<p>Ok, first of all, let me say that this isn't one of those "I am thinking of applying to this college because I think I will have a higher chance of getting accepted" things. I'm interested in ISST, CS and mechanical engineering, so the college of engineering really does seem to be the most logical choice for me to apply to.</p>
<p>Anyhow, I've looked at Cornell's acceptance rates and this college seems to have the highest rate - 38% - but it never seems to come up in the "easiest college to get into" discussions (Human ecology?). So, my question is, does the 38% acceptance rate truly reflect the relative difficulty of admissions or is it just that a greater percentage of engineering applicants are legitimate candidates?</p>
<p>Also, I heard that most engineering candidates aren't very good at English. I got a 700+ on both the english SAT sections, a 4 on the Eng Lang AP, and a 94 average in the Eng Lang AP class. Does that give me a distinct advantage or do admissions officers not care that much about english when accepting engineers?</p>
<p>Cornell Engineering has the highest admissions rate but also the highest accepted GPA+SAT ranges. They are considered by most to be Cornell's smartest. Never assume an admissions rate reflects the intelligence of its students or the quality of its applicants... this applies to all colleges, not just Cornell.</p>
<p>This comes mainly from the fact that only kids who know they can handle the engineering workload will apply to engineering. It's much easier to be ambiguous in Arts and Sciences... History major? English major? Anthropology? In Engineering, you don't have time to flounder around. You don't need to know your major until sophomore year, but you will be taking the Engineering core requirements your freshmen year and will be on the Engineering track.</p>
<p>As for SAT Verbal and Writing, you'll find that Cornell Engineering has enough intelligent applicants that even those non-engineering measures are very high. A 700+ on both is very normal, but having it won't hurt you.</p>
<p>I suggest you apply to the college where you are best suited. If that's Engineering, good luck. It's very difficult to get in, but not impossible. If you are accepted, you CAN handle the work, so don't think about that until you get here.</p>
<p>Most Cornell students, engineering and otherwise, are more well-rounded than the majority of other college students. You won't find a lot of "enginerds" who can do math and science but can't write or analyze literature. Your scores do not give you a "distinct advantage" in engineering; I would say they are a bit higher than average but nothing that is going to make an adcom person flip a ****. I don't know any engineers who didnt take an AP english, and most of them got at least a 4. Like I said, almost all cornell applicants are well rounded and you aren't going to get in unless you took a diverse and challenging courseload and succeeded with it. With respect to the percentage rate of acceptance, you must realize that most people who apply to this school are exceptionally qualified. No one applies to cornell engineering on a whim. People who do it know what they are getting themselves into and are in most cases very well prepared for it.</p>
<p>The only engineers I know that aren't good at english are international students, and their english is still pretty darn good coming from a foreign country.</p>
<p>OP,
the key word : Self Selectivity.
When I decided to apply to Cornell ED, the first question my cousin (who's at Princeton) asked was whether I'll be able to manage the courseload. Engineers have probably the heaviest courseload of students in all the colleges. Having 5 or more classes a term is common here.
Also, Engineering is Cornell's forte (hence the Best Engineering Ivy tag). You'll find yourself in the midst of very talented people, and have great professors.</p>
<p>I'm an engineer. 780 SAT I verbal, 800 SAT II writing, 5 AP english. Also I find that my other engineering friends and I do significantly better in our required writing and humanities classes. Engineers are just smarter. Except Arjun.</p>
<p>despite the engineers thinking they are the smartest on campus, and ILRie will likely determine how much they get paid (if they even decide to hire them), who they will work with and for how long ;)</p>
<p>I hope I get to take an elective or two in the Hotel School, I am liking hospitality more and more as my waiting job goes on in time. Making people happy is fun (and they are all drunk and happy at the weddings that I wait at lol). It makes me like "ugh", cuz I know they aren't that happy in all of the other realms of hospitality tho haha</p>