<p>I understand that applying to Stanford SCEA is highly competitive, almost as competitive as applying RD. Because I'm considering applying there early, what exactly are the benefits of applying to Stanford early?</p>
<p>I'm choosing between ED (binding) Duke and Stanford SCEA, and right now ED Duke looks far more attractive. So I'd like for anyone at Stanford right now to convince me that its worth it - thanks.</p>
<p>At both universities it is highly unlikely that applying early vs regular will mean the difference between an acceptance and a rejection.</p>
<p>I would say its pretty simple. If you prefer Stanford to Duke go SCEA to Stanford. if you like Duke more then apply ed.</p>
<p>Duke! check out the Robertson scholarship. It's a full ride scholarship</p>
<p>The reason I'm finding applying to Duke ED a good choice is because, for the class of 2011, their acceptance rate for ED was 42.5% (a pretty high number considering the caliber of Duke), where as the RD acceptance rate for 2011 was about 19.7%. Compared to Stanford, which has an SCEA acceptance rate of 16.1% and an RD acceptance rate of 10.3%, Duke seems to be by far a better choice to make (if you're choosing between ED Duke and Stanford SCEA).</p>
<p>I see that applying early vs. regular logically should not be the difference between an acceptance and rejection. But the numbers for Duke are overwhelmingly to the contrary (42.5% vs. 19.7%). It seems that applying early to Duke gives much more weight on your application than applying early at Stanford.</p>
<p>I prefer Stanford. But I do not want to apply SCEA to Stanford if it does not have any real benefits.</p>
<p>i actually totally understand where you're coming from. last year i was deciding whether to apply early to stanford or pomona. i preferred stanford but thought that there was a bigger advantage to be gained from applying early to pomona. i ended up applying early to stanford just to know i could keep my options open. </p>
<p>i was deferred from stanford and eventually got into both stanford and pomona rd. having to keep the college process going past december 15 was a pain, but i would have very much regretted being bound required to attend somewhere that early on.</p>
<p>as ****ty as the whole college process is, i wouldn't apply ed unless it is your number one school. i would have said pretty much the opposite thing a year ago, but after going through it, i believe there is something to be said for letting the whole process play out. looking back, pomona is only my third or fourth choice and i'm super glad i didn't apply ed. do yourself the favor of seeing all of your options before you decide.</p>
<p>this year RD ACCEPTANCE for Stanford was 9.5%%%</p>
<p>Given your situation, go the route that johno12345 went; it makes the most sense for you.</p>
<p>My experience was very similar to johno's, except with UPenn except for 3 different things. One, I got in SCEA to Stanford (not deferred), two I decided after that to not even apply RD to Penn since I loved Stanford so much, three looking back on it-I got lucky. In theory I should have applied ED to Penn, it was dumb luck that I got in. If I knew SCEA this year would have been that competitive beforehand I would have gone with ED to Penn. But, it turned out excellently for me, I can't guarantee it would with you.</p>
<p>I don't see why your chances of getting in should matter here--if Stanford is your first choice, apply there SCEA. If Penn is your first choice, apply there ED.</p>
<p>how is stanford scea advantageous? i really have no clue.</p>
<p>The biggest advantage is if Stanford is your first choice, and if you apply Single Choice Early Action, then you will know by mid-December if you have gotten in or not (unless your application is deferred to regular decision). </p>
<p>The percent of admitted kids who apply SCEA is higher than those who apply ED, so there may be an advantage there. </p>
<p>Another advantage is that if you are admitted SCEA, it is not binding, that is, you don't have to go to Stanford. You have until May 1 to make your final decision.</p>
<p>A disadvantage is that you cannot apply early at some other schools. Following is Stanford's policy on where you CAN apply early from their website. You would not be allowed to apply to any other type of early decision program.</p>
<p>
[quote]
Students applying to Stanford's Restrictive/Single-Choice Early Action program may apply to:</p>
<p>Any institution, public or private, under a non-binding Rolling Admission option;
Public institutions under a non-binding Early Action program;
Foreign colleges/universities on any application schedule;
Institutions whose early application deadlines are a requirement for consideration for special academic programs or scholarships only if the notification of admission occurs after January 1; and to
Institutions under an Interim Decision program only if the notification of admission occurs after January 1.</p>
<p>Candidates who apply early to Stanford are asked to sign a statement on the Stanford Supplement to the Common Application (after consulting with their parents and their guidance counselor) agreeing to file only one early application.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>However, if Stanford is your first choice, then not being able to apply early elsewhere isn't necessarily a problem.</p>
<p>Thanks so much.
