<p>I'm just thinking ahead two years and would like some other people's thoughts.</p>
<p>The numbers point to Cornell but I want to see if anyone thinks otherwise.</p>
<p>Please don’t tell me you’re basing your decision on which ED is more selective.</p>
<p>Oh of course not. I just thought it would be something to consider. It won’t sway my ED decision very much but it’s still something I’d like to know. I hope I didn’t upset you x.x</p>
<p>Difference in Difficulty of cornell and duke are negligible…cornell is more fit based than numbers. so if you’ve got an exceptional fit or talent that corresponds to what you want to study, go for cornell. If you have reasonable fit, but good numbers go for duke.</p>
<p>^ I think this above post, with all due respect, is a sweeping, inaccurate generalization. They both rely heavily on fit and numbers. I applied to both and had to withdraw my Duke app (RD) after getting accepted to Cornell ED. I believe Duke’s acceptance rate was around 17% this year and Cornell CAS I believe was a little under 17%, nearly dead even. Both great schools, good luck. I chose Cornell but I love Duke as well!</p>
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<p>agreed with above poster. duke is not a number school. it has too many applicants with great numbers to be such a school</p>
<p>You guys talk so much about “fit” but I don’t see how a college can truly decide if you fit or not just based on your app. The only way I see is to write a convincing “why” essay, but anybody could do that even if they wouldn’t truly “fit.”</p>
<p>well thats the thing, the essay is the most important part…</p>
<p>anyone can get good numbers too</p>
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That’s a pretty cynical and jaded view of the admissions process–I would ultimately disagree. It’s an absolute joke to score well on the SAT/ACT. You don’t think they can easily tell if you’re truly passionate about something, and thus whether you’d fit well in a particular school/major, based on the classes you take, the extracurriculars you’re involved in, research you’ve done, awards you’ve won, the jobs you work, the internships you’ve had, how good your essay is, your interview, your LORs, and other intangibles? Every single part of your application, save your SAT, allows you to demonstrate passion.</p>
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<p>I agree 100% with this. Most people here have no idea what they are talking about and just mindlessly repeat and spew what others say. </p>
<p>Fit is also referred to in a second context when students give each other advice on what college to attend. This is plain stupid. Do you REALLY think that you won’t find fit at a university that thousands of students attend? With so many students attending a particular university, you’re bound to find your niche unless you are a hermit.</p>
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<p>This depends on your definition of “good numbers.” If by good numbers you mean get a 1900 on the SAT and be ranked in the top 20% of your class, then maybe anyone can get “good numbers.” But I think most people would agree though that “good numbers” for an Ivy are 2200+ SAT and being ranked in the top 5% of your class. Everyone certainly can’t get Ivy level numbers.</p>
<p>i disagree with the idea that you’ll fit at any school. each school has it’s own particular vibe. duke has an intense school pride and sense of community, whereas uchi students, while still proud to some degree, have an overall work-a-holic vibe. columbia students don’t have a community in the typical college-sense 'cause campus empties out on weekends due to NYC. </p>
<p>some students want a strong community and pride (ie me lol), whereas others want simply a big city, etc.</p>
<p>Cornell CAS is pretty numbers based. It’s not like the other schools (Hotel, ILR, engineering, etc.)</p>
<p>I agree that not everyone would necessarily fit in, if you are talking in terms of actually attending and living there. However, I honestly don’t think that there is such a thing as “fit” when it comes to admissions. Do you really think any decent writer couldn’t write a convincing essay as to why they belong to whatever school? And also, I think it’s been disproven several times that the major you declare has minimal impact on your chances. It is true that people with good numbers still won’t get in everywhere, but blaming it on “fit” is simply a crutch. If anything it’s more about luck than fit.</p>