I’m having a hard time deciding between applying to Harvard or Yale Early Action as an engineering applicant. I know Yale’s SCEA rate is slightly higher, but is there a significant difference in the competitiveness of the applicant pool between Harvard and Yale, or is it negligible? Does Harvard or Yale offer more of a boost to early applicants?
Yale had a higher SCEA rate and overall admissions rate last year both vs Harvard and vs prior year Yale admit rates (SCEA rates about the same). A lot of that was driven by the expansion of the entering class with the addition of the 2 new residential colleges. I would think the difference in the quality of the 2 pools is negligible. Do you have a strong preference for one over the other, if so I’d choose that one except in the situation I will describe below. If they are roughly equal:(a) if you are a legacy at one, choose that one; (b) if you feel one of your supplements is in better shape/stronger, choose that one. However, if you feel as if your Common App or other essay that is being repurposed is “risky” by topic or style (you went “go big or go home”) or you are not confident of an LoR, you might consider submitting that to your number 2 (or even 3 or 4) school to see how it flies. You’ll have time to make an adjustment between the EA notification date and the RD application date if you are rejected (or even possibly deferred).
I believe my supplements are both equal, though I prefer Harvard. Do Yale or Harvard have any tangible advantage or boost to applying Early Action? Does one have a higher boost than the other?
^Both say there is no boost and any difference between the SCEA rate and the general rate is because of the generally better SCEA pool (plus recruited athletes and other special cases). If there is a boost, I tend to think it is because AOs have to go through less files than the RD round. Others have pointed out that maybe for certain “spikey” applicants (and legacies), you want to get in the door first before other similar candidates apply RD. But between H and Y, I can’t see there is a difference in boost assuming there is any to begin with.
SCEA is one way students have to signal to AOs that they “prefer” one school over all others. If you really prefer Harvard, then you should apply SCEA there, not because it will "boost your chances"of admission, but because it is where you really want to go to college and you have the opportunity to use SCEA to prove that to an admissions committee. If your application is strong enough to place you in the pool of stellar applicants for both schools, then apply to the one where you’d be happiest.
there is definitely an advantage to applying early… so that’s definitely a good idea (do the math yourself… admission rates are multiples higher even when factoring legacies, athletes etc) … as far as engineering…not sure which discipline you’re choosing but Harvard and Yale engineering are not particularly strong… although I would give the edge to Harvard if you’re choosing between the two… . and if you’re dead set on an ivy Princeton is probably the strongest in engineering
Great question and definitely a tough decision.
While Yale’s admissions rate is slightly higher, that doesn’t mean it’s easier to get into; although, Harvard is a slightly more “elitist” university when it comes to the application process (aka harder to get into). However, this year specifically (c/o 2022), I would recommend applying to Yale. Harvard’s admissions rate will likely be markedly lower this year due to class overflow from last year. Go for Yale; you’re getting the same quality of education, same prestige, and you have a (slightly) higher chance to get in. Apply Harvard RD, especially if you have something RD that’ll boost your application (better grades/test scores, awards, publications (esp. research: H likes that); as H says on their website, they’ll accept the same students SCEA and RD. Good luck!
By the way, due to the unexpected higher yield with the class of 2021, Harvard will accept fewer students for the class of 2022. I doubt that that’d make any tangible impact on anyone’s chances, though.
With all due respect, why are you looking to Harvard and Yale for engineering in 2017?
Have you heard of MIT, Cal Tech, Stanford, Carnegie Mellon and at least a dozen other top engineering programs in the US? If you insist on IVY engineering, look at Cornell, Princeton, U of PA, Dartmouth and Brown.
Engineering has developed into a very large and highly developed range of subjects which require a wide selection of highly developed and specialized laboratories :bz