<p>Many people on this board seem to think that East Coast vals/other very accomplished students often get into HYP but not Stanford because Stanford thinks these students will end up ging to Ivies anyways, so there would be no use accepting them. Is there any way (apart from maybe applying EA) to show Stanford that they are your first choice and that you would be almost certain to attend if accepted? Would applying EA help?</p>
<p>Since the schools can see where you apply, my understanding is that you shouldn’t apply to so many Ivies. From what I was told if they see that you’re applying to HYPS then the feeling is that you just want to go to a top notch school and you’re not truly serious about anyone in particular. If you really want Stanford then just apply to Stanford and assuming you have great scores then apply SCEA.</p>
<p>Global, I think you’ve asked this same question before. As I responded the last time, I know quite a few East Coast val and sal types at Stanford, so I don’t think there’s much to that idea. Some vals and sals and 2400 SAT people are going to get rejected at each of the top schools every year, since that group of people tends to apply to the same group of top schools each year. (Of course, they almost always get in to one or more of the schools, but rarely all of them.) As to whether applying REA helps, it may help a bit if you are otherwise qualified and would have a strong chance to be accepted in the RD round anyway, but just applying early in and of itself doesn’t really change things, since the applicant pool in REA is typically very strong and highly competitive.</p>
<p>@Dungareedoll: What is SCEA and how do you apply for it?</p>
<p>@Dungareedoll, how can schools see where students have applied? That doesn’t sound right to me.</p>
<p>Renomamma: If you use the common app through college board the schools can see who else you have applied to. Hence when you have some one who applies to all the ivies that can be looked at as someone who just wants ‘any’ ivy. Schools will think that you may not be serious about your application and it can be a reason for denial. Of course if the application is not via the Common App then schools won’t be able to see where you’re applying. </p>
<p>Foodlover: SCEA is a restrictive early action application. You can apply early action to Stanford but not to anyone else, thats the restrictive part. Then you will find out if you are accepted by mid to late December. However, they can also defer your application or outright deny you. You should only do SCEA if you are a very strong candidate because the pool of students who apply SCEA are generally stronger than the RD kids. But by applying SCEA you show Stanford or any school who has this, that you are seriious about your application.</p>
<p>Thanks, Dungaree. Interesting. Seems like it would be a breach of privacy.</p>
<p>Schools absolutely cannot see where else applicants have applied through the common app.
Some schools (Rice, for example) ask as part of the supplement about other applications.
I also don’t believe that adcoms are so worried about yield that they reject their best applicants out of concern that other schools might accept them also.</p>