A ONE INSTITUTE
Jan 8, 2025
HYPSM!
HYPSM!
These five schools are not institutions to apply to on a whim.
For those who haven’t started their applications yet, I’ll explain what happens when you apply Early to these schools and the nature of their Early admission processes:
Harvard - REA (Restrictive Early Action)
Yale - SCEA (Single Choice Early Action)
Princeton - SCEA (Single Choice Early Action)
Stanford - REA (Restrictive Early Action)
MIT - EA (Early Action)
What Do These Mean?
SCEA: Single Choice Early Action (Nonbinding)
REA: Restrictive Early Action (Nonbinding)
These two terms mean essentially the same thing. However, if you apply through these plans, you cannot apply to Private Early programs or binding options, which means ED (Early Decision) is off-limits.
You may still apply to Nonbinding Early programs, such as Public Early or Public Rolling admissions.
For example:
If you apply to Stanford (REA), you cannot apply to MIT (EA) because MIT is considered a private institution.
However, if you apply to MIT (EA), you can still apply to Public Early or Public Rolling admissions.
What Happens After Submitting Applications to These Schools?
Harvard
You’ll receive an email from Harvard within 2–3 days. If not, you should contact the school. The email will thank you for applying and provide login details for Harvard’s portal.
The portal is where schools request additional materials that are not part of your Common App or Coalition App. These supplementary materials help the admissions committee better understand your application.
Upon logging into the Harvard portal:
Confirm that the application details and admission cycle are correct.
Review the checklist of required materials, including Application Fee, School Transcript, Recommendation Letters, and Standardized Test Scores.
Ensure all checklist items are marked “green” (complete).
You may also submit supplementary materials, such as:
Scholarly Articles
Research Papers or Presentations
Creative Writing Samples
Personal Application Updates
Application Edits
Unofficial Transcripts
Military Veteran Documents
For research submissions, be sure to include a cover sheet with:
The motivation behind the research.
The primary author’s name, if it’s not you.
The supervisor’s name.
Tip: If you have the opportunity to upload research materials, take it! Even if your GPA is strong, submitting research can enhance your application.
Yale
Yale follows a similar process:
An email will arrive within 2–3 days with portal login details.
Once logged in, review your checklist and address any missing items.
Yale warns against uploading:
Financial aid documents.
General inquiries for staff.
Updates may include awards, changes in senior-year courses, or significant life changes (e.g., switching from Early to Regular Decision).
Yale accepts supplementary materials, such as:
Arts or STEM certificates.
International exam results.
Princeton
Princeton’s process is similar to Harvard and Yale:
You’ll receive an email to access their portal.
Review your checklist and upload necessary documents.
Princeton also requests graded written papers, which are essays graded by a teacher. This helps the admissions team compare your Common App essay with authentic schoolwork. Ensure consistency between these writings to avoid suspicion.
Additional documents you can submit include:
Research Abstracts
Resumes
Certificates of Achievement
Stanford
Stanford’s process mirrors the other schools:
You’ll receive an email with portal login details.
Review your checklist and upload any updates, such as research, awards, or essays.
MIT
MIT operates its own application platform. After submission, you’ll receive an email to access their portal. Due to the high volume of applicants, MIT may delay updates on checklist items, so patience is key.
Conclusion
For Early applications, the process doesn’t end once you hit submit. Create an environment where updates are possible, and upload new materials promptly.
This is why I emphasize the importance of Research and Writing Competitions. Both can significantly enhance your application via the school’s portal.
Today, we covered what happens after submitting Early applications to HYPSM universities. For further inquiries, feel free to contact A-One Institute.
Thank you!