HS Junior from Texas (female). I visited Cornell this fall and loved it. Now I’m thinking ED because (1) I loved it, and (2) the Cornell ED admit rate is super compared regular admission (and compared to another of my top choices, Georgetown, which offers no benefit for ED with regard to % accept).
Being from Houston, I have pretty good inside information about Rice, UT, and Trinity, but no info on Cornell. Here’s my data thus far: 4.05 GPA with 5 AP courses, (3 more next year), 214 PSAT index (prob Commended but not a Semifinalist in TX), and a 1440 SAT on the books with plans to retake in Spring and Summer if needed. Extracurriculars: president of Hope (social outreach) club, 6 years studying / competing in studio art, HS honor council, 6 years year-round competitive swimming, and past TX state champion in the 50 yard freestyle (private school division, and NOT fast enough to swim Div 1 at Cornell).
For those in the know, is this profile worth a shot at ED to Cornell? Unfortunately, they do not release ED stats, only general stats for the entire incoming class (and no GPA stats). I ask because for example at Rice and Vanderbilt the ED admission rate is higher also than the regular admit rate, BUT the average SAT/ACT is also more competitive than regular admission (in other words, only the top students are going ED at those schools). I would not make the cut for ED at Vandy. How about Cornell? Help?
From what I’ve heard, the ED rate is higher because a lot of the admitted students are legacy or athletes. I don’t think the standards are dramatically lower.
@TXPL I obsessed over Cornell for almost two years, absorbing every bit of information and tips that I could, so I sort of consider my self in-the-know. Oh, and I was also admitted ED on December 8th, so mission accomplished. I might be misreading your comments but you seem to suggest that Cornell is somehow easy to get into compared to Georgetown and Vandy. It’s still an Ivy League school. The only reason it seams easier is because they have twice as many students as both the schools you mentioned. Having said that, I can confirm that Cornell’s ED acceptance rate is around 21%, but as the other poster said, 30% of ED admissions are from legacies and athletes. So when all that is considered it’s still only about 14-15%.
It’s doable though, but you have to know what you want to do there and then write a compelling reason Cornell is the right fit. You didn’t mention what you wanted to major in. You have to declare a college. I declared College of Engineering and that lowered my odds even more because it’s one of the toughest to get into. Each college has their own standards and quota.
But I was far from perfect and they still picked me, but 4 other people I know with better stats didn’t get in. I’m a girl too so maybe that helped. idk.
Check this chart out if your interested in breakdown by college (sort it in the right margin). http://irp.dpb.cornell.edu/tableau_visual/admissions
Your stats demonstrate you’re definitely on the right track, but nothing you mentioned is unique. There are lots of athletes and club presidents, and superstars involved in the community, etc. Try to find something unique and then exploit it. Feel free to ask me anything.