Rejected EA...any chance for me at other schools?

Colleges and Universities A-Z Stanford University
1

The title’s a bit misleading - I’m aware that Stanford is unique in that it rejects a /lot/ of its early applicants, so my rejection doesn’t necessarily mean I’m terrible and will be shot down ASAP at other places. But, I can’t help questioning myself and my ability to get into other selective schools…

So, I think it’d be really nice to hear some concrete evidence that I do have a chance. Anyone have any success stories of people who were rejected EA (not specifically at Stanford) and ended up getting in somewhere pretty great in the end? Anything along that vein would be uplifting - I’m in a bit of a slump now, and could really use some motivation to finish up the rest of my apps :)>-

2

Overall, about 95% of applicants get rejected, and I would guess that many of them get into a school that is good.

But remember, since all it takes to apply to a college is paying the application fee, getting rejected EA or regular admission doesn’t say anything about ones future prospects.

Maybe that person shouldn’t even apply to any top 500 college and will go 0/20, or maybe that person is a superstar who just didn’t fit into Stanford and they will go 19/19 on the other applications.

The motivation to finish your apps needs to come from the idea that that work is the most control you have in insuring a good outcome. Why not do the best you can at this point? Why risk regretting getting a subpar result over something you can’t do anything about now (being rejected by Stanford).?

3

I know someone who was rejected outright by Stanford on REA, and she ended up at Yale where she is very happy. For better or for worse, Stanford has a long-standing reputation of having “quirky” admissions decisions. You should not read too much into admissions decisions–at any school, positive or negative. I know that’s hard to do now, but in retrospect you will agree with me.

4

I know of someone who was rejected by Stanford early action but got into Princeton regular decision. There’s no way to predict what will happen—just give it your best shot and hope for the best. Good luck!

5

Stanford is the most selective school in the country.
You should be more worried if you get rejected by a far less selective school.

6

Somebody on here actually told me some great advice. You may have been the perfect candidate, but when it comes to Stanford, they piece a well rounded class together, and not necessarily well rounded people. Basically, you can’t have a successful football team with all quarterbacks, you need a little bit of everything. So you may have been the extra quarterback at Stanford, but you could be the missing one at a school as equally selective. Don’t give up, you have a bright future ahead of you, and are bound to end up somewhere you’ll really enjoy. As a fellow EA reject, I wish you the best of luck with the rest of your college apps!

7

I know someone last year who got rejected by Yale SCEA, only to be accepted to both Stanford and Harvard in RD. The whole process is ridiculously random.

8

Would you rather near the bottom of the incoming class at a “prestigious” school or the top of the incomng class at a very good college?

9

Depends. Do you want to stretch and push yourself and be around people who are performing better and challenging you, or do you want the opposite? If one is paying so much money for an education, I would hope people opt for the first. Otherwise, just go to a community college for 2 years and transfer into another college.

10

My D was denied EA to Stanford and now has made, what I think to be, a very smart decision. Clearly, she has amazing stats and ECs. She is targeting good schools (not necessarily top tier) with excellent programs for her major where she will be granted large merit money. It made sense to pay for Stanford. Now since that is not an option, she is determined to go to college for free or close to free, kick butt and try Stanford again for graduate school.

11

agree! the best is coming. It is just the beginning. Good luck with all the best

12

I know it’s been a few months, but I just wanted to thank everyone for their very logical responses, and perhaps reassure future applicants who will end up similarly heartbroken after early results - I’ll be going to one of my dream schools in the fall and couldn’t be happier!

and it’s such a cliche (maybe even sour grapes) response, but I truly think Stanford wasn’t the right school for me anyway. I do mean that, so much so that if I were offered the choice between it and my current school, I’d pick the latter without a second thought. thanks again and good luck to everyone reading this for next year!!