<p>So I've decided that I don't want to apply to a school ED, for fear of being locked in and changing my mind. Instead, I've decided to apply somewhere EA. Originally I was thinking Stanford, but the more I thought about it the less I wanted to because I wouldn't be able to apply EA anywhere else. I'm still not sure which would be best, or even what the advantages and disadvantages of each would be. I could apply to either Yale or Stanford SCEA, or both MIT and UChicago EA... honestly, I would love to go to any of these schools based on what I've heard of them (though I haven't visited UChicago or Yale yet). Any thoughts?</p>
<p>Also, do schools with SCEA allow you to apply to schools with rolling admissions at the same time (September, to increase the chances of being accepted)?</p>
<p>Just EA to the school you would pick if you were accepted to all of them. Posters on this board have told me that MIT EA doesn't give that much of an advantage, so you might be better off applying RD. Just choose your top choice out of those remaining</p>
<p>Therein lies the problem... I haven't got a top choice.</p>
<p>Find a way to pick Yale or Stanford, and then apply SCEA. Apply RD to the rest. If you don't want to committ that early, then apply EA to the other two.</p>
<p>My son applied SCEA to Yale and was deferred leading to a dismal and anxiety filled winter. He wishes he had applied EA to Chicago and MIT and perhaps to a safety or two with rollng admissions.</p>
<p>Yes, you can apply SCEA at Stanford and to some colleges with rolling applications or to colleges with specific application deadlines for scholarship consideration [USC for example], but there are some caveats that you have to pay attention to re notification of decision dates, etc. Take a look at Stanford's website and read carefully. Also, if you are apply early at Stanford and are deferred, know that 1] they only defer 10% of SCEA applicants and reject outright the rest, and 2] you have less than a 10% chance of acceptance in the regular round.</p>
<p>Problem with SCEA is that it doesn't help much in terms of admissions advantage. You really screw yourself over. It's much better to hedge your bets and so something like Georgetown + MIT + Chicago EA + (something like Columbia ED--- only if you like the school) so you can maximize your chances at admissions at a great school. </p>
<p>PLently of my friends did SCEA something and completely f*ed themselves over.</p>
<p>/\ this is true. You ARE better off applying early to a college you would be happy at, AND that you have a high chance of being accepted at [i.e. Chicago EA.] There is NOTHING nicer in the middle Dec. than KNOWING you have an acceptance at a great "safety"! Then, if you still want to, you can still apply to the other colleges RD.</p>
<p>All this has been really helpful. I'm pretty positive now that I'm going to go for the several EAs and not the SCEA. Are there any other top-tier (or safety-ish for me) schools that offer EA besides MIT/Chicago/Georgetown?</p>
<p>Also, more opinions on the OP are still welcome.</p>
<p>It may be usless to apply EA this year because there will be a surge from the Harvard and Princeton kids who will insteas be applying to other programs. Plus the fact that this year has more graduates than any other.</p>
<p>^^ of course!</p>
<p>you know you could just not apply for a early school. I wouldn't try to force myself apply for a school that I don't really like to begin with just because it offers EA.</p>
<p>The problem with Yale SCEA next year is that so many more students are going to apply EA because of Harvard ending their EA program. I say only apply to Yale if it's your first choice and you would absolutely regret not applying there EA.</p>
<p>Maybe apply to the school you'd be most relieved to know that you were into first. Chicago and MIT hardly give any advantage to EA applicants, and most apply a) because they're totally in love with the school and that's where they want to go, thus treating EA like ED, or b) because they want to know (or not know) that they are in earlier rather than later.</p>
<p>Chicago and MIT have a reputation for being intensely academically focused in a way that Yale and Stanford are not. I have no way of verifying that assertion, as I'm only a student at Chicago and I don't know what students at other schools are like. On the whole, though, I would say that Yale and Stanford attract different people for different reasons, while Chicago and MIT attract a narrower band of students.</p>
<p>dont apply to stanford and yale SCEA this year. THERE Will be huge surges from harvard and princeton.</p>
<p>go for the GT, MIT, chicago.</p>
<p>unless you feel that yale or stanford would be much better than the other choices.</p>
<p>I believe Notre Dame also has EA, and Rice offers a 12/1 Interim Decision, sort of like another EA, not ED II</p>