<p>I'm really interested in applying for the college of engineering - does that mean when I check of "engineering" as my college of choice that I am competing to get into Cornell with all other "engineer" applicants? Then shouldn't, theoretically, my chances of getting into Cornell as a whole be higher if I apply to a college that is less competitive than engineering? How exactly does this work.. </p>
<p>Each college handles its own admission separately. Your supplemental essay is also specific to the college you apply to. If you apply to two different colleges, you write one essay for each one. Even if another college looks “easier” to get into based on the statistics, it may be harder for you because of what you studied in high school and the interest described in your essay. Plus, if you really wanted to be an engineer, you’d have to transfer colleges after admission if you were officially a student in another college.</p>
<p>Each college has a different acceptance rate. Engineering is generally the most selective, but each college at Cornell is selective. It isn’t worth applying to a college you wouldn’t be happy at because you would have to try to transfer into engineering and you may not be able to (Cornell strongly discourages internal transfers because you’re essentially cheating the system). </p>
<p>Thanks, that makes sense!</p>
<p>who said cornell strongly discourages internal transfers?</p>
<p>@superdub I believe it’s on their website. They don’t discourage them if you get here and really do decide to change your major, but they discourage them as a means of getting accepted. </p>
<p>Yes, of course, no one likes people back dooring haha </p>
<p>All this gaming of admissions is not going to help you. They can cut right through it. </p>