<p>Ok, so I've been browsing through the multiple Yale SCEA threads and got many mixed views on if people should be applying SCEA. So my questions are:</p>
<p>How do I know if I should be applying SCEA? I mean, would it actually decrease my chances since the applicant pool is supposedly significantly stronger? And I read somewhere that you should apply to multiple EA schools instead? What other schools have this option? What are other advantages/disadvantages?</p>
<p>Sorry, I'm just kind of confused right now because up to this point, I thought I was going in for SCEA. But now, I'm not so sure because even if Yale is my top choice, I really wouldn't mind getting into some other schools like UPenn and Brown if they have early action options...</p>
<p>Applying early can only help. Early applicants are more likely to matriculate, which they take into consideration. They take a much higher percentage of the early pool (~17%, although it may go down a bit next year bc of high yield). Even if you apply early and get deferred, you’re more likely to be picked up in the regular pool or off the wait list. </p>
<p>As for which school you apply to early, it’s up to you. Yale is a reach for just about anyone, but applying early will only help you.</p>
<p>Here is the results of the Class of 2013 SCEA to Yale:</p>
<p>Total Number of Applicants: 5557
Number Admitted: 742
Number Deferred: 2644
Number Denied: 2128</p>
<p>So there is a 13.335% chance of acceptance (not really a chance though).
There is about a 5-6% chance of acceptance if you apply only to the regular pool (I don’t feel like finding the exact numbers but you can find them online).</p>
<p>If you are a strong applicant, I suggest doing SCEA if Yale is your first choice. I know it was the best decision I made last year (I have no hooks and only “average for Yale” test scores with some strong ECs). You will possibly be able to have your college plans figured out in December which is really nice as well. Yes, the applicant pool is probably stronger, but this is why the percentage is higher than RD… although some people will argue against it… a single applicant if he/ she were going to be accepted in the end would be accepted in either the early or regular pools. </p>
<p>SCEA is a personal thing so it doesn’t fit everyone. if you’re gonna get nice awards/better SAT/GPA/etc. AFTER the SCEA deadline, then don’t do it, so you can show Yale your goodness in your RD application, along with a much more polished essay, etc. if you have all your SAT stuff done, no more major competitions/tournaments/awards past November and you feel ready, do it. it’s your choice. for me intel semifinalist was a big thing (which was even after RD) and i didnt apply early anywhere.</p>