Urgent: Should I Pick Stanford Over Yale For Early Action?

Colleges and Universities A-Z Stanford University
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<p>I realize that people are probably tired of reading other people’s statistics, but I really need to make a decision this week about colleges - especially where to apply early action. </p>

<p>I am currently deciding between applying to Yale or Stanford early action, and I’m really torn about what to do. </p>

<p>I have a 2000+ SAT score, an above 4.0 GPA and whatnot just like everyone else and their mother. I also have many, many extracurriculars including, but nowhere near limited to, 4 years swim team varisty, school president/asb for 2 years, numerous clubs, etc. etc. I’ve won many awards and have officer positions in multiple world-wide organizations such as Mu Alpha Theta and CSF. I also have a well-connected teacher writing me recommendations. </p>

<p>Questions:</p>

<li><p>Should I apply early action to Yale or Stanford (I realize this board will be somewhat biased, but I would still appreciate advice at this point)</p></li>
<li><p>What are my chances at the following schools: Harvard, Yale, Stanford, Santa Clara, UCLA, UC Berkeley, UC Davis, Columbia, and Brown?</p></li>
</ol>

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<p>Pick whichever school you like better. EA should be for your first choice. But if you like both the same and can't decide which to apply to, just know that Yale takes more applicants from the EA pool overall than Stanford. (Also, since you're kind of cutting it close on time, Yale's app is easier to do than Stanford's - less essays.) </p>

<p>What are your interests though? From the information you've given about yourself it's hard to say which one you're more suited for.</p>

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<p>So Yale's app is easier, even though it's on the common app? The common app is a little annoying to navigate... The most recent stats I heard were that Yale takes 17% of EA applicants, while Stanford takes 20%... </p>

<p>I'm planning to apply as a sciences major (most likely biological sciences, but I'm looking into nutrition science, nuero, and exercise biology)... I would have a deep intersting in politics and would maybe like to take a double major with English or political science.</p>

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<p>Yeah I agree, Pick Yale if you're going for the most convenient/easy to complete, but if you're willing to get through Stanford's application, you should apply to whatever school you like better.</p>

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<p>The Common App is a pain to navigate, but Stanford's four essays (three short at about 250 words each and one long) are even more of a pain. Yale only has the common app essay, one supplement essay, and one extremely short (like 50 words) "Why Yale" statement. Stanford has always emphasized essays a ton, so if you haven't started on any of them by now you may find it difficult to complete them in time.</p>

<p>Last year both Yale and Stanford accepted about 17% EA. But Yale accepted more deferred EA applicants (deferred applicants were accepted at twice the rate of normal RD applicants), so in the end half their class came from the EA pool. Yale also defers many more applicants than Stanford (45-50% deferral rate vs. 20%).</p>

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<p>JTloverYorS?, where can you get those EA acceptance rates?</p>

<p>I'm trying to talk Brandon into applying EA to Notre Dame, and I'd love to get that acceptance rate. He's very modest; thinks there are many more qualified applicants than he, and doesn't think EA will work for him.</p>

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<p>Brandon's mom,</p>

<p>First, I must congratulate you on your username. It's very original! </p>

<p>Anyways, there are many published reports of EA rates. The bottom of the this website, <a href="http://www.collegejournal.com/aidadmissions/newstrends/20040217-chaker.html%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.collegejournal.com/aidadmissions/newstrends/20040217-chaker.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

<p>Shows schools such as MIT, Stanford, Harvard, and U of Chicago... I don't know about University of Notre Dame. What are Brandon's extracurriculars, GPA, SATs, etc?</p>

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<p>Isn't it original? I've no imagination whatsoever - lol</p>

<p>Here are Brandon's stats, so maybe you can let me know what you think:</p>

<p>GPA: 3.7 unweighted 4.176 weighted (out of 4.33)
Rank: 16 out of 165 in class</p>

<p>PSAT: 228
SAT: CR-800 M-800 W-730
SAT II: Math 2- 760, Chemistry- 790, US History - 690</p>

<p>APs:
European History – 5, Biology - 4 (taken in 10th grade)
Chemistry - 5, US History- 4 (taken in 11th grade)
These APs are the only ones the school allowed him to take in those grades. He is taking 4 AP classes this year and will take 7 AP Exams in May</p>

<p>Key Club 11-12
National Honor Society 11-12
Academic Team 10-12
Chess Club 9-11
Peer Tutor 9-12
Team Leader, Weekend Freshman Retreat 12</p>

