<p>I think everyone is getting way too wound up over a choice the OP does not yet have.</p>
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She applied EA to Yale because it was her safety. Many iveies feel - use it or lose it when it comes to EA for legacy. It was a smart move on her part.
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i applied to Yale partly because of my Dad and as Oldfort said, because I had a strong hunch I would get in and figured its about as good of a backup as can exist.
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<p>I'd consider this a high risk strategy. If Harvard is your love, your dream, your number #1, it should have been your SCEA. Using your Early card to strategize for something that you don't really want can backfire. I don't know if Harvard will be as Machiavellian as Blossom speculates, but in applying to Yale EA you've lost the EA edge at Harvard.</p>
<p>I have no preference between these two schools and would have been pleased to see my son at either one, but I'm not in accord with the idea of "over-thinking" early applications. Too late for the OP but for those who are trying to decide for the future: Use EA, ED as a pull out all the stops tactic to achieve what you want most. If you don't get in in the RD round you will always wonder if you could have been an EA/ED contender.</p>
<p>Groton - First of all, congrats! Your worst-case scenario is still fantastic. But here's your strategy: Groton's within an hour of New Haven, right? You need a boyfriend that your father hates. Lots of tattoos and piercings would be good - preferably a HS dropout, too. And be sure that your Dad learns how glad he is that you got into Yale so that you can continue to be together. No kidding - I know a girl who's at Harvard for precisely that reason!</p>
<p>Groton, I still think you should follow your heart, but now that I know of your interest in the arts, I really wonder if you should reconsider Yale. That's one area where it stands head and shoulders above its rivals!</p>
<p>Your father should look at it this way: If you go to Harvard he will get to drop TWO big names in one sentence, "I went to Yale but my daughter chose to go to Harvard, haha."</p>
<p>I hope you get in. I'm sure he'll be proud of you either way.</p>