<p>A bit of background first: I'm a senior, and I discovered this site midway through junior year. My classes through then weren't cake, but certainly weren't up to the rigor most Stanford admits take on. </p>
<p>Needless to say, Stanford is my first choice. </p>
<p>So far, I've gone through 4 APs: Bio, Chem, US, and English Language. This year, I'm taking 7 others (counting Calc AB and BC as two), as well as participating in research at my local state university--UT Knoxville.</p>
<p>So then comes the question: If I'm certain I'll make A's in all of my classes this semester, will applying RD, where Admissions will be able to see those grades, have benefits that outweigh those from applying EA?</p>
<p>Admissions will say that if you are close enough EA to where, if you got straight As first semester and, with those, would have been accepted RD, then they will defer you to the RD round and wait to see those grades. </p>
<p>If you are rejected EA, admissions will say that regardless of your new grades, you would not have been accepted RD. </p>
<p>I would recommend waiting if one of these conditions apply:
-Your application essays will be stronger by January 1st (do not underestimate how much you can learn about yourself from filling out application after application)
-You have a substantial non-grade related achievement on the horizon (say, winning a national debate tournament, publishing a paper, whatever). </p>
<p>There may be more of these I haven’t thought of.</p>