<p>I was reading some other threads...does Yale SCEA only favor mostly URM, athletes, super talented in one area, etc.? I'm extremely committed to science research and have won a few things, but I'm an Asian girl from Westchester o_O </p>
<p>It doesn't help that my GC even admitted to me Yale hates our school -_-
As in, 'I mean, you can try, but us and Yale...'</p>
<p>(brief stats: 2320 SAT, 780-800-800 SAT2's, 5 AP 5's, 2nd in class of 180 < very competitive public HS)</p>
<p>Sigh. Yale is my top choice by far, but I wasn't planning on applying early at first - now some teachers are urging me to apply early to boost my chances. But I don't think it will? :-/</p>
<p>How can it hurt? If you weren't planning to apply anywhere else early, and Yale is your top choice by far, you have absolutely nothing to lose.</p>
<p>Obviously, you have the stats of a good student, and you're going to get into one or more good colleges. The only way that doesn't happen is if you really do a terrible job on your applications, or you forget to apply anywhere but HYPS. And you are probably a perfectly competitive candidate at Yale, although that doesn't guarantee you much (except admission to any SUNY you want).</p>
<p>Does SCEA confer any advantage on a run-of-the-mill overachieving smart kid? Maybe. A little. Not that much, but probably not nothing. But the more important question is, what's it cost you? If you apply SCEA, you can't apply ED anywhere else. ED probably does confer an advantage, and you would be a strong ED candidate anywhere. But since you don't want to cut off your shot at Yale, you're not going to apply ED anywhere. If you apply SCEA, you can't apply EA anywhere else (MIT, Chicago, Cal Tech, Georgetown . . . ). Were you planning to? It's not clear that EA really confers any advantage, either. So, unless you think it would be worth something to apply early to, say, three of the four colleges mentioned, why wouldn't you go ahead and try SCEA at Yale? Realistically, the worst that's likely to happen is you get deferred.</p>
<p>you're really smart obviously, but your guidance counselor's statement is interesting. Maybe you should work on your application, apply to another school early action you really love, and then apply to Yale RD. I hate to say it, but school affiliations matter. Just do what makes you feel comfortable.</p>
<p>No... allegedly, SCEA just means to get your results early... the higher admit rate is due to a stronger pool of applicants and athletes. Or so they say... (suspicious glance toward New Haven...) :)</p>
<p>haha. I think I'll wiat for Siemens Westinghouse results to come out. If I get semifinalist (highly unlikely) or better (more unlikely :P), I may just do SCEA. otherwise I think I'll wait...</p>