<p>So I've heard a lot of opinions about Yale SCEA. I know that it is true that generally speaking this is when the strongest applicants apply (you know, 2350+SAT, found the Higgs Boson, etc.), along with those in sports (not saying they cannot be also very strong applicants, just differentiating), and legacy students. However, is there any portion of students that are accepted in SCEA early action at Yale that would be considered "average" or "above average" (not exceptional), for Yale? I know that most of these students are deferred, but at least a portion of them must be accepted during SCEA, right? Also, is it to my benefit if Yale is my first choice to apply SCEA despite having only "above average" stats in terms of showing my deep interest in Yale (it's my number 1, as it is for many, I'm sure). The only other schools I'm applying to with SCEA or ED policies are WUSTL, Duke, Johns Hopkins, and Dartmouth, so in your opinion, does it matter which I apply to? In other words, are the other schools also subject to the same distortion in their early application programs as Yale is?</p>
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<p>The students Y accepts SCEA are those who they would select from ANY applicant pool. Read it from the source:</p>
<p>[Early</a> admit rate rises slightly | Yale Daily News](<a href=“http://www.yaledailynews.com/news/2009/dec/15/early-admit-rate-rises-slightly/]Early”>http://www.yaledailynews.com/news/2009/dec/15/early-admit-rate-rises-slightly/)</p>
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<p>Take a look at Ys high yield rate, they don’t need to care about applicants showing interest.</p>
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<p>I’m not sure what you’re referring to when you say ‘distortion’. The applicants that Y accepts in the EA round make sense, as it gives them additional time to court students who will likely also be accepted to other highly selective schools if they choose to apply in the RD round. The other schools you listed are all ED, so that is very different from Ys EA policy.</p>
<p>okay, thank you.</p>
<p>If Yale is your first choice, apply to Yale SCEA. “Normal” people (by Yalie standards) can and do get in then.</p>
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<p>Not necessarily. Where someone applies early, whether it be EA, SCEA, ED or rolling, should be part of their total application strategy. While where one would most want to attend is one consideration, it is not the only one. Other considerations could be financial concerns, legacy, the likelihood that they will be accepted in an early round, etc. Particularly with the SCEA schools, one should consider where else they might want to apply EA and what their likely outcomes are at the different schools.</p>
<p>I’m not saying that the OP shouldn’t apply to Y SCEA, but it is definitely in their best interest to consider all of the pertinent factors.</p>
<p>I would say if Yale is your first choice, don’t apply ED somewhere else. Beyond that, I agree with entomom.</p>
<p>I would say do not apply Yale SCEA, because I need to eliminate the competition :)</p>
<p>On a serious note, if you think you’re a borderline candidate at your ED schools, ED might be a good option. If you’re going to regret applying ED the rest of your life, then don’t–Yale SCEA looks good in that case. </p>
<p>If, however, you want to maximize your chances of an acceptance, ED might be a good a choice.</p>
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<li>Is Yale your true first-choice school?</li>
<li>Have you considered all other options and reached the conclusion that there’s nowhere else you’d rather apply to more for EA?</li>
<li>Would applying to Y SCEA hinder you in any way from applying early-round at another school?</li>
<li>Will your application be strong enough by November 1 for you to feel secure about your chances and to have completed your application to the best of your abilities?</li>
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<p>All questions to consider. :)</p>
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<li>Yes. With all my heart</li>
<li>yes. The ONLY other places I’d apply early are Duke or WUSTL, but even then, I’d rather apply to Yale</li>
<li>Well, if it’s SCEA, doesn’t that mean I only get one? I’m a bit confused by this one.</li>
<li>Most likely yes, but one or two things might change. These changes wouldn’t happen until after RD ends though anyway. (DECA internationals, Academic decathalon stuff)</li>
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<p>SCEA doesn’t improve your chances of getting in, even though the numbers might suggest. In reality Yale SCEA is the single most competitive applicant pool out there (perhaps Stanny ED comes close…)</p>
<p>The point of applying SCEA is to get the whole app process done with and IF you have slim chances (I’ll let you be the judge of that), you would be wise to do EA/ED elsewhere.</p>
<p>wrightm - Apply SCEA. Seriously. ;)</p>
<p><a href=“perhaps%20Stanny%20ED%20comes%20close…”>quote</a>
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<p>There’s no Stanford ED</p>
<p>Stanford also has SCEA. From what I’ve read, it appears that applying to Yale SCEA doesn’t much affect your odds of ultimately being accepted. Candidates who are accepted SCEA would have been accepted RD, ditto for those who are rejected. Those who are deferred supposedly get the same consideration as the rest of the RD applicants. I think the biggest downside to applying SCEA is that you can’t apply EA anywhere else.</p>
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<p>Still gives a heck of a lot more freedom than ED.</p>