<p>For rolling admissions colleges, it is better to be nearer to the front of the line of applications than near the end… they just always seem to tighten up on acceptances as it gets later. But if you get your application in by early October, you are still near the front of the line.</p>
<p>No, putting your app in prior to the SCEA date at Stanford confers no advantage to you. They look at the whole pile of applications before making final decisions on anyone. A rolling admissions college like Clemson accepts students while still accepting applications, so that is why there is an advantage there.</p>
<p>Where else are you applying besides Stanford and Clemson? What are your stats?</p>