Bit of a dilemma

Colleges and Universities A-Z Stanford University
1

<p>Up until today, I was pretty certain about applying to Stanford REA. I visited the school this summer, and fell in love with the place. However, an issue came up today that has got me reconsidering whether I should apply REA. </p>

<p>Traditionally, my school has gotten very few students into Stanford (perhaps it's because we're in NJ?). The past few years only a small number of kids got in (I think 2). Many kids with very good stats were flat out rejected, which seems to be typical of Stanford. </p>

<p>I found out today that an URM from my school, who also happens to be the valedictorian, is also going to be applying to Stanford early. This creates a bit of a problem for me. I don't think two people from my school have ever both gotten into Stanford the same year. The only thing the URM really has are good grades and standardized tests, but its seems like an URM like that would be a surefire acceptance. I, on the other hand, am an overrepresented minority (Asian). I am in the top 10% and have decent test scores, but in terms of just GPA/Test scores he is better than me (though I did take a harder curriculum). I do have extracurriculars I'm really involved with though, and I think I have a really unique essay about one of my passions. I am also a legacy at Stanford. </p>

<p>Would it be worth it anymore to apply REA? I feel like any chance I had just got cut by at least 50%, or may be even completely gone.</p>

2

<p>from my experiences as an applicant from NJ, this is what I saw:

  1. very few people from NJ apply REA to Stanford
  2. very few people from NJ are accepted REA to Stanford (it could just be because of the small number of REA applicants, so proportionally, it might be the same as everywhere else)
  3. from NJ, there is a larger percent of admits who attend other schools (yield in NJ is less than average, presumable because more are attending princeton, harvard, yale, etc. than other states)
  4. at many schools where more than 1 person applies REA to stanford, a small amount are accepted. At one private school, for example, (not in NJ), almost 20 applied REA and 2 were accepted). however, at other schools, several are accepted. for example, at one school, 4-5 applied REA and 3 were accepted (also not in NJ)
  5. several factors play into REA admissions, including athletic recruits, legacy, etc., more so than in RD. other factors play a larger factor in RD</p>

<p>If Stanford is your first choice, i would say still apply REA. Personally, I don’t think the other valedictorian applying will change their decision. They do not accept people REA that they wouldn’t absolutely accept RD. i also think they do not accept people who would not have been accepted had 1 other applicant applied. if they would have admitted you, they will admit either only you or both of you. otherwise, they would not have admitted you anyway. (this is my opinion)</p>

3

<p>Apply.
Retake the SAT in October.
You have legacy which helps immensely at private schools.</p>

4

<p>Last year, there were 30 students from New Jersey enrolled at Stanford. If the yield was 72%, Stanford could have accepted about 40 people from 330 public high schools+? number of private schools.</p>

<p>There are many factors affecting your applications, the number 1 student in your school may mean nothing if you imagine that there are at least 330 valedictorians in New Jersey.</p>

<p>If you think Stanford is your first choice, apply early.</p>

5

<p>^But like NJDS said, the New Jersey yield is probably lower than yield for other states, because over there it’s all about the Ivy League.</p>

6

<p>

We don’t know about this.</p>

<p>

There are no Ivies, only HYPM. Most people I know who got in Stanford from New Jersey were cross-admitted by HYPM. It is difficult to make decisions between Stanford and HP.</p>

7

<p>You never know. Fwiw, we were told by someone that legacy helps more with REA than regular. In my son’s case, 4 from his class of 150 applied REA. Scary, because many years none were accepted. In fact, a good year was when two students were accepted. The 4 students were all great - none URMs (2 Asians, 2 Caucasians), but the head boy/class president had a very compelling personal story, in addition to good test scores and great extracurriculars. My son had good test scores and was a legacy. His extracurriculars were okay, but nothing outstanding. Anyway, three were accepted, but not the head boy. Everyone was shocked that 3 were accepted and that the head boy was not one of the three.</p>