is it in my interest to apply SCEA?

gibby
Wed, 29 Aug 2012 22:39:37 +0000

[Frequently Asked Questions - Single-Choice Early Action | Yale College Admissions](Single-Choice Early Action | Yale College Undergraduate Admissions)

“Applying Single-Choice Early Action does not increase the likelihood of being admitted to Yale. Historically, the rate of admission among early applicants has been higher than the overall admission rate because many of our strongest candidates, from a wide range of backgrounds and interests, apply early. We therefore offer this advice: Apply for Single-Choice Early Action if you want to receive a decision in mid-December and you are confident of the credentials you will be presenting to the admissions committee early in your senior year. An Early Action applicant must meet the same criteria for admission as an applicant in the regular pool. A thoughtful college search and a careful assessment of your readiness to present a strong application as early as November 1, are key. Candidates who need more time, for whatever reason, will be better served by our Regular Decision process.”

Also see: [Early admit rate rises slightly | Yale Daily News](http://www.yaledailynews.com/news/2009/dec/15/early-admit-rate-rises-slightly/)

“Our applicants continue to be an exceptionally talented, highly diverse group of students,” Dean of Undergraduate Admissions Jeff Brenzel said in an e-mail. “As always, we only accepted students that we were certain we would also accept in the spring."

Given those statements and your own assessment of your credentials, you might want to consider applying early to a large group of non-binding schools, such as MIT, Georgetown, UChicago and your state school etc. In that way, your chances of having at least one acceptance come December 15th would be greater. And you could apply RD to Yale. Best of luck to you no matter what your decision.