<p>What are the Pros and Cons for Yale SCEA? Can SCEA hurt a person's chance of getting in? (Assuming the person has very solid STAT, but no hook).</p>
<p>SCEA will not hurt your chances at getting in, and may even help them (though there is debate on this point). Applicants are only rejected SCEA if they definitely would not be admitted RD, and deferred applicants are treated just like normal RD applicants. The main advantage, in my mind, is that getting in early relieves a lot of stress. The main disadvantage is that you have less time to prepare your application (and your 1st semester Sr year grades will not be seen).</p>
<p>svalbardlutefisk nails it on the head. If you're extremely interested in Y and it's probably your 1st choice, the main reason NOT to apply SCEA would be to allow your 1st set of Sr. year grades beef up your entire application file. However, if you're pretty confident already and everything else (recs, test scores) line up, then go ahead. Good luck to you -- especially this year given H & P's omission of their early programs.</p>
<p>Is it true that some school other than Yale SCEA tends to reject more than defer SCEA application? Like Stanford SCEA for example( I know this is a Yale thread).</p>
<p>Do they reject more? I recall that previously maybe a third are rejected a small percentage is accepted and the rest deferred. I think rejections are based on the quality of the apps -- not some quota. Again, with this upcoming season-- who knows.</p>
<p>They say the % admitted under SCEA is higher than that of regular, but it's because the applicants under EA are more qualified, so the applicant pool is tougher. God, it's going to be rape-hard this year....</p>
<p>The majority of those accepted EA have hooks, they are athletes being recruited, legacies using it or losing it and "frineds" of the school. The unhooked kids that get in are those they risk losing to YP and S. A typical Yale applicant (number 2 in class/1550) does just as well RD.</p>
<p>I've always read that Yale's admission is, when it comes down to it, nothing more than a crap shoot (if you're qualified) - wouldn't being evaluated for a second time be a huge advantage, assuming you were right on the edge?</p>
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They say the % admitted under SCEA is higher than that of regular, but it's because the applicants under EA are more qualified, so the applicant pool is tougher. God, it's going to be rape-hard this year....
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<p>This year...what about us '10 applicants? It's going to be MURDER!</p>
<p>Good question, Riot? Anyone care to comment?</p>
<p>So, should a person with solid STAT (no hook) try to apply SCEA or he/she better off apply RD?</p>
<p>Yeah, '10 is gonna be horrible lol. But assuming you've heeded the advice of successful applicants from this website, you should have what it takes to improve your chances</p>
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So, should a person with solid STAT (no hook) try to apply SCEA or he/she better off apply RD?
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It is impossible to be "better off" applying RD. Only applicants with no chance of admission RD are rejected in the SCEA round. That is, those who are rejected SCEA would not have been admitted if they applied RD, no matter what (ok, maybe if they cured cancer between the SCEA round and the RD round, but barring an extraordinary new accomplishment, no). Those who are deferred SCEA are considered on exactly the same terms as those who apply RD, so their chances are the same.
Basically, it works out like this
Those who are rejected SCEA have 0% chance of admission SCEA (by definition, as they were rejected) and basically 0% chance of admission had they applied RD (since their rejection is based on the assumption they would have had no chance if deferred)
Those who are deferred SCEA have the same chance as they would have had if they applied RD, since they are being considered in the RD pool.
Those who are accepted SCEA have a 100% chance of acceptance, applying SCEA (by definition, as they were admitted), compared to an unknown chance if they had applied RD (though probably very high, possibly even 100%).
As you can see, no applicant would have their chances increased by applying RD, and it is possible that those who are accepted SCEA benefited from applying early (though it is also possible that they would have been accepted regardless).</p>
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So, should a person with solid STAT (no hook) try to apply SCEA or he/she better off apply RD?
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<p>I agree with the post above. There are really only two reasons I could think to NOT apply SCEA to Yale (or any other top choice school):</p>
<p>1) You think something that will happen in the period between when you apply early and RD will make a significant positive impact on your application (really good senior year grades that show an upward trend, or maybe getting an award or something along those lines). </p>
<p>2) You would rather use EA to secure a place at a low match or safety so that you're 100% sure you'll have someplace to go. This one is a personal choice — are you the kind of person for whom knowing you have SOMEWHERE to go will make the rest of the application process significantly easier/make the rest of your senior year significantly more stress free, or would you rather shoot for your first choice early (and maybe get a small advantage)? Personally, I'd go for my top choice EA, but going for a safety is an alternate route that some people take and really like.</p>
<p>Thanks everyone for replying. It helps me see the light.</p>
<p>Not true it can't hurt to EA.</p>
<p>First off, you'd be using a SCEA. If you have no hook and aren't outstanding in some way chances of being accepted are very small. That EA may be better used.</p>
<p>This is a year for strategy.</p>
<p>My only concern is if they will treat those that are deferred differently from the RD appliers. The above posts did ease my worries. Thank you all.</p>
<p>Mushmouse, </p>
<p>The info you seek is difficult to find. That's because ED/SCEA is set up for the institution's advantage, not individual students. Therefore, institutional stats on odds/practices are difficult to come by. My suggestion, be a smart consumer. Are you being deluged by Yale with emails, postcards, phone calls? Also, consider how your student will feel in December if s/he is accepted, deferred, rejected. Is this how your applicant wants to play the game?</p>
<p>In addition, I think Weskid's response is right on target.</p>