But honestly though, how much of a difference does SCEA make? Like, how much does it increase your chances?</p>
<p>According to statistics in Stanford Daily articles, for the class of 2012:</p>
<p>4,503 applied SCEA
738 accepted SCEA = 16.4%</p>
<p>20,795 applied regular adm
1,662 accepted regular adm = 7.9%</p>
<p>total SCEA and regular
25,298 applied
2,400 accepted = 9.5%</p>
<p>But then again, i hear about so many get rejected SCEA, so it's like, why bother? If anything, is it true that some univ hold out for the truly exceptional ones during regular decision that they dont let in as many early decision? esp for the science/math people</p>
<p>Stanford's acceptance rate for SCEA is higher because the early pool is stronger and more self-selective (as many of Stanford's admissions officers, as well as the dean of admissions, have stated). Don't be fooled by the "high" acceptance rate.</p>
<p>
[quote]
If anything, is it true that some univ hold out for the truly exceptional ones during regular decision that they dont let in as many early decision? esp for the science/math people
[/quote]
</p>
<p>Well, they always let few people in SCEA, but that's not why--if you get in SCEA, you'd get in RD, and vice versa. If you're on the fence (when you might be stronger or weaker than many RD-accepted students), then you're deferred. However, as Stanford says:</p>
<p>
[quote]
Stanford is committed to making the vast majority of Restrictive/Single Choice Early Action admission decisions final. ... The vast majority of Restrictive/Single Choice Early Action applicants will have a final decision on their Stanford application in mid-December.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>So if you don't get in SCEA, it wasn't because they were "holding out"--you would have been rejected RD also.</p>
<p>How come the early pool is "stronger" and "more self-selective"? I mean, all people who apply should be around the same caliber, whether they apply early or regular should only depend on whether or not Stanford is their first choice. But hey, your explanation does explain the higher early acceptance rate.</p>
<p>^^ there have been many analyses of it--you could even search CC for the many debates on why it is that way. I think the dean of admissions even said that those accepted SCEA have ~50 SAT points higher on average.</p>
<p>So applying SCEA would never "hurt" you? I'm even more confused as to which pool is better for me now. I mean, if your application comes up after 10 sucky ones, wouldn't they more likely to pick you, since they can't just reject 11 people in a row. I don't know if this made sense to you.</p>
<p>I mean, how do they sort through all the applications? If they are on the 3000th of the 4000 applications, do they save 1/4 of the spots in the back of their minds, holding out for the last 100 applicants? I mean, do they ever remove a person from the acceptance pile if they find somebody better on the 4000th application? How do they do this?</p>
<p>THAT, methinks, is a question only the admission gods can answer. ;)</p>
<p>Blueducky, to the best extent of my knowledge, this is sort of how it works. Each regional admit gets all the apps from that region. They read them, pick ALL the ones they like, and then narrow it down from there. if your app makes it through the first stage, then it goes to committe and everyone discusses it. I don't think they evaluate them in order, otherwise, everyone who gets admitted would be the people that sent in their apps first (not the case). Also, given that these are reasonably intelligent people, they're not going to randomly toss the paper pile, stack it up, and only accept the top half of the stack. Basically, I don't think the order matters. (they're also going to reject a LOT more than 11 people in a row!). Somewhere, I don't know if it was on the stanford forum, someone posted a link from a few years back that was "behind the closed doors of admissions for UChicago". It was really interesting to read. I don't know if stanford does it the same, but if you can get ahold of it, it was quite informative.</p>