<p>I want to apply early decision to either Dartmouth or Cornell, but I can't decide...I prefer Dartmouth but I'm worried that if I do ED there and don't get in then I won't get into Cornell either because I "wasted" my ED on Dartmouth. So, chance me on both? This isn't how I'll make my decision, I'm just curious what other people think :)</p>
<p>Sex: Female
Race: White
State: NJ
School: Public
Academics:
GPA weighted: 3.9 (3.3 freshman year, 3.9 sophomore, 4.0 junior)
Unweighted: 3.7
School doesn't rank</p>
<p>SAT: 720 math, 690 CR, 680 writing
ACT: 30, but not using it
Taking math and bio SAT IIs in October
National Merit Scholar</p>
<p>AP: Language & Composition junior year, 5
Taking Stats, Calc AB, Gov, Lit, APES next year</p>
<p>Extracurriculars and stuff:
Field hockey, Track, softball freshman year, but not after that
Model World Health Organization sophomore and junior year, received award, but not continuing club senior year
French club treasurer junior and senior year
Environmental club junior and senior year
National Honor Society junior and senior year
Volunteering at animal shelter since sophomore year
French tutor junior and senior year
Quaker meeting/youth group attendant
Work on an organic farm in the summer, since sophomore year, hoping to get another job too</p>
<p>In general, I'm a bit of a hippie. I'm a vegetarian, peace-loving Quaker and I like doing outdoorsy things like hiking and rock-climbing.</p>
<p>My advice is to not go for either school. Your GPA is just too low for either school and so are your test scores so far. You have the slimmest of chances at Cornell and virtually no chance at Dartmouth. Your EC’s etc. are just average as well. Instead I would set my sights on B+ schools instead like a Colgate, Bucknell, and/or a Boston College. These schools fit your stats profile so much better.</p>
<p>Forget what the guy above me wrote. If you don’t apply you’ll never know. You seem like an interesting/unique person. If you can present that through your essays you’ll be in good shape. I wouldn’t mention the freshman year sports on your application. Maybe you could ask your guidance counselor to include that though in her recommendation and use that as an explanation for your lower grades that year? The upward trend will be key</p>
<p>My school doesn’t do ranks, so I don’t really know. I might retake the SAT in September, although I don’t know if my scores will really improve that much. I’ve already taken it twice, with a 2030 the first time.</p>
<p>And if this helps at all, I’m also looking at an environmental science-type major, with an emphasis on conservation and/or ecology, although atmospheric science interests me as well. I’d go to the Cornell Agricultural school for that, which I’ve heard is easier to get into.</p>
