ED/RD and Subject Test Decision

Applying to College
1

<p>Hi!</p>

<p>It's my first post here but I've gone through a lot of CC threads, you guys are really helpful, before I ask my question, I just want to say thank you! :)</p>

<p>Now, I sent this email to Stanford (my top choice) just a few hours ago.</p>

<p>''I am taking SAT in October but apparently I can't take a subject test on the same day, so I have to wait until November. I want to apply early decision to Stanford, but if I do that I won't have subject test scores. Is there an option to send subject tests later, around mid-November?''</p>

<p>They said that I can't send my SATII scores after November if I decide to do ED. I am a little confused however, even though they say that not having SATII scores does not penalize you, I think it does.</p>

<p>Think about it, let's say that there are 2 students, they have everything exactly the same. GPA, SAT, EC's and recommendation letters and everything is equally appealing to the admissions office, but one student has a good SATII score and the other didn't take subject tests at all. In this situation, isn't the person lacking the subject test at a disadvantage?</p>

<p>Now I come to my question, do you think that I should apply ED to Stanford without taking a subject test, or wait for RD. I heard that ED has a higher acceptance rate, it boosts your chances a tiny little bit (not a big difference, but everything counts). However, SATII does the same, so they kind of cancel each other out, but I'm still confused.</p>

<p>There are always other schools to go for but I really want to do my best for Stanford and hopefully I will be admitted. :))</p>

<p>PS:</p>

<p>I am an international student, I don't know what difference that makes but MIT doesn't take early decision applications from internationals, while Stanford does. Is it an advantage to apply ED and be international at the same time?</p>

2

<p>Can’t you take your subject tests in November and rush them directly to the school? You won’t get to see your scores but they’ll get them quicker.</p>

3

<p>This was in their email as well:</p>

<p>The scores of tests taken in November will be added to your file when received, but we cannot guarantee that they will arrive on time, even if rushed, for the evaluation.</p>

4

<p>This is from their web site:

They also say

What they meant was if you don’t get your score reports in by the deadline they will not consider them.</p>

5

<p>Could I get some more help on this please? :)</p>

<p>Should I take subject tests, try to rush them (possibility of not arriving on time, less credit for me) and apply ED</p>

<p>OR</p>

<p>Take subject test and apply RD</p>

6

<p>Stanford is EA not ED. Also, there really is no admissions advantage to applying there early and you can’t apply elsewhere early if you do. Stanford rarely differs their early decisions so there would likely be no ability to update your record if not accepted in the early round to have your scores considered later. All that being said, RD seems like the obvious choice here. Either way, you ought to take those subject tests for other options if Stanford doesn’t work out!</p>

7

<p>Whether you get admitted ED to Stanford is not heavily dependent on your SAT Subject Matter scores. If you are completely sure that Stanford is your number one school - and you are not worried about FA - go ahead and apply ED.</p>

8

<p>Stanford uses SCEA, not ED.</p>

9

<p>I will apply early based on responses from you guys but what’s the difference between EA and ED. I can’t apply to other schools early if I apply to Stanford early? I already knew that, I don’t think it’s a big problem. Why is it that they restrict you though? And is there a difference in admission chances between 2 schools where one restricts the early admission and the other doesn’t?</p>

10

<p>If admitted ED you agree to accept that admission and withdraw all other applications. Because ED is binding, you usually have a higher chance of admission because the college knows it is getting an applicant that will attend. EA is non-binding and you can apply elsewhere and accept admission elsewhere. SCEA, which Stanford has, means you are applying EA and are not allowed to apply EA or ED elsewhere. EA at high ranked colleges including Stanford usually does not mean you will have a higher chance of admission. Only a small number of colleges, all high ranks, have SCEA and the reason they have it is because they are elitist colleges that know they can still get a large number of EA applicants even if they prevent them from applying early elsewhere</p>

<p>Stanford recommends but does not require subject tests. For SCEA, the last test date is October and you can apply with just SAT or ACT. Not having subject tests will not be considered against you but, for example, having two with 800 scores can help any individual applicant.</p>

11

<p>And last question:</p>

<p>What if I have SAT and ACT both instead of SAT and SATII (which I can’t have if I want ED). Would it be the same? Or is SAT and ACT are no different and it would just be like me taking 2 SAT tests instead of 1.</p>

12

<p>If you submit both SAT and ACT, Stanford (and other colleges) will use for admission that test it believes has the better score (and by the way Stanford requires you to submit both all SAT and ACT scores that you have). And again, Stanford does not have ED.</p>

<p>There are a number of colleges, not Stanford, which usually require subject tests but accept the ACT in lieu of both the SAT and SAT subject tests. For a list go here and look at the required column, if the 2 has an * next to it that means the college takes the ACT in lieu of both the SAT and subject tests; no * next to the 2 in the required column means subject tests are required even if you submit ACT: <a href=“SAT Subject Test Requirements and Recommendations - Compass Education Group”>SAT Subject Test Requirements and Recommendations - Compass Education Group;

13

<p>Whether or not Stanford actually penalizes you for not having SAT IIs despite saying they don’t is anybody’s guess. However, if you think the SAT IIs will make your application stronger, then I’d wait and apply RD. I very much doubt that applying to Stanford’s SCEA program provides any boost at all to your application chances over applying RD. The only difference would be that you’d potentially know your decision sooner.</p>