Click to expand...
DS1 has similar stat but 4.67 gpa, AP scholar, boys state, Eagle Scout. Applied EA now 2C class of 2020! DS2 applying also and has 3.7gpa, 30 ACT, LAX 2x captain, football 2ketter, Eagle Scout, boys state. Will apply EA. Good luck!!
 
davejean90 said:
Good to hear they changed the process! It didn't make sense to deny more qualified candidates in Early Action and then not let them compete against the Regular Action group.
Click to expand...

They changed it this year. Previously if no EA acceptance you got wait listed or denied.
 
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