Chances for EA Yale or ED Cornell

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

<p>Hi CCers,</p>

<p>I can't decide whether to apply Single-Choice Early Action to Yale, or Early Decision to Cornell. I know both are long shots, but I have kept safe schools in my Regular Decision list.</p>

<p>Yale: pros: i want the liberal education, not having to declare major now, and its needs-blind for me (yes, i need financial aid, and am an international student). Probably take up physics as my major.
cons: chances very low even with Early Action
Cornell: Applying to Engineering Physics (its rank#1 for this course).
pros: chances much better than yale. i like the campus life.
cons: engg phys is my 2nd choice, first is physics. cornell doesnt have a liberal system, and the decision is binding. Biggest problem: not needs-blind.</p>

<p>I keep feeling that if I apply to cornell and get selected, I will really regret not having been able to have a shot at other (better) universities. that said, it's not like i abhor cornell, it's just that yale's better in many ways.</p>

<p><strong><em>So please help me out. Suggest reasons why I should or shouldn't apply early to either of these universities please!!!</em></strong></p>

<p>Me:::
-Require financial aid
-9th and 10th grade in India (St John's High School)
-11th and 12th in Singapore (ACJC)</p>

<p>Acads:</p>

<p>(predicted grade) ---- (A-Level subject):
(A)-------------------Phys
(A)-------------------Chem
(A)-------------------Math
(A)-------------------Knowledge and Inquiry (comparable to Theory of Knowledge)
(A)-------------------H3 Linear Algebra in National Univ of Singapore (NUS)
(A)-------------------Hindi
(A)-------------------Project work
Consistently in top 5% of ACJC
Topped cohort in 9th and 10th (St John's)</p>

<p>SAT: 2210. (CR 710 Math 800 WR 700 E 8)
Retaking SAT Reasoning.
SAT Subject tests: not taken yet, but will take Phys, Chem, and Math II</p>

<p>ECs:</p>

<ol>
<li><p>ALL-INDIA SCHOLARSHIP to study in Singapore (SIA YOuth scholarship)</p></li>
<li><p>Science-fiction-fantasy NOVEL written, awaiting offers from publishers. Sequel nearly complete.</p></li>
<li><p>Cleared the local and regional rounds of the NATIONAL Bal Shree CREATIVE WRITING competition (India).</p></li>
<li><p>SCHOOL HOUSE CAPTAIN, St John's (kind of Student council - 4 house captains and 1 school captain)</p></li>
<li><p>Music:
--LEAD GUITARIST and vocalist in school rock band
--Original songs contributed to band's 2 music albums and school diary
--Won numerous local music competitions</p></li>
<li><p>Dance:
--MEMBER of the ACJC Dance Society
--Participated in SYF 09 Central Judging (International Dance): Bronze Award
--Many internal and external performances, including for senior citizens, etc
--Dance camp group leader</p></li>
<li><p>Drama:
--MEMBER of ACJC's drama club, ACSian Theatre
--Cast and Dancer in major productions: Pride and Prejudice, Pied Piper
--Many other internal and external performances</p></li>
<li><p>School magazine
--EDITOR and graphics designer in the Ed board at St John's</p></li>
<li><p>Debate
--2nd place in two local inter-school debate competitions
--Best Public Speaker and Best Debating Team in the intra-school debate competition</p></li>
<li><p>ACJC Orientation 09
--ORIENTATION GROUP LEADER</p></li>
<li><p>India Cultural Exchange Programme
--EXPEDITION LEADER
--Postponed indefinitely due to the untimely 26/11 Mumbai terrorist attacks </p></li>
<li><p>GREAT Programme participant (community involvement)
--EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE MEMBER: Created a 10-foot sculpture to raise awareness for Singapore Youth Olympic Games
--Volunteerig to write letters in lieu of the Holland-Bukit Timah Member of Parliament for residents seeking reference to government self-help agencies
--Observing Ulu Pandan Community Centre Youth Executive Committee proceedings and learning about the Grassroots movement in Singapore</p></li>
<li><p>Academic competitions
--DISTINCTION in Nanyang Concept Test for Chemistry
PARTICIPANT:
--Singapore Phys Olympiad (SPhO)
--National Olympiad for Informatics (NOI)
--American Mathematics Competition (AMC)</p></li>
<li><p>Scholastic Merit Award (11th grade)
Certificate of Scholastic Excellence (9th and 10th)</p></li>
</ol>

