<p>“If I can get in to Stanford, I think I would definitely go if accepted”</p>
<p>If this is the case and if your grades, test scores, and application as a whole are strong by the November 1st deadline, then you should definitely apply early. </p>
<p>“How true is it that if you get rejected early you would have been rejected regular?”</p>
<p>This is a difficult question to answer, as Stanford does a substantial amount of hair-splitting when deciding whom to admit. The committee may be feeling a bit better on a day in March than on a day in November. However, I’m inclined to side with what the admission officers say: an applicant who is rejected early would have been rejected regular and vice versa. I’m almost positive that those admitted early would be admitted regular. </p>
<p>“I’ve heard specifically, that many super qualified legacies and extremely talented varsity athletes end up applying early. If that’s true, wouldn’t early action worsen, not improve, an applicant’s chances?”</p>
<p>You forget that Stanford isn’t admitting a class comprised only of legacies and athletes. They are trying to build an extraordinarily diverse community of people, and most admits (including early admits) don’t have hooks like these. </p>
<p>“I would estimate my chances based on similar applicants from past years of about 20%. Does that mean I would improve or worsen my chances by applying early or is the official Stanford statement true that there is no difference in SCEA?”</p>
<p>Stop trying to estimate your chances. Stanford is far too selective and the process is much too subjective to do that. Apply and relax. I would recommend taking the path of least regrets. When people receive their decisions around December 15, will you regret not having applied early? If you get rejected around December 15, will you wish that you had applied regular?</p>
<p>I’ll leave you with the words of Richard Shaw, Stanford’s Dean of Admission:</p>
<p>“For us, it’s not an advantage. Early programs make sense if you have really designated that school as your clear first choice. That’s the way to do it. Not to strategize. In general, the rule would be, I apply early because it’s a place I know I could be deliriously happy, and it’s my first choice.”</p>
<p><a href=“System Message”>System Message;
<p>If I were you, I’d follow his advice and apply early since Stanford is your first choice. Getting admitted REA is great because you don’t have to submit more apps.</p>