<p>How much does it help to apply Stanford SCEA.</p>
<p>If you are home schooled you may have an advantage SCEA.</p>
<p>If you look at the stats threads for Stanford this year, you will
realize otherwise applying SCEA is a <em>very bad idea</em>.</p>
<p>RD with /without an arts supplement would work better.</p>
<p>SCEA limits your ability to apply to other schools. Stanford does not
give you brownie points for applying SC. Also you will have lesser
experience with college essays and the app process.</p>
<p>If you are into research SCEA is a very bad idea because the major
awards come out later than your decision times. This is the reason
I applied RD and was one of the pre-approved (What on
CC is called a likely-letter recipient) admits this year.</p>
<p>:)</p>
<p>Agreed.
Especially if you’re a non-native who don’t have much experience writing essays in a “rather” short time like what US students practice in writing classes…It can be very hard.
A good example is ME.SCEA deferred and got my rej E-mail today.</p>
<p>then what’s the point of applying SCEA?</p>
<p>It’s only if you’re sure Stanford is your first choice and you’re confident enough in your ability to put together a great application by the first deadline. I’m like rita90star: deferred and rejected.</p>
<p>I wouldn’t put as much scrutiny on the pros and cons… it’s ultimately this-- if Stanford’s your #1 and you’re passionate about it, go for it, but start early!
Based on what alot of other people said, I should have been at a disadvantage applying SECA (mediocre everything, not a freakin genius in anything), but I still got in… and it was AWESOME because I got to actually enjoy my winter break and not worry about apps, and I’m not going through the stressing anticipation everyone else is in right now! =)</p>
<p>stanford has been my #1 choice since seventh grade (yea early i know haha). I’ve basically already written my essays, and periodically go back to correct/polish them… </p>
<p>but i’m not sure if I’m really that competitive because i have no international awards, and my national awards really aren’t all that numerous/great.. plus i’m an ORM…</p>
<p>AND I’m into research.</p>
<p>^^ lol, it’s fine, don’t stress about awards! I only have state awards, and it’s really not the deciding factor!</p>
<p>There is no advantage whatsoever for SCEA, chances wise. As many have said, you’re probably at a DISadvantage if you SCEA with the usual ~3.8ish GPA and 2200+ SAT but nothing special that makes you stand out. If you’re said so applicant, you’re better off applying to an ED program.</p>
<p>stanford confuses the CRAP out of me -_-</p>
<p>you cant say there’s no advantage: 1) theres a 5% higher acceptance rate (granted it is generally a higher lever applicant pool too) 2) they see genuine interest, so if you are deferred they know you really consider stanford your #1 choice and 3) they are big on accept/reject, dont like a lot of deferrals, and they reject if they honestly feel stanford is not the place for you, so if you apply early and get rejected, you can now spend all your energy getting excited about other colleges, since if you applied RD you would probably also get denied, not to be mean, its just a likely fact. </p>
<p>by they way this is coming from a deferred–> accepted applicant :)</p>
<p>Then overall I am just confused..
WHAT counts as “standing out” ??!
-_-;</p>
<p>papercrane</p>
<p>Here is my son’s experience…</p>
<p>We live in California and my son wanted to stay in state. He decided to apply to the top UCs and Stanford. He didn’t think he would have anything to add between 10/31 (early action deadline) and the regular application deadline date. I encouraged him to apply early action as the financial aid paperwork would be easier to fill out. I kid you not; that was the only reason my son applied early action.</p>
<p>He is a high stat kid but few ECs (2 years baseball, 4 years band, some community service). No state or national awards. The only thing that made him “stand out” (in my opinion) is that he lives on and works the family farm. Living on a farm is an experience that you can’t manufacture but that permeates all aspects of life. My son is an excellent writer and was able to answer the essay prompts in an insightful yet funny way. He was accepted early action.</p>
<p>My son refused to play the college admissions game. He didn’t try to do anything to impress the admissions people. I urged him to get involved in more ECs and he wouldn’t; he only took the SAT once. </p>
<p>Everyone is unique in his/her own way. Use the college application as a platform to express who you really are.</p>
<p>I wish you all the best…</p>
<p>i know you shouldn’t think of scea and stuff as a strategy, but it seems like this year, time people have had a better chance at RD than SCEA (after looking at some of the results…). people who got rejected SCEA could have more like than likely been accepted SCEA. anyone else think this is true?</p>