Yale REA Advice

Colleges and Universities A-Z Yale University
1

Hi! I’m a senior in high school and I am considering applying to Yale early because it’s my top choice (it’s definitely a reach but I’ve always wanted to go). I have all of my supplements done and my personal statement done (they just need to be heavily edited) but I was having doubts about applying early for several reasons.

First of all, I won’t be getting my SAT score back until November 4th; this was my first time taking it as all my other dates were canceled due to COVID, so I only know my average score from practice tests (normally 1440-1480). Because of this, I won’t even know if the score I’m choosing to send will be good enough, which makes me doubtful about whether I wanted to apply early.

Another reason I’m nervous about it is because I early that the EA application pool is usually a lot more competitive. My grades are pretty average: I have a 3.92 UW and a 4.10 W (once again, I know that Yale is a big reach for me lol). I managed to take one SAT II test (U.S. History) and I got a 780 and the are my AP scores: 5 (APUSH), 4 (AP Gov), 3 (AP Lit), 3 (AP Chem) [I attribute the last three scores to the fact that those tests were online]. I’m also currently taking three AP classes and will be taking two one semester AP classes next semester. My school doesn’t do class rankings by the way. Because of my pretty average transcript, I worry that it will still be hard for me to get in because of how much better everyone else in the EA pool will be (yes, I know that RD will be difficult too but the acceptance rate for that is much smaller than that of EA and yes, I know I could still be deferred into RD).

In conclusion, I’m really just looking for some advice as to whether I should do SREA. I don’t mind doing regular decision at all and waiting longer to find out whether or not I got in, I’m just worried that by not applying EA, I won’t be able to demonstrate how badly I want to go to Yale. I’m also just worried that my essays will be rushed with the deadline days away. Does anyone have any advice as to what I should do?

2

Although you may be right that the students in the EA pool are somewhat more impressive, on average, than those in the RD pool, I’d take that concern out of the equation. Your chances of admission won’t be any higher if you apply RD rather than EA.

Rather, base your decision on which deadline will allow you to prepare the strongest application. If applying RD will allow you to perfect your essays, then take advantage of the extra time; your odds of admission are pretty low (I say this because they’re low for everyone), so why shoot yourself in the foot by submitting essays with which you’re not completely satisfied?

3

I’d wait. Since Yale is TO this cycle, I’d wait to see what your SAT score is. Yale currently allows self reporting of test scores. Take the extra time to polish your app. You want to put your best foot forward.