Is early action worth it?

yalemom15
Sat, 15 Jan 2011 11:15:49 +0000

It depends I think on your personality, especially with regards to risk taking. I tried very hard to convince my son to apply to several non restrictive EA programs and bag some acceptances in December to feel secure even though it meant waiting until April to hear from his top choice (Yale). But he is a “go big or go home” kind of kid, and has been pretty much his whole life.

I made him look at the SCEA acceptance graph for 2014 about 5 times (730 acceptances 4400ish deferrals/rejections) and he still was firm on what he wanted to do. I think it’s a volatile combination of being a teenage boy somewhat unaware of his own limitations added together with an intense desire to get what he wants. But the other thing about this kid, is that kind of drive is an intricate part of his being, and maybe Yale sees that in applications and likes to see that in some of the kids they accept SCEA.

I know that had he not been accepted, while our household would have been extremely unpleasant to live in for a week or two, he would never say he regretted doing it. So that’s the question you have to answer for yourself, can you live with the “go home” part of the “go big or go home” equation? Are you a risk taker or do you feel better hedging your bets? What feels right in your gut?