<p>Are a lot of the top candidates going to opt to SCEA to Harvard/Yale/Stanford instead? Princeton kind of seems like the smallest name. Would it thus be wise to SCEA to Princeton to maximize chances?</p>
<p>bump</p>
<p>This is an important topic that has not been addressed in much depth. Info would be greatly appreciated.</p>
<p>I don’t know about Princeton being the “smallest name” (if so, only marginally), and we’ll have to wait until the admissions numbers come out for next year to tell. Without any basis, I’m guessing that, as with other top schools, there will be no distinct advantage applying SCEA for the unhooked applicant.</p>
<p>There is absolutely no way to know what the numbers are going to look like next year (and I’m sure HYPS have no idea as well). My assumption would be that Yale and Stanford early numbers will drop from this past year, since H and P will pull in some of the kids who previously applied to Y/S. In that sense, Yale and Stanford might be easier than in the past, but probably not by much. </p>
<p>I think that trying to strategize about this is not going to get you very far (because you simply can’t know what others are doing). Anecdotally, I know of some very strong Princeton alumni children who will be applying early, but I’m sure that’s the case at H, Y and S as well.</p>
<p>Should I apply SCEA anyway if Princeton is my top choice?</p>
<p>Yes, unless you think that your senior grades/accomplishments will be better than in the past and help your admissions case.</p>