<p>Hello all! I was wondering under what circumstances you would recommend that one applies SCEA to Yale instead of RD? Yale is my first choice school. I know the acceptance rates are higher for SCEA (probably because of the higher caliber of applicants in general/recruited athletes), but if applying SCEA will help to increase my chances of getting in I will certainly do so. Part of me would like to, but I would also like to apply early action to other schools that I feel more confident that I will get accepted into so I will have a cushion going into the spring of my senior year. When would you recommend someone applies SCEA?</p>
<p>Unhooked applicants (non-athletes, non-URM’s, non-developmental cases) in the SCEA round must have the “full package” or they will get deferred to the RD round. If you have taken a rigorous course load in high school, have a high GPA (95+), great test scores (2200+ SAT or 34+ ACT), are secure in your teacher recommendations and essays, and Yale is your #1 choice, then I would recommend that you apply SCEA. (Even if you have all of that, there is no guarantee of being accepted.) If you have something less than that, you might be better off applying early to a group of non-binding schools, such as UChicago, MIT, Georgetown, etc, and then apply to Yale RD. In that way you hopefully will have at least one acceptance in your back-pocket come mid-December and still have a shot at Yale in the RD round.</p>
<p>Thanks for the advice!!! Would having a sibling who currently attends Yale College (very successful at Yale as well- don’t want to share too much about his info but let’s just say he is a walk-on varsity athlete with very good grades) be considered a hook?</p>
<p>^^ No. Having a sibling at Yale may give you a second look, but your credentials must be equal to or better than your sibling – and even then, it’s never a done-deal these days, as Yale is currently rejecting 70% of their legacies.</p>
<p>Good to know. Thank you for your help!!</p>
<p>
I don’t know about “equal to or better than.” Perhaps “comparable to.” It’s my impression that Yale does like to admit siblings.</p>
<p>^That was D1s impression too from her time at Y and seeing the siblings of friends (and herself) accepted. However, I also know of cases where this hasn’t happened, so it’s really hard to tell how much of a help it is. My approach is always to ignore such factors and if they end up helping you that’s great, but don’t count on them when selecting your college list.</p>
<p>I was specifically told by admissions that Yale gives no preference to admitting siblings back when my very competitive sibling applied and was turned down. FWIW, this is more than 10 years ago. I’m sure an exception would be made in extraordinary circumstances. When those quadruplet siblings were admitted a couple of years ago and it made all the national news feeds, I would expect that the strongest of those applicants may have pulled up the last one.</p>
<p>As for SCEA Yale vs. EA elsewhere, look at the admit threads on CC. The Yale SCEA admits are stronger applicants and when you add it the athletic recruits, the higher admit rate vs. RD is misleading. Unless you are a really really strong applicant, you are right to consider using your EA option to try to secure something a little less competitive.</p>
<p>Thank you all for the tips! Would you say that there are any other advantages / disadvantages to applying SCEA besides possibly getting accepted early? Would you say it gives Yale a better chance to really look into your application? Would you say it gives the deferred student more chances to show interest in Yale for the regular decision application (like sending in additional information, additional letters stating interest, ect.)?</p>
<p>I don’t know your stats, because you haven’t listed them, but if you DO NOT have the “full package” then there is a HUGE disadvantage to applying early, as you most likely will be deferred and you will have wasted your early slot and have nothing to show for it. </p>
<p>Yale does not “look more closely” at SCEA applicants than they do RD applicants, and being deferred does not help your chances. Have you read this blog from MIT: [Applying</a> Sideways | MIT Admissions](<a href=“http://mitadmissions.org/blogs/entry/applying_sideways]Applying”>Applying Sideways | MIT Admissions). It’s the same for Yale!</p>
<p>BTW: Yale doesn’t track a student’s interest. They really don’t care how much you want to attend, as it has absolutely no bearing on an admissions decision.</p>
<p>Here is a brief and very basic summary of my stats:</p>
<p>ACT: 34 (11 writing)
GPA: 3.92
Senior year schedule: 5 APs, 1 honors course, Religion class (I attend a small, private, college-prep Catholic school).
AP test scores: do not have this info right now. My school does not offer APs to freshman and sophomores. Will be taking the 2 AP tests of the 2 AP classes that were offered to me this year in May. Sorry I don’t have any other info in this category at this time!</p>
<p>ECs:
-Varsity swim team since freshman year, captain for my senior year.
-Club swim team (year-round off-season training, each year in high school).
-JV golf (9th and 10th grade)
-NHS (one of the chairmen this year as a junior, will keep that spot senior year. Applying for an executive position for senior year so we’ll see where that goes).
-NAHS. Also received a scholastic art award for submitting my painting to a national competition.
-Volunteer group at my school (each year in high school)
-Student leader in LC (group that helps freshman transition into high school. Also did additional work with transfer students. Most competitive group to get into at my school. Only offered to juniors and seniors).
-Active member of my church’s youth group. Have been on a few summer trips with them as well.</p>
<p>Volunteer work:
-Presidential service award. Most service done thru one organization (see below).
-Coach at a rehabilitation center for those with various physical disabilities. I work with their competitive swim program.
-Conducted a swim-a-thon by myself last summer – raised over $1,000 for that organization that I volunteer for. No help from anyone with this.</p>
<p>Jobs/Summer experience:
-Hospital lab work: help research effects of tanning beds in teens / young adults at my large state University under a few doctors and professors. Very cool and extensive research.
-Nanny 1-2 days a week (days I am not working on research).
-Also go to morning swim practice to train for high school seasons.</p>
<p>Other info:
-White female
-Will not be applying for financial aid.
-Interested in going into science- microbiology / biology in particular. Also interested in art and art history.</p>
<p>So that’s the basic break down. I think that my main strengths are my passion for swimming and my ability to translate that into my community service, raising money by myself and helping those around me, as well as my leadership in most of my ECs. </p>
<p>Given this info, would you say I would be better off applying regular decision? Any general advice?</p>
<p>Thanks again to everyone who is posting and helping me out / being so patient and honest! :)</p>
<p>If your essays are in great shape come mid to late October, and Yale is still your first choice, then you should apply early. I don’t know if the outcome will be successful, but you have the stats to be a competitive applicant.</p>