<p>Essays: Pretty good (i've been writing for ages)</p>

<p>**Recommendations: **very good
--Optional Recommendation from St John's High School's Principal (highlighting contributions made to school even after graduating, including contributions for the second music album and the India Exchange Programme)</p>

<p>Prospective majors:
---Physics
---Astrophysics
---Engg physics
---Mech engineering
---Aerospace engineering</p>

2

<p>Why don’t you apply to Yale SCEA and Cornell RD?
Your CR and Writing scores are a little low, but you have a strong profile and you’ve done quite a lot throughout your high school years. Even though the financial aid and international pool are very tough, I think you’ve got a shot. Try to raise those CR and W scores, though.</p>

3

<p>buuuuuuuuuuuuump</p>

4

<p>bump!!!</p>

5

<p>Did you pay attention to what vbplayer said?</p>

<p>Anyway, apply Yale SCEA.</p>

6

<p>your chances are going to be very low either way. its kind of hard to chance you without EITHER an SAT reasoning score (since you said you’re retaking) or SAT IIs. but as of right now you’re in an incredibly competitive pool and you don’t really stand out.
your ECs seem all over the place. music…debate…awards this and that…doesn’t really seem like you have one strong activity. also the lack of math/science awards concerns me especially if your intended major is physics or something like that.
personally I say you have a better chance of getting into cornell. if you want peace of mind and an early acception, apply there. otherwise you can still apply RD and do yale early</p>

<p>p.s. when people reply, respond or at least acknowledge their comments instead of just bumping all the time. its polite.</p>

7

<p>lol “your CR and writing scores are a little low”</p>

8

<p>I’d apply to Yale because it’s where you really want to go. They are both major reaches for an international with your scores and not being very top of class with major honors. The competition is brutal from both India and Singapore and Yale can choose the 2 country’s very top students and Cornell can as well when money is involved. </p>

<p>Your biggest issue will be to add more schools where you will be top of pool if you’re hoping for a US college.</p>

9

<p>He ignores what you’re going to say anyways, so don’t help him. Don’t apply to either and stay in India.</p>

10

<p>Thanks a lot for the feedback guys. And I apologise for not acknowledging, but didn’t mean any offence :)</p>

<p>So A BIG THANK YOU to vbplayer, DMOC, fuzzyfirebunny, HonorsCentaur and hmom5 :smiley: :smiley: :D</p>

<p>Keep more advice coming though please! I’m aiming to get at least a 750 in CR and WR each, but if I don’t, there’s always ScoreChoice right?</p>

11

<p>p.s. take note of yale’s sat scorechoice policy. </p>

<p>anyway competition will be brutal for both yale scea and cornell ed. if you’re applying for finaid from cornell i’d suggest you try yale instead.</p>

12

<p>Thanks Samdish, no worries, it happens. :)</p>

13

<p>thanks 1234d, DMOC. noted the scorechoice policy. It’ll be ok to apply to Yale if I show an improvement from my previous scores, right?</p>

14

<p>Yeah, but when can you take it if you’re applying for yale scea? nov? dec? Also, since Yale will see the scores from all your previous sittings, you *must *show an improvement.</p>

15

<p>I’m taking it this October :slight_smile: SAT II in Nov (Yale says that’s fine)</p>

<p>Also, could you please please help me by scoring an SAT essay i wrote?
<a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/sat-preparation/788584-sat-essay-needs-scoring-please-do-honours-d.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/sat-preparation/788584-sat-essay-needs-scoring-please-do-honours-d.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>I’m thinking of uploading more essays on this site, but it takes a really long while to get replies…do you know of any other sites where I can get prompt scores?</p>