SCEA vs. 3 EAs?

Parents Forum
1

<p>I posted this on College Search and Selection but it didn't get much attention. However, I realised this is probably the best place to post it.</p>

<p>I was wondering the opinions of many of the members regarding a question that popped up in my mind last week or so. I am going to be applying to university this year, Fall '07, and I was pretty sure I would be applying to Stanford SCEA (also being a legacy there). However, considering I am an international applying for financial aid and my SATs aren't great at all (1340 Cr+M) with a great GPA, very hard workload and top rank, the biggest odds are on deferral for the SCEA. However, there are some other universities (3 and possibly 4) that are on my list that have EA (think Boston College, Tulane) and I have much better chances at acceptance, especially Tulane. I am thinking now that it is much better to have one or a couple of acceptances under my belt in December and start checking out financial aid packages and negotiating than waiting for a likely deferral that would postpone all my decisions to April, instead of having 4 decisions and likely 2+ acceptances by December. Still, SCEA applicants at Stanford usually have higher acceptance results and I am a legacy.</p>

<p>So, I would appreciate the opinions of everyone (I will be talking with my counselors soon). 4 decisions with 2 or 3 acceptances by December and already a chance at deciding the university to attend and negotiating financial aid packages, or a better chance at going to a top 5 world university, with a small chance at an acceptance in December?</p>

2

<p>Go for the EA instead of applying SCEA at Stanford. Last year S was legacy, with almost perfect SAT'S , great GPA, from school that sends a lot of kids to Stanford, was deferred then rejected in April. Having to spend his Xmas vacation finishing his applications and licking his bruised ego at the same time was not fun. Legacy is not an advantage if you are not comparable in other ways [hi SAT's, etc. ]to the highly qualified students, hooked athletes, developement admits, etc. who also apply SCEA.</p>

3

<p>It is very very nice to have some early acceptances. If I were the student, I would go for the EAs rather than the seemingly low-probability SCEA.</p>

4

<p>It depends upon how much you want to go to Stanford. If you're only applying there because you'd like to go to a prestigious school and you have somewhat better odds there because you are a legacy, don't apply SCEA. If you'll be kicking yourself in April thinking "I wonder if I might have gotten into Stanford if I'd applied SCEA?" then apply SCEA.</p>