<p>I am really worried about applying to colleges. My number one school is Stanford, and I want to do early action there but I have been hearing that they are really picky when looking at these applications. I did okay on my SATs, but want to do better so I am going to take them again in October. Should I do early action to Stanford or to another school? I really want to go to Stanford! What should I do?</p>
<p>Without details on your profile (scores, GPA, EC’s) no one can give any advice. Yes they are picky and they are going to be picky even in RA. They can afford to be. </p>
<p>Also, Stanford is REA so you can apply to only Stanford in EA. Keep that in mind.</p>
<p>Well, perhaps you should try EA for Stanford - this is ultimately your decision. If you truly want to go to Stanford, though, I would recommend doing EA for that institution, because if things don’t work out - not that I don’t have the best wishes for you - then you can still apply to a variety of different institutions that will suit your desires.</p>
<p>And Stanford is one of the most selective schools in the nation - of course they’re going to be “picky.”</p>
<p>Stanford is picky in their early action in the sense that the majority, I think about 75% of candidates get rejected every year. This is pretty different from other schools, like MIT, where only about 15% get rejected and instead, the majority of applicants are deferred.</p>
<p>Yeah, I heard that Stanford is really tough to get in EA.</p>
<p>Not only is S “picky” as far as acceptances during SCEA, they don’t defer many SCEA applicants to the RD round:</p>
<p>[Restrictive</a> Early Action : Stanford University](<a href=“http://www.stanford.edu/dept/uga/application/decision_process/restrictive.html]Restrictive”>http://www.stanford.edu/dept/uga/application/decision_process/restrictive.html)</p>
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<p>I believe the SCEA deferral rate at S is about 13%, compare that to Y which defers almost 50% of SCEA applicants to the RD round. So, my advice is that if you have any concerns about not being an extremely competitive candidate to S, apply RD.</p>
<p>Here are some of my statistics:
I had a 4.5 GPA as a junior. My current cumulative GPA is about 4.2-4.3. I am involved in many clubs, including: community service clubs, wrestling stats, science olympiad in which I placed at state level, national honor society, california scholastic federation, and I have even made my own club which is a branch of make a wish foundation. I have completed over 600 hours of community service. I want to increase my chances by as much as possible so please give me the best possible advice, and thank you in advance!</p>
<p>"Stanford is picky in their early action in the sense that the majority, I think about 75% of candidates get rejected every year. "</p>
<p>The advantage of this for the rejected applicant is that instead of being put in deferral limbo for months before being rejected, as occurs with applicants to some other top schools, those students who are rejected Stanford EA have more time to fall in love with other schools, including finding match and safety schools they’d enjoy attending.</p>