Columbia ED + Legacy VS Cornell ED?

Colleges and Universities A-Z Columbia University
1

Ok, so I know that the Columbia ED acceptance rate is 20% , but I also have a sister who goes there. Cornell on the other hand is 30% so I am conflicted admission-wise.

Columbia
Pros:

  • already saw the campus, so I know that I like it. Not love, but like a lot.
  • NYC! The urban campus!
    Cons:
  • Not a very big figure skating club
  • I am afraid that I might get sick of it, since I’ve already visited about 8 times, even though its NYC and i like it now.
    Cornell
    Pros:
  • Much better figure skating club than Columbia (even has its own ice rink)
  • The campus looks gorgeous, but have not visited <- major con
  • More of a college feel
    Cons:
  • Have not visited
  • Theres pretty much nothing around ithaca

Which one will I have a higher chance of getting into? (3.6 UW with very good ECs and a predictably good SAT score based on family history)
And which one do you guys think I will like more? (please don’t say anything about visiting the college myself, because my parents forbid it and thing its a waste of time. theres now way to convince them)

2

What is a “good” SAT score?

And you’d be very hard-pressed to get into Columbia with a 3.6

3

@integer my sister who graduated from vt engineering had a 3.3/.4 gpa but still managed to get aroung a 1500/1550 out of 1600, and my sister who is now attending columbia and juilliard got an sat score of 2350. This is because my dad is incredibly good at training me and my sibs and i already started studying the SATs at a very young age (started vocab in the 7th grade). So my prediction would be around a 2200-2300. Also how do you think the legacy with columbia (my sister) compares to cornell??

4

Apply to whichever school you want to go to more. Visit Cornell if necessary. Don’t apply to Cornell just because the acceptance rate is higher

5

Although having a sibling at a school might give you a small bump and maybe a stronger supplemental essay, a sibling is not a legacy at Columbia.

6

Most would accept Cornell is easier to get into, but where would you rather go?