<p>My sister is about to start the college admissions process. She wants to go into Engineering, or maybe science (premed track or something). She doesn't have any huge awards, but she's still really smart. She got 2nd place in her category at the local science fair, has done about 1 year of pretty real research (that is, SWC/Intel/ISEF quality, even though she didn't get to ISEF), she'll be submitting to Intel STS and SWC this year but both of those get back to you after EA due dates.</p>
<p>She is wondering whether to EA to Stanford or MIT. Ideally, she'd like to EA to the one that is easier to get into so that she'll only have to apply to a few other schools if she gets in and doesn't need to worry about safeties/matches and stuff. I've always thought of Stanford as easier to get into than MIT, but she's a girl, and girls have a notorious advantage at MIT in admissions.</p>
<p>Her Stats:
SAT I: 2200
SAT IIs: Chemistry 750, Math IIC 800, Spanish 800
Class valedictorian (1/700 or so)
GPA (UW): 4.0
Very good recs, one from a math teacher who loves her and she's had for 2 years, another from an english teacher or spanish teacher, both of whom love her.
2nd place in science fair, has done high school research
Probably will have a better-than-average essay
Has done Indian Classical dance for about 10 years (very good at it), will possibly get a rec from her dance teacher
She's in some clubs and does volunteer work, but no major leadership positions, just a secretary in one, VP in another, and I think volunteer coordinator for NHS</p>
<p>But MIT is notorious for limiting the number of kids they take early, and focusing on legacies, girls, and minorities in the early round.</p>
<p>But Stanford loves demonstrated interest and is a little iffy about out of state kids who claim Stanford is their #1 but go early somewhere else (Yale, Harvard, etc), occasionally they waitlist them for that reason.</p>
<p>Tell your sister to apply to the school she wants the most. And if she doesn't know, then pick one out of a hat.</p>
<p>How would Stanford know that she earlied elsewhere? They aren't allowed to discuss their regular-action applicants with other schools.</p>
<p>The thing is, even if she knew which school she wants the most (which she doesn't yet, she hasn't visited either), that wouldn't be the obvious choice to EA to. I EAed to the only school that ended up rejecting me, and I feel that with the extra two months, my essay and the rest of the application got MUCH better. I was able to fax in my recent awards to my EA school, but I couldn't change my crappy essay. I think it's best to EA to a good school (which you would attend if you got in) that you think you can get into with the best chances.</p>
<p>I'm sure the GC will say what needs to be said. I doubt Sford will discriminate like that anyway. They don't need to worry about yield that much. So what do you guys think?</p>
<p>EA at Stanford, because it has a lower admittance rate. Therefore, if she applies EA, she might stand a better chance. As for the research, I'm sure she can mention somewhere that she has conducted serious research that she plans to submit to Intel and SWC.</p>
<p>ED = Top Choice
EA = A safe choice that you love</p>
<p>That way, you can have a good school you would like to go to in the bank, and then the rest of your applications can be as big of reaches as you want - and each acceptance among those ranks are just icing on the cake.
At least, that's my strategy.</p>
<p>The problem is when people interpret "safe EA choice" as UChicago, MIT, Stanford, Yale, etc.</p>
<p>"But MIT is notorious for limiting the number of kids they take early, and focusing on legacies, girls, and minorities in the early round."</p>
<p>Well, first of all, there is no legacy preference at MIT so that is a non-factor. I would think she has a better chance being admitted to MIT because she is more of a traditional student (although MIT has been rejecting those people more often these days.) Still, I would apply to MIT EA.</p>
<p>My high school sent about 5% of the graduating class to Stanford and another 5% to MIT every year. I don't know whether the guidance counselors would mention that the adcoms called them, though.</p>
<p>On second thought, my tennis coach mentioned that an ivy coach called him inquiring about me even though I never really contacted anyone from the tennis program.</p>