<p>My advice is to apply somewhere else early action, like Georgetown or Yale. You can then get feedback on your application and essays. Also understand that Stanford will usually either accept or reject REA, but they hardly defer applicants to regular.</p>
<p>I had considered REA but went for RD instead. Stanford’s early round is killer, and I improved my application significantly in December after I heard back from my early apps. So… in my case, I would not have been admitted if I had applied REA. </p>
<p>And remember that applying early for Stanford isn’t really a hook at all, since it’s non-binding, and its yield rate is so high. It just puts you up against a lot of the best applicants who will likely be cross-admitted at HYPM + recruited athletes.</p>
<p>Just a thought. Go with what you think is right for you.</p>