Is it worth using Stanford as my SCEA?

Colleges and Universities A-Z Stanford University
1

<p>Hey-yo guys. I'm trying to decide what to do, or whether to do anything, with EA/ED.
Does anyone think applying SCEA @Stanford would be worthwhile (have chances/increase my chances?) Or do you think I should probably use that EA/ED somewhere else?
also just to make sure - if I apply EA @ stanford, I can't apply ED somewhere else, correct?</p>

<p>Gender: Male
Ethnicity: White
State: Florida
Current Grade: Senior</p>

<p>GPA/Class Rank
Unweighted GPA: 4.0
Weighted GPA: ~4.78 (should be 4.83 by grad)
Class Rank: top 3/~222
School Type: Small town school</p>

<p>AP/IB Classes Taken (by far the hardest course load at my school)
AP US Hist (5)
AP Environ Sci (5)
AP Eng Lang (4)
AP Microecon (self study 5)
AP Macroecon (5)
AP U.S. Gov (5)</p>

<p>may self study for a few tests sr. year</p>

<p>Senior schedule
AP psych
AP Eng Lit
AP Euro
AP Calc AB
journalism 3 (weighted - yearbook)
AP Biology (Online - FLVS)</p>

<p>-also: took Local & State Gov't dual enrollment over the summer, and life management.</p>

<p>SAT Reasoning Test (1 try so far, confident I can raise score/will retake)
Critical Reading: 690
Math: 690
Writing: 600
Composite: 1380
Total: 1980</p>

<p>SAT Subject Tests
World History: 750
Math Level I: 680
U.S. History: 790
*Plan to take Bio E, Math I and Math II</p>

<p>ACT
*Taking on Sept 13 - Guess = 30-33. Will take a few times before december.</p>

<p>Extracurricular Activities/Awards:
-Interact Club (3 yrs - offices: Director International Relations, President)
-National Honor Society (10,11,12)
-Varsity Cross-Country (2 yrs in HS)
-Varsity Track (2 yrs in HS)
-I participate in every run within about 40 mile radius... member of local running club
-Co-founder/co-captain of bike team
Bike in few local races
-Fencing (3 yrs @ national level, had to stop after I moved to Florida)
-AP Scholar with Distinction (maybe ntl as senior)
-County Teen Court Attorney
Tri-county winning mock trial team Attorney
-Boys State
-Sr. Class SGA representative
-Yearbook sports editor (11th), assistant editor (12th)
- Hi-Q (Academic Decathlon) (12th)
- Democrats Club (maybe treasurer)</p>

<p>-various awards... community service awards from county for teen court.. varsity sport letters... All A honor roll, etc</p>

<p>Work Experience: 9th grade: UPS store during December rush
current: YMCA Kids camp counselor</p>

<p>~250 hours of community service as of now, should be much more by grad (maybe 400+)</p>

<p>Should have some interesting essays. Plan to write some stuff about my interest in philosophy and physics, and intellectually geared discussions I have had.
and if it matters, I'm a first-gen college student.</p>

<p>Thanks for your help guys.</p>

2

<p>I think you have really decent XtraCurriculars, but your SAT scores a bit weak. so yeah try raising those.</p>

3

<p>Thanks for the compliment, I put a lottttt of long hours in to those extracurriculars. love em to death though. </p>

<p>Yeah, i'm trying to raise my scores. Taking the ACT in a few days. Hoping for a 33+, but practice tests are saying something like 30-33. </p>

<p>Will be taking SAT and ACT at every chance before January...</p>

4

<p>If you have another place you would like to attend then I would use my early application there. It is going to be unlikely for you to get accepted at Stanford so use your one shot at early decision someplace where you have a real chance.</p>

5

<p>^^ well, that was pretty pessimisstic..</p>

<p>i think you have a fairly good chance. just make sure you write amazing essays..</p>

6

<p>Often when people say I'll increase my scores I think it's a load of bull and that it won't come to fruition. That being said, I have no doubt OP will be able to raise his scores looking at his resume. I'd say Stanford is worth using your SCEA if you can raise your scores to 2200 give or take. You certainly have a fair shot as it is with your below average score but with with a 2200 you'll have a great (as far as Stanford goes) shot at Stanford SCEA. That being said, I'm pretty sure if you apply SCEA you won't have time to take those SAT II's to bring them to bear on your application so I'd stick to the SAT's. Take SAT II's in November for your RD schools, SAT in October for RD and Stanford.</p>

7

<p>No it is not worth it to apply SCEA.</p>

<p>(has very little to do with whether you will get in or not).</p>

<p>One does not get any advantages over applying RD.
SCEA does have a disadvantage of not letting you
apply elsewhere.</p>

<p>Why would you knowingly minimize your probability of acceptance
into a good school?</p>

8

<p>I've always heard to apply EA to the top choice if you look as good now as you will midyear. You couldn't do better on academics, you're passionate about the ECs, but the test scores are iffy. Essays may be the swing factor. So my opinion? If new test scores put you in range and you put your heart and soul in the essays, go for it. If either of those could be better with a little more time go RD.</p>

9

<p>Why are you only allowed to apply early only at 1 school? Or is that only a Stanford rule?</p>

10

<p>^ SCEA = Single Choice Early Action</p>

<p>so its non-binding but you can only do one</p>

11

<p>But, that is just a Stanford policy, right? Like if I apply Stanford SCEA and ND's EA, I'll be disqualified from going to Stanford, but potentially not ND, it depends on the school?, or not?</p>

12

<p>yale's is the same.</p>

13

<p>yeah it depends on each school's policy</p>