So, I want to apply to Stanford Restrictive EA (Nov 1) and then if denied, apply to Vanderbilt ED II (Jan 1). The notification for Stanford REA is December 15ish, so I should be good. However, the catch is, to apply for Vanderbilt merit scholarships, you must submit your application by Dec 1 for consideration.
If I apply REA to Stanford, can I submit my ED II application early for merit scholarships on Dec 1 before I get a notification from Stanford, or does that break the terms of REA and ED?
https://admission.stanford.edu/apply/decision_process/index.html"
Restrictive Early Action Policy
Applicants do not apply to any other private college/university under their Early Action, Restrictive Early Action, Early Decision or Early Notification program.
Applicants may apply to other colleges and universities under their Regular Decision option.
Exceptions
The student may apply to any public college/university with a non-binding early application option.
The student may apply to any college/university with a non-binding rolling admission process.
The student may apply to any foreign college/university on any application schedule.
The student may apply to any college/university with an early deadline for a scholarship or special academic program, as long as:
the decision is non-binding and
in order to be considered for the scholarship or program, the student must apply in the early round or by an early deadline.
Because Vanderbilt’s ED II is binding, I believe you would be breaking the terms of Stanford’s REA.
You can submit your application to Vanderbilt as a Regular Decision app by the Dec. 1st merit scholarship deadline. If you are accepted to Stanford, you withdraw your app from Vanderbilt. If you are deferred/rejected from Stanford, you can switch your RD app to EDII at Vanderbilt up until that EDII Jan. 1 deadline.
Seems like the way to stay within the rules is to apply to Vanderbilt RD by 12/1, then switch to ED 2 if Stanford rejects. Of course, that depends on whether Vanderbilt allows changing an RD application to an ED 2 application after it is initially submitted.
Switching to ED 2 may also reduce the chance for a merit scholarship, since Vanderbilt need not compete with money to get you to enroll.
This sounds like a good plan/loophole ucbalumnus and scholardad. Thanks for all the help.