Strong Strategy for Choosing EA/ED Colleges

College Search & Selection
1

Hey, current Ohio junior here.

To get to the point, I’m starting to look at potential strategies to apply to competitive schools next year that would be a good fit for me. I feel like I would be a competitive candidate for many schools, 1550+ SAT, good GPA, major awards being 2x ISEF and 2x AIME, leadership, research recs, etc. However, I know many people have stats similar or better than mine and I am by no means “excellent” in any particular field now. Given this, my top school that I want to apply to is Stanford, but I realize that this is definitely a reach, but something that if accepted to, would be my top choice. However, I am very hesitant to think about apply REA to Stanford bc I want to try and use my early choice to a school that offers me the greatest boost in chance to get in. I do want to mention that I come from a school that sends several students to top schools - at least 4+ for each of HYPMS, and a very good amount (7-8) to each of the 2nd tier top schools such as Duke, UPenn, UChicago, etc. I would not mind applying to these schools as an REA since it would give me a much better chance of being accepted into some school (I don’t have any emotional attachment to a particular school - but the Top 3 schools in California are really what I am aiming for). However, many of these schools are ED, and I don’t really want to be bound to a school like Cornell for example, when I feel I have a slightly better than average chance at research-favorable (which would be useful since I have ISEF) schools such as Stanford or Caltech.

Overall, I really just need help looking for a strategy on where to apply next year that would optimize my chances. I’m thinking either

Option A) Stanford REA, and then a bunch of EAs to public schools such as UVA, UMichigan, UNC Chapel Hill, Georgia Tech, UT Austin, etc. I’m assuming I don’t get into Stanford but hopefully a school like UMichigan which would provide me some relief that I have a college to go to regardless of Regular Decision.

Option B) Princeton/Yale REA and still a bunch of EAs. Princeton, in particular, seems to have an affinity for my school and several students are accepted early per year. Again, I wouldn’t expect admission in any shape or form.

Option C) Duke ED and all the EAs (MIT, Caltech, UChicago, etc.). Getting into Duke would be amazing, but I do have certain connections to the university, which makes it a good bit easier. I’m assuming that if I get into Duke, I might have a chance at also getting into some of the EAs - even ones that I care more about (Caltech). This is what really makes me wary of applying Duke ED.

Option D) Only apply to non-binding EA schools like mentioned in Option C. I wouldn’t get the boost in acceptance rates that ED or REA would offer me, but I have a chance at getting into one school and then having options in regular decision without stress.

Ultimately, I just want to avoid getting rejected from all the colleges of my choice. Since I have 0 knowledge/experience related to this, I would really, really welcome any advice.

2

If you “just want to avoid getting rejected from all the colleges of my choice”, make sure that you have at least one safety that you are certain of admission, certain of being able to afford, and like.

If you would regret or second-guess an ED admission, or if the prospective ED school is not clearly affordable (check the net price calculator if your parents have not told you that list price is ok), then do not apply ED.

3

Price is not too much of a concern at this point. Is it common to not do an ED or REA, but only do EA schools? I’m assuming that’s the way people apply to schools like Caltech or MIT early and enroll.

4

That implies that it is some concern. You need to have the college money talk with your parents before you make your application list, so that you do not end up with a bunch of admissions that are all unaffordable (wasted applications).

Yes, it is common for students to apply only regular, unrestricted early action, and/or rolling, but not early decision or restricted early action.

5

I’ll update my previous response. It’s not a concern right now given my parent’s financial situation (and not having siblings).

6

One question I do have is whether applying EA and REA has any notable difference in acceptance chance. I know ED has a very tangible impact, but both EA/REA seems less so.

7

The best strategy for that is to build a balanced list of appropriate, affordable reach/match/safety schools.
ED/SCEA, per se, may not improve your admission chances as much as you seem to think.

8

If your real dream is Stanford or Caltech, I say Option A is the way to go. Yes, it is the case that Stanford is an extreme reachy-reach, even for students with amazing credentials like you, but it is your dream, so you should go for it. I certainly would NOT do Option C. If you are feeling wary and feel like you would always be wondering whether you could have gotten in to Stanford or Caltech had you not applied to a binding ED school, then you shouldn’t apply to a binding ED school.

And if you do get deferred at Stanford (as many people do), but get in to a school like Michigan or UVA or UNC-Chapel Hill or UT-Austin EA, that would be AMAZING! That’s not just getting into “a college to go to” as an okay backup plan; any of those schools would be INCREDIBLE places to go to college. (My best friend went to Michigan and I was very impressed when I visited…though I will be honest and say I visited when she was there for a summer session rather than in the dead of winter because it does get a little chilly in Ann Arbor. But you are from Ohio; you can handle winter.)

Best wishes!

9

Only apply REA or ED to your number 1 school. IMO, it’s silly to apply binding to another school just to boost your chances if they aren’t your first choice.

FWIW, my daughter only applied EA.

I agree with the other posters that the most important thing you can do is to have a balanced list of schools with the bulk of your list being matches and safeties.

Be aware that the acceptance rate for OOS students at the publics you have listed are very low, especially if you are looking to do engineering, and should be considered reaches. (The val of dd’s HS with perfect stats and an amazing resume was waitlisted at Michigan.)

10

Thank you all for the help!

11

Out of curiosity, I have heard that one way to apply to other private EA schools while still applying to an REA is by specific scholarships. I don’t know if this is entirely true, but does anyone know about this?

12

Look at the rules on the web sites of REA schools. Some may allow early applications to other schools if those other schools have early deadlines for scholarships (although these may not necessarily be formal EA with an early notification date).

13

I am not experienced in this process but from what I have learned so far, EA to MIT/Caltech/Stanford don’t really give you a boost, you might be better off applying them RD as you will have more time to “polish” your applications/essays. Don’t know whether Chicago ED gives a bit boost or not.

14

Just going to add again what a couple others have said: unless you love your ED school and know you want to go there no matter where else you may have gotten in, don’t do ED. Have seen a lot of regret on CC from people choosing ED “strategically” when it wasn’t their top choice. On the other hand if you fall in love with a school that offers ED, by all means go for the boost, but also understand that the boost varies by school.