<p>Freshman Football, Captain 9
JV Football 9-10
Lacrosse 12
Varsity Football 10-12
Captain 12</p>

<p>{Off season, conditioned/worked out 4 days per week after school and during each summer for football for 2 to 2 1/2 hours per day. Football is his passion; it's a year-round sport at his school and it takes up a great deal of his time!</p>

<p>He's not Division I football material (only 6'2" & 230, playing 2-way as an offensive tackle and defensive end), but could possibly play Division II, if he were inclined to go to a Division II school}</p>

<p>Founder and chair of NHS AFCAAM (African Caribbean American) Tutoring Program
Habitat for Humanity
Harry Chapin Food Bank</p>

<p>National Merit Semifinalist
Principals’ List – GPA 4.24 and above
First Honor Roll – GPA 4.00 – 4.23
AP Scholar with Honors
Varsity Letterman
Academic Letterman (4 straight quarters on principal's list)</p>

<p>Employed at Target 20-30 hours per week in summer, 6 hours per week during football season (on Sundays). </p>

<p>He is a white Catholic from a competitive parochial Florida high school. </p>

<p>The only reason I mention his race is because so many people have assumed he's a minority because of his devotion to football. </p>

<p>I'd very much value your opinion.</p>

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<p>1) Brandon's mom: don't hijack threads</p>

<p>2)I don't think being afghan gives you a real URM type advantage...are you a US citizen? URM usually refers to so-called "racial" minorities and not ethnic ones, so you'll probably have to just fill out Asian on the app...</p>

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<p>Stanford 2008, I wasn't trying to hijack - no offense. I was merely answering a question.</p>

<p>And besides, Brandon is applying to Stanford as well</p>

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<p>Yes, I am a U.S. citizen. I was born and bred in the U.S., but I have many experiences that very few others have. I know it will give me an edge compared to many people who have simply had rich parents pay their way through school.</p>

<p>Brandon's mom:</p>

<p>I think he should definitely consider. I mean, U of ND is pretty competitive and it is quite a football school... Plus, his stats are pretty excellent. If he's not considering applying early at all... then I would go for it. Is he considering applying early to Stanford? I would definitely recommend applying early to ND.</p>

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<p>Generally when someone says SATs over 2000 , that means SATs less than 2100 - so your question might well be irrelevant to begin with - as your chances are near zero with either school - and you are wasting an ED application that might have been better utilized elsewhere.</p>

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<p>You sound relatively intelligent from the way you wrote your post, so that's a good sign. I do agree that "2000+" on your SAT is a little worrisome; I hope you mean something more like "2100+". As far as which school to apply to, I hope you will understand that none of us can help you based on what you said. I believe Yale and Stanford are quite different. When I applied to college, I was stuck between Stanford and Harvard. I was attracted to Harvard's name, but on all other dimensions (location, academic/social atmosphere, specific strong departments), I wanted to go to Stanford. So, even though I chose the 4th ranked school over the top (or now 2nd, I guess) school, I am very happy at Stanford and have no regrets about my decision.</p>

<p>The best school is something only you can judge for yourself. If you're looking at 2 EA schools (not binding) then just do what your instinct tells you; don't try to play the game and overanalyze which EA will give you a .000001% higher chance of admission. Please just focus on you and what you can do; that's all you have control over. Whenever you have time, I hope you will be able to visit both schools and learn more about them.</p>

<p>As far as the other schools you listed, I'm pretty confident you could get into UCLA and Berkeley. Harvard, I don't know; I have no way of knowing if I was on the "bottom end" or "top end" of admitted applicants.</p>

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<p>it really makes no difference since both stanford and yale EA are nonbinding. i was accepted to yale EA and had a lot of time to think over the offer. in the end, i chose stanford when regular decisions came out. if you're worried about maximizing your chances i think both schools are equally difficult to get in. (tho i think the big exception is if you're a science/engineering student, in which case yale EA will be significantly easier than stanford.) just flip a coin or something because it really doesn't matter stanford or yale EA.</p>

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<p>Do you want to swim in college? If you're pretty fast, Yale might be interested. If you're going the olympics (you probably would have mentioned that) apply to Stanford.</p>

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<p>the more strategic choice would be yale</p>

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<p>nordhaus: for a science/engineering student, why would yale EA be easier (to get in, I presume) than stanford EA?</p>