<p>SCEA is a personal thing so it doesn’t fit everyone. if you’re gonna get nice awards/better SAT/GPA/etc. AFTER the SCEA deadline, then don’t do it, so you can show Yale your goodness in your RD application, along with a much more polished essay, etc. if you have all your SAT stuff done, no more major competitions/tournaments/awards past November and you feel ready, do it. it’s your choice. for me intel semifinalist was a big thing (which was even after RD) and i didnt apply early anywhere.</p>