Apply to Stanford Early or Regular Action?

<p>I've heard it's best to apply early if Stanford is your first choice but my problems are my stats. The guidance counselors at my school do not start advising us with college or how best to prepare for it until senior year, and they say NOTHING about SAT, at least the one that was supposed to be my counselor until this year said nothing about it. That said I have not taken any SATs nor any SAT subject tests. I would like to apply early action but I fear that having no SAT scores on my application would seriously hurt my chances. I have taken the ACT twice (29 composites both times, planning to take a third), been on a study abroad trip (P2P), I ended junior year with a 4.1429 GPA, but I am human so I did have a few B's throughout my three years of high school. They didn't affect my average grade in all but one class, Algebra 2 Honors due to a hard teacher. I had to double up sophomore year and take Geometry and Algebra 2 that year so I could take AP Calculus my senior year. I am taking the most rigorous schedule my high school offers - not extremely rigorous but it's the best I could due. I have taken one AP test so far in US History and am awaiting my score. My question is: Should I apply early action and take my chances - I can write a stellar essay - or wait and apply regular decision and take all the SAT tests that I need?</p>

<p>Stanford’s EA is restrictive too, and it would benefit you to see your SAT score before sending in the application (take it a few months earlier than the app deadline so you can retake if necessary). Since the REA is nonbinding (so the admissions boost won’t be that much), I think you’re better off applying RD.</p>

<p>sorry, but you are not getting into Stanford with a 29 on your ACT unless you have some stellar EC you are not telling us about.</p>

<p>Why did you take the ACT twice and never take the SAT. Any SAT subject tests? What is your class rank?</p>

<p>Doesn’t stanford require subject tests anyway? You could always attempt to retake the ACT in September and the SAT Subject Tests in October otherwise you might as well go RD. </p>

<p>I don’t know when their EA deadline is, but it’s probably in early November. You should be able to take the SAT in early September, and decide after that. May we all presume that you are familiar with Stanford’s admission statistics and the Common Data Sets for accepted students? It’s a shame that college advising at your school was so weak, especially for a strong student like you, but that’s more the rule than the exception. A 29 composite ACT is well below the competitive range for Stanford, and receiving it twice doesn’t bode well for a meaningful increase in the future. You might do better on the SAT, but don’t base all your college application plans on that hope. I suggest you begin looking at test-optional colleges, or less-selective schools where your scores will be within the median range. </p>

<p>The Stanford recruiter who spoke at an event I attended said there isn’t a notable advantage to applying during the REA, and that you should only apply during that round if you feel confident you’re submitting the absolute best application you can. She said it’s for the confident kids who have all their ducks in a row. If you are still needing or wanting to take more tests, and / or you are hopeful your grades you earn the first semester of your senior year and any accolades or accomplishments you achieve then will help boost your odds, then hold off for the RD round.
I would spend some time this summer preparing for the SAT. </p>

<p>My brother is a rising senior at Stanford and had a huge group of friends stay at our house during the Rose Bowl, and they were enthusiastic about answering questions. Almost all of them applied RD. Applying early really won’t give you an advantage, and if you’re not totally prepared to submit your application then, it can be more detrimental than beneficial. </p>

<p>Stanford does not require you to take Subject Tests, and if you do take them, you’re allowed to use the Score Choice option whereas with the regular SAT you must have scores from every sitting of the test submitted. </p>

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They aren’t kidding, either. Although few others do it, Stanford rejects the majority of its applicants who apply REA. Not deferred. Rejected. So no chance to show them what you did fall semester with updates. If you don’t have everything done when you apply, it probably isn’t a good choice for you. </p>

<p>If you aren’t strong enough to be admitted in the RD round, Stanford will not accept you early</p>

<p>Alright. I think I’ll hold off until RD. I did not take the SAT subject tests because I did not know many colleges recommend them. My school only has one AP before senior year and I took that test</p>