(not really sure what category this would belong in, so I’m just posting it here…)
For a long time, I’ve been struggling with the decision of where to apply early. I have strongly considered applying ED to Cornell; however, it isn’t feasible for me to visit before I would have to decide whether or not to apply ED.
So, just a general question - is it unwise to get into a binding decision for a school you’ve never visited? I know that ED would be my best shot at getting in, and I don’t want to let it pass me by, but I also fear that I will be in a binding decision for a school that may not be the best fit for me (I should note, however, that I’ve read about it extensively and it seems like a great fit for me, but you just never know til you actually visit)
Also, does anyone have any experience with applying to a school ED that you’ve never been to? Please share if you do
(and one more question - if you apply ED to a school, can you still apply EA to a public school? I believe what I’ve read is that this is allowed, but if you are admitted to the ED school then you must withdraw the EA application, but please correct me if I’m wrong.)
yes you can do EA to a nonrestrictive school and ED to another school. im ED to Duke but ive never been there but Im pretty sure I’ll love it if by some stroke of luck they accept me
It depends on how flexible you are. You should at least find out as much information as possible about the school and area (most important, the cost too) before applying. Also, try to visit at least a similar campus (size and setting).
A binding application to a school you have not seen is risky. There are many schools that seem good on paper and, when you gather, something turns you off. Would you buy a car and not test drive it?q
As for your question about whether you can apply ed and ea to certain schools, the answer is yes in most cases. There are a few exceptions, however, particularly with Jesuit schools such as BC and Georgetown (who don’t let you apply ed and ea). As for your question about whether or not you should apply ed to a school you’ve never visited, think about it this way: if you’re still considering doing it and you haven’t visited then you must have an extreme interest in the school. In my personal experience, I think that you can make any place work if you really try. I disagree with what the above people have said. I would do it. Good luck!
I think it is unwise to apply ED and thus committing to a school you have not yet visited.
Every school is different about ED restrictions but most are pretty clear on its website. I suggest you check Cornell’s website and if you are still unsure then contact admissions with your question.
Wow, I didn’t expect to get so many responses!! Thank you everyone for your input, it has really helped me in considering whether or not to apply ED.
@GMTplus7: actually I chose Cornell because they have one of the top atmospheric science programs in the country, and this is what I want to major in. It’s also a relatively small major so I would get the benefit of small class sizes in a large university.
Ordinarily, I think it is not a good idea to apply ED to a school one hasn’t visited. But as a California resident, a visit is obviously difficult. If you feel strongly about the department you are interested in, and if you feel you can write enthusiastically about the school in any supplemental essays, then I would say go for it. In a worst case scenario you could always transfer after your freshman year there, if it doesn’t meet your expectations.
If you are interested in atmospheric science, you might also apply to University of Wisconsin before its first admissions deadline (sometime in Nov). Depending on your stats, you might have an acceptance before the end of the year. However, if financial aid is an important factor in your decision, then UW does not give generous aid to out of state students, so that would cut against an early UW application.
As for ED to a school you haven’t visited, that is tough. I wouldn’t recommend it to my kids because we have had the experience of thinking a school is a great fit on paper and they beg me to leave before we even hit the Admissions Office. As a larger school, with a range of opportunities, the risk of being totally turned off at Cornell is perhaps less than at a small school.
Maybe I got lucky. When I went to college I had not toured a single college at the time I arrived for the first day of classes where I had been accepted. No one in my family had even been to the state where I went to school until Graduation day from college. It didn’t seem strange.
It does depend on how flexible you are. There is really no taboo against making a decision using your own process- whether that is internet/word-of-mouth/whatever; or going and physically “kicking the tires”. Whatever feels right to you is what you should do.
I expect a lot of international students apply to schools ED without visiting; if you want to feel like you are an accepted part of a crowd.
I am biased, but it seemed to me that the vast majority of Cornell students love it. I would take the chance, you could always transfer out if you don’t like it.
How well do your adapt to your changes? How easy is it for you to like something you’ve never experienced before? Are you willing to bite the bullet if the results are unfavorable?
It is generally not advised to apply to a school you’ve been never been to, but if you cannot make that happen AND all/most you’ve read/heard/saw regarding to your ED school is favorable to you, then take the chance.
Cornell is in a fairly remote region of New,York State. You would be 3 hours from the nearest airport. Winters there are long and gray, and can be brutally cold. I think it is a tough place to commit to sight unseen.
Have you looked at other schools on www.ametsoc.org website? Many other very good schools are listed other than Cornell that are in less difficult locations to visit.
If you were considering a school in NY, DC or Boston, I think it would be easier to apply ED solely based on the strength of curriculum.
@MidwestDad3: that’s a good point about transferring if it’s not a good fit, thank you!
@Midwestmomofboys: thanks for suggesting UW but financial aid is definitely a big factor for me so I had to rule them out. One of the only OOS public schools I’m applying to is U of MD due to their generous merit scholarships (hence my question about applying early to public schools too).
@ItsJustSchool: thanks for sharing your experience! And that’s a good point to bring up about international residents, thanks!
@csdad: that’s reassuring to hear that for the most part, people love Cornell; thank you!
@viphan: I think I’m relatively flexible and I’m pretty sure if I didn’t like it I would find a way to make it work. But those are good points to consider in making my decision… Thanks!
@albclemom: thanks for the link; however, I’ve looked at several of those previously and I plan to apply to most of the in-state public schools, but it’s quite difficult to get good financial aid at OOS public schools, and I would rather go out of state if feasible (hence Cornell - it’s OOS, has a highly ranked curriculum, and it’s private so it generally has better financial aid).
If financial aid is a big factor then transferring isn’t easy as you won’t get good aid as a transfer unless you are going to one of the few colleges that will meet need to give good aid for transfers. Your options will very very limited. Freshmen get the best aid.
I don’t think Cornell would be a hard school to pick without visiting as there is so much information about all the pros and cons online. I did encourage an RD student from CA to visit because I felt it would up her comfort level. My daughter visited Chicago only on a fine day. She would have had no conception of the winter from that visit. She did go to Brown sight unseen which worked out fine. But she is a very adaptable person. However if you are going to visit at all I don’t see why you wouldn’t make the effort to do it before ED. Once you are accepted you have to decline your other acceptances and withdraw your application from anywhere else so you are out of options if you decide not to go. Forced Gap year. I suppose you could fly out quick leaving your UC apps in but that is not in the idea of ED.
@BrownParent: I wasn’t aware of the financial aid problem with transfers. Thank you for letting me know. And although I would love to visit prior to having to make my decision, it’s not financially nor logistically feasible for my family to visit (I start school very soon and there simply won’t be time during the school year before the ED deadline).
