MIT or Stanford for EA/REA?

College Search & Selection
1

I’m a senior applying to MIT and Stanford as well as some others. I want to do aerospace. MIT is probably my first choice, but their EA acceptance rate is not much higher than RD. Stanford’s is almost double. I’m leaning toward applying Stanford EA because:

I haven’t started the MIT app because I’ve been doing other public school apps with scholarship deadlines. It would be tough to finish by November 1, but possible because I have multiple days off school in the next two weeks.

If I apply RD, I’d have more time to do my app

Stanford has a bigger leap in EA acceptance %

But MIT is my #1. Stanford is REA and I’m applying to Caltech as well, so doing MIT would allow me to apply early to them too. But again time is an issue.

Here are my credentials:
-35 ACT: 35 English, 36 Math, 34 Reading/science
-National Merit Semifinalist
-4.0 unweighted, 4.725 weighted GPA
-Calc BC and APUSH: 5
-Chemistry and Language & Comp: 4
-Strong senior year schedule

I believe my EC’s are rather weak, but a compelling life story essay explains why. I did nothing 9th and 10th grade. I believe I have strong recs too.

FIRST Robotics, Science Olympiad, Math Club (2 gold medals at state comp last year), Scholars’ Bowl President (3 medals last year), and a service club that has a greenhouse and outside farm on high school ground that gives harvests to the Backpack Program. All these were done 11th and 12th. I also do summer mission trips (cliché, I know) and some other service with my church. My EC’s aren’t extensive, but I know colleges look for dedication rather than doing everything a little bit. I’ve done no spectacular research or anything and I don’t have anything to do a portfolio over for MIT. That could hurt.

So I guess I’m kind of asking to be chanced, but my main question is where should I apply early? I have been stressing about apps a lot, so I appreciate your help and insight. Thanks.

P.S. Anyone know anything about Stanford undergraduate aerospace? I’ve heard it’s not spectacular, but it’s still Stanford I guess. Would I be better off doing Mechanical Engineering there?

Lots of questions, sorry for the rambling.

2

Tough choice. But there’s a pretty simple rule with ED: If it’s not your #1 choice, don’t do it. Especially if you have another school that is your #1. Let’s say you do get into Stanford. Will you wonder What If about MIT? I’d say buckle down and try ED for MIT.

3

Re #1

Both are EA, not ED, so non binding, but Stanford EA means not applying EA to other private schools.

To the OP: which would you rather hear from early? Also, are there any other private schools that you may want to apply EA?

4

I would say a better chance at MIT especially if you consider your EC’s weaker…plus MIT super scores ACT if you took more than one.

5

MIT is my first choice. I’m also applying to Caltech. My issue is time and the extra low admissions rate for regular decision at Stanford.

6

@Kyle1621 If MIT is your first choice then i guess increasing your chances at MIT through EA is worth lowering your chances at Stanford by applying there RD? Also as you said applying EA to MIT will enable you to apply to Caltech which gives you an extra early option. Now if you think that time is definitely not enough and you will botch your MIT application and thus blow your chances, then Stanford might be the more sensible option. Would you really regret not being able to apply to MIT if you got into Stanford EA?

7

I agree. MIT is more likely to overlook weak ECs than Stanford. That is not to say that MIT does not expect solid ECs, but it does not weigh them as heavily as Stanford. Besides, if MIT is your first choice, it makes sense to apply there EA. In addition, you can apply EA to Michigan. Their Aerospace Engineering department is among the top 3 or 4 in the nation. That being said, you can still apply to Michigan EA, even if you apply REA to Stanford.

8

The match checks out, but do you really want to go to Stanford? It sounds like you’re just applying there because “it’s Stanford”. That’s not a good enough reason in itself. You should use your EA application for the place you really want to go to the most, where you feel you will fit best and where the program and resources best match your interests.

9

I’m worried that MIT EA will be for nothing because they defer 70% of EA applicants.

10

@Kyle1621 For what it’s worth, Stanford rejected about 90% of all REA applicants last year.

While MIT’s policy may be to give applications multiple looks (I don’t know much about the MIT admission process), Stanford usually makes their decisions with one review. A very small fraction will get accepted or deferred to RD. At least if you get deferred at MIT, you still have a chance of acceptance.

Additionally, there is a misconception that simply by applying early, you have an upper hand over RD applicants. I can guarantee that institutions at the level of MIT and Stanford will not accept anyone in the early round that they would have rejected in the RD round. So do not apply to Stanford REA simply because you think you will have a higher chance of getting in.

You will have the best chance of getting in at the place you’re most passionate about, if you are well qualified.