I was initially deciding to apply Stanford REA as it’s currently my first choice school, but I’m having some doubts about that decision now. I generally have decent ECs, awards, test scores, etc., but the one thing that’s holding me back is my second semester junior grades. I know that colleges probably scrutinise these grades the most as they are the most recent, and they occurred mainly due to health issues and and other circumstances out of my control, which have been explained in my counselor rec as well as by myself in the additional info section. However, Stanford explicitly states that they recommend applying RD if there’s an upwards trend, and I’m currently on track to get all or mostly As in senior year so far. I’ve already had my rec letters and transcript sent in, but I was wondering if it would be worth switching to RD ASAP for this reason, since there are still 2 weeks until the REA deadline. Another option would be for my counselor to send in a first quarter grade report, which she has agreed to do, but I’m not sure if Stanford accepts this and if it would have a positive impact on my application. I really appreciate everyone’s advice!
Could you please do a chance me/match me thread and answer ALL of the questions in the prompt?
We have no idea what your grades actually are. How can anyone here even give an opinion?
Sounds like this is your answer…
Stanford is a REACH for every applicant.
What are those grades?
Seems like that’s your answer, no? IMO there’s no advantage applying REA for a student with some lower grades on their transcript. Another benefit of waiting for RD is you can apply to private EA target/highly likely schools.
Did you already send your app in? If you did you can switch to RD. If you didn’t, just apply RD and your rec letters and transcript will match up with your app.
Thanks for the responses far! I’ve had all As on my transcript except for one B until then, and I got several Bs and a C in second semester junior year due to the reasons mentioned above. Please no hate, I’ve been trying to navigate college apps mostly on my own and I’m trying to make the best decision possible. I’m well aware that it’s a reach school for everyone and am applying to targets and safeties as well.
Sounds like it’s best for me to switch to RD then. Everything carries over, correct?
thanks again !
My son applied REA to Stanford last year (didn’t get in). I remember reading on Stanford’s website that they recommending applying RD if you think your application will be stronger at that time and only apply REA if it is as strong as it is going to get.
Good luck!
You’re unlikely to begin with. Cs may be too big a hurdle regardless of reason.
They say this so it’s the obvious answer. REA likely has minimal if any advantage beyond an earlier decision. I’d wait and apply early where you can to less selective privates(and publics). Good luck.
You may want to consider Regular Decision if any of the following applies:
- Your grades are on an upward trend;
- You are taking classes in your senior year that are more rigorous than in grades 10 and 11;
- You are taking (or retaking) standardized exams;
- You are working on a significant project or activity in the months leading up to the REA deadline.
I note I think this is good advice for EA in general, except for those programs which explicitly say that they plan to mostly enroll through EA and it will get much harder for admissions in RD. Other than those, I think generally it is fine to wait until RD if that is what it takes to submit your strongest application.
Stanford does not publish its REA acceptance rate. Industry experts believe it’s typically between about 7-9%.
Stanford’s overall admit rate for '25-'26 was 3.8%. (2302 admitted out of 60646 applicants) per its most recent CDS. We don’t know how many applied REA, but assuming all or nearly all who were accepted in that round decided to attend, my best guess is that the RD admit rate is likely about 2.5-3.5%.
So if Stanford is your clear #1 choice and it is affordable, go ahead and apply REA. It is still a high reach for virtually all, but if you are not accepted in the REA round, you may be deferred to the RD round – another review, another chance.
Yeah, deferral is kinda annoying in the sense it basically means the college is promising you nothing (like, “If you apply by this date, we will give you an early answer, unless we decide we would rather not give you an early answer,” is not much of a promise).
Still, one positive of the deferral option is it means you don’t really have to be worried about the scenario where they are not sure when you apply EA if they really want you, but they might think it is possible once they see the RD pool. Because that is when they would defer you.
That said, I still would wait to apply until I had my strongest application to submit, because I do think there is risk they could reject rather than defer a weaker application.
I have to remind myself that REA is not ED – there’s a slightly different set of dynamics in play. Lots of schools love their ED kids because it is the ultimate show of interest/desire. And schools want the kids who want them.
But for the REA/SCEA schools (Princeton, Stanford, Harvard, Yale…), they probably aren’t so worried about yield.
Yeah, usually if a college opts for EA/REA/SCEA instead of ED, that means they are not worried enough about yield to see a need for ED. That can be because of high yield in general, like those privates, or perhaps because they are a public with lower but relatively predictable yield, or even because they prefer using a merit program to make their yield more predictable. But one way or another, something like that is likely involved in that decision.