Benefits to EA?

Colleges and Universities A-Z University of Virginia
1

<p>Hi everyone!</p>

<p>I'm a rising senior who will be applying to UVA in the fall. I'm out of state, so that's a disadvantage. I'm considering applying EA to UVA, but there's another school that I'm very interested in applying to that has EA and SCEA. I stand my best chance at the other school if I apply SCEA, but obviously, if I do that, I can't apply EA at UVA.</p>

<p>So, my question is, is there any true benefit to applying EA to UVA? Is it worth it? I can't seem to find info about whether the EA admit rate is higher than RD, but from those of you who seem to know a lot about UVA, how much does applying early help? Especially for OOS kids like myself, will it help greatly to apply EA? Or would it not matter whether I apply EA or RD, so just do RD and do SCEA at the other school?</p>

<p>Thank you!</p>

2

<p>There might and there might not be. It sort of depends on you and the college you’re applying to. I mean EA or ED wouldn’t really help you if you had a profile that was significantly weaker than all the other applicants. You would be rejected all the same. But if you had about the same stats and higher, you might stand a better chance, as you have demonstrated interest in a school by applying early. But even if statistically speaking, they do not admit a higher percentage of students during EA, I suggest you still finish the application off while you can and get it out of the way. I heard that you could actually update your resume by contacting admissions officers after you have submitted your resume.</p>

3

<p>I think you should make the choice based on whether you want to go to UVA or this other school more… If you want to go there more, apply SCEA there. If you want to go to UVA more, apply EA here and whatever other places.</p>

4

<p>Thanks to both of you for the speedy responses! I think I stand a decent chance at UVA (my scores are around the 75th percentile) and I really love the school, but I’m just worried that being out of state will really hamper my chances, which is why I was considering EA. The other school is also one of my top choices, but I think I stand a stronger chance there regardless of how I apply. I guess I’ll just have to toss it around in my mind for awhile because it doesn’t seem like EA at UVA puts applicants at a huge advantage.</p>

5

<p>I thought you could apply EA even if you are doing SECA or ED since EA is non binding?</p>

6

<p>Well if I apply SCEA (single choice early action) to the one school, that’s the only school I can apply to early. If I apply just normal EA to the other school, then I can apply early action to wherever else I want. Applying SCEA just means that under that contract you will only apply early to that one school, and all other schools you will apply to as regular decision.</p>

7

<p>So can I apply ED to one school and EA to UVA?</p>

8

<p>I don’t believe so. You’d have to read the ED terms for the first school to make sure, but usually if you apply ED anywhere then you can only apply regular decision to other schools. It just sort of reflects negatively upon the applicant to apply early decision to one school and early action to other one.</p>

9

<p>ED at another school + EA at UVa = Okay
SCEA at another school + EA at UVa = Not okay per the SCEA school</p>

<p>Of course, if you are admitted to the ED school, you must rescind your application to UVa.</p>

10

<p>Dean J - the key is to read the terms of the restrictive school’s policy, whether it is ED or SCEA. Some will allow you to apply to any other school with rolling admissions; some will allow EA for in-state publics; some will allow applicants to apply to any public school.</p>

<p>As an example, here is a paste of two FAQs from Harvard’s web site (link here: [Harvard</a> College Admissions § Applying: Early Action](<a href=“http://www.admissions.college.harvard.edu/apply/application_process/early.html]Harvard”>http://www.admissions.college.harvard.edu/apply/application_process/early.html)) on their SCEA policy:</p>

<p>•I am eligible for scholarships at my home state’s institution only if I apply Early Action. Am I allowed to apply to Harvard Single Choice Early Action as well as to my state school?
Yes.
•May I apply EA to another public institution if it is not in my home state?
Yes. You may apply to any public college/university.</p>

<p>However, I definitely concur with your statement that if admitted to any ED school, the applicant must rescind all other applications.</p>

11

<p>@rmldad True…there are exceptions.</p>

12

<p>

</p>

<p>This is the most ridiculous thing I have ever heard. ED is supposed to be more restrictive than EA, I guess not once schools started introducing SCEA? Is there a difference between SCEA and ED other than this, besides the abbreviation?</p>

13

<p>

The difference is that the student is not bound to the school under SCEA.</p>

<p>Personally, I’m not a fan of this entire process getting more complex. When Harvard, Princeton, and UVa did away with ED in 2006, I thought it was the start of a movement towards a more simplified process. I was surprised by all the complaints we got. I guess people see all this as having options while we see it as complicating the process.</p>

14

<p>But if they can’t apply anywhere else substantial then they basically are bound…</p>

15

<p>The restrictions only apply to other EA schools. Students who apply SCEA are free to apply wherever they want RD.</p>

16

<p>Oh, ok. That makes a little more sense…</p>