<p>Hey I'm a prospective Neuroscience major with interests in languages, linguistics, and cognitive science. </p>
<p>Cornell is my first choice and I want to apply ED but the problem is that their financial aid is not stellar. I also want to apply to Harvard and Yale so here's my problem: I'm not sure whether to apply to all 3 regular decision or to just Cornell ED. Please tell me if I have a sufficient chance at Harvard or Yale to risk not applying early decision to Cornell.</p>
<p>White
Male
SAT (2300): CR:800 Math:710 Writing: 790
SAT II: Math II: 800 , also (Spanish on Oct. 4)
GPA<a href="weighted">/B</a>: overall 94
**Freshman:92.8
Sophomore:93.5
Junior:98.1</p>
<p>AP:
European History: 5
U.S History: 5
Calculus BC: 5
Psychology: 5 (self-study)
English Literature: 4</p>
<p>Senior Courseload:
AP Biology
AP English Language
AP Spanish Language
AP Comparative Government
AP Computer Science A
EPGY Multivariable Calculus
**
Resume:**</p>
<p>Awards and Distinctions:</p>
<p>9,10,11,12th grade:</p>
<p>High Honor Roll</p>
<p>11, 12th grade:</p>
<p>National Honor Society
Commended National Merit
English Department Writing Skills Award
Math Department Leanhard Euler Award
Music Department Special Service Award</p>
<p>Essay Contest Winner for county's Medical Society special promise in health care field Essay topic: Balancing the need for interoperable online medical records with the privacy expectancy of the people</p>
<p>Extracurricular Activities:
**
Drumming**:</p>
<p>9 ,10,11,12 Jazz Club Drummer
9,10,11,12 Band percussionist
9,10,11 Played shows and recorded music as the Drummer of 2 rock bands
9,10 Studied the Cajón and African rhythms at the (you've never heard of this) Institute (Summer)
10 Studied Drums at National Guitar Workshop (Summer)
10 Gave drum lessons for community service
10 NYSSMA snare drum level 3 - 27/28
11 NYSSMA snare drum level 4 27/28
11 Music department Special Performance Service Award
11,12 Drummer in School Pep Band</p>
<p>Language:</p>
<p>9,10,11,12 Learning Japanese
11 Studied conversation and culture with native Japanese adults (1 hour a week)
11 Taught English to a 10th grade Japanese immigrant (20 hrs)
11 Passed the Japanese Language Proficiency test level 4
11 Took Advanced Spanish at the Language Immersion Institute at SUNY New Paltz (Summer)</p>
<p>Sports:</p>
<p>9,10 Junior Varsity Soccer</p>
<p>Other:</p>
<p>11 Paid math tutor</p>
<p>Played strategic card game, Magic: The Gathering, for 9 years. Competed nationally, making Top 8s at Regionals and Pro Tour Qualifiers as well as winning $3,000 in Scholarship money.</p>
<p>Community Environmental Awareness:
9 Volunteered at local Center helping with campers and animals (Summer)
10 Band played at a junction to raise awareness for Global Warming/Green Movement
11 Set up an information booth at an environmental fair to raise awareness about how plastic is contaminating our oceans.
12 Organize local beach clean up</p>
<p>My biggest problem is that in 9th and 10th grade I didn't care about school because I wanted to be a professional drummer. I started applying myself halfway through Junior year and brought my grades up to 98's. I write about how I got caught up in "extracurricular learning" in my essays.</p>
<p>I'm also going to have an excellent recommendation that will emphasize how I taught myself Japanese. I'm not fluent by any means, but I did make a lot of progress. The JLPT 4 was really easy; I'm taking lvl 3 this year. I'm also going to apply to be a Reischauer Scholar. (If you don't know what I'm talking about, it's ok. The JLPT 4 is not impressive in any way but feel free to use google.)</p>
<p>So basically, should I stick to ED at Cornell or take my chances with Harvard and Yale (and Cornell regular decision)? If you could also chance me for Brown, John Hopkins, Amherst, and WashU I'd appreciate it (the first 3 have really good neuroscience programs.)</p>
<p>Thanks everyone in advance for helping me out.</p>