Is it worth applying Restrictive Early Action?

NCKris
Wed, 26 Jun 2019 15:58:58 +0000

SCEA is worth it for someone that wants to apply to that specific college and is a competitive candidate. You should be prepared to be rejected i.e. have other feasible options. Among all the SCEA schools, only Stanford rejects many students in early round, while others choose to Defer a majority of early applicants.
OTOH, Penn is quite open about ED advantage and if you love Penn and can afford it without having to compare other FA or merit scholarships, then you would have a higher chance at Penn.
This does not mean that SCEA does not offer any advantage, but it is up to you to choose your bets.