Applying tactically

<p>I have trouble deciding where to apply EA. My school is not such agreat school, but we're located somewhere near Stanford. So, many of our students apply there, and one gets in, rarely two get in, and of course none get in at all over the years.
But very very few apply to MIT and Caltech. For the past seven years or so, records show that none have gotten into MIT and Caltech. I would love to apply to all of these three schools, but I don't know which in EA. If I apply to Caltech EA, then I can also apply to MIT EA, which means I have a better chance of being accepted than applying to lone Stanford (Stanford doesn't allow to apply to other schools during EA).
But then again, my Stanford is probably familiar with my school, so I might have a better chance?? Correct me if I'm wrong.
What would you all say?
Thanks!</p>

<p>Um . . . someone please answer my question? So many views but no reply. Why is that?</p>

<p>I'd say do the Caltech/MIT EA</p>

<p>I'd agree, apply Caltech/MIT EA. My son went to a small high school in the Bay Area. No one from that high school had ever been accepted to Caltech or MIT and very few students had ever applied. My son applied EA to Caltech & MIT and was accepted to both. My guess is that Caltech & MIT look more at the student and what they bring than the high school they attended. Stanford had accepted several kids in the past from his high school. My son's high school offered very little in terms of math or science.<br>
Are you more interested in Caltech/MIT or Stanford? Maybe that's what really matters when you're making your decision as to where to apply in the early round of applications.</p>

<p>Wow, I really haven't looked at CC for a while....</p>

<p>Well, I'm just a few months from college now. MIT, Stanford, and Caltech were my top 3 choices respectively, and I did apply EA for MIT/Caltech... both because of my first choice and because I just don't like Stanford's EA restriction. If Stanford is your first choice though, perhaps you should apply there EA. </p>

<p>I ultimately got in Caltech/MIT, but not Stanford. I'm not sure that's a statement about EA/non-EA at all, so extrapolate with caution.</p>