Читать книгу Accepted!. Secrets to Gaining Admission to the World's Top Universities онлайн

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UChicago aside, what are the key learnings for you?

First, almost every student reading this should apply early decision. We all want to have a shot at applying to Harvard and Stanford, but I can tell you with absolute certainty that every year when I look at most applicants, they really have no realistic shot and shouldn't waste their breath applying. Giving up an early decision option to have a shot at applying early action to Harvard, Stanford, Yale, Princeton, or MIT is usually crazy. Most applicants cannot get into this tier of school but try anyway, and in doing so, end up getting to a far worse eventual university than the school they could have been admitted to if they had committed early decision.

If you miss the early decision opportunity, and then have to apply in the regular round, you will find yourself swimming in an ocean of talented kids who are all bombing out applications to eight-plus schools each. So unless you have a very strong profile, you'll be submerged by the competition.