Cornell ED vs Other EA

College Search & Selection
1

<p>Hi CC community,</p>

<p>I am a junior, and I am very worried about college applications. I know I am doing early applications, but I don't know where to apply?
Here are my stats: <a href="http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/1622944-chances-uchicago-stanford-columbia-northwestern-carnegie-mellon-mit-etc.html#latest"&gt;http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/1622944-chances-uchicago-stanford-columbia-northwestern-carnegie-mellon-mit-etc.html#latest&lt;/a>
Add on a AAAS and Sigma Xi publication. and hopefully AP Scholar of Distinction and National Merit Scholar</p>

<p>My rankings for colleges go
1.) UChicago
2.) MIT
3.) Cornell
4.) Columbia
5.) Carnegie Mellon</p>

<p>I think that I have an ok chance at Cornell ED, and others have said it was a low to high match, usually.
I don't know if I can get into my 1.) and 2.), though.
However, if I do happen to have a shot at my 1.) and 2.), but also do Cornell ED, I'll be stuck at Cornell. instead.
Because of my unique financial situation, I don't qualify for very much financial aid (I used Cornell's calculator), so the bonus ED financial aid doesn't apply. I really wouldn't mind going to Cornell. But, if I do get into UChicago or MIT, I'll be really sad, because I wouldn't be able to back out of Cornell.
But, my issue here is I think Cornell ED is a really solid choice, but I would rather go to UChicago and MIT over it.
What do you think I should do CC community? Is it better to secure Cornell Early or take a chance with UChicago and MIT, and then do Cornell regular?</p>

<p>My final list for colleges I am applying is here: Washington at St.Louis, UNC-Chapel Hill (safety), UChicago, Carnegie Mellon, Cornell, Columbia, Northwestern, MIT, UChicago, John Hopkins, and UPenn</p>

2

<p>This is a no-brainer. If you apply to Cornell ED and are accepted, you are obligated to matriculate. If that’s not your top choice, don’t apply ED. Since you are in-state for UNC-CH, you are a lock there, and it’s a great school, so you will have someplace to go, and I am sure you will get acceptances from others on your list. Apply to the top EA schools on your list.</p>

3

<p>I second @skieurope . If it’s not a top-choice, don’t apply ED. Just out of curiosity, what school would you be applying to at Cornell? If it’s engineering, your chances dip below 10% either way. Better to not gamble with this one. Apply EA to MIT. If you apply regular there, your chances dip extremely low (below 4%). You have a slightly better chance getting in EA. Good luck!</p>

4

<p>Cornell cannot be relied on even if it may be likely. In your situation I do not think you should ED if it is not your first choice school. People say that for most everyone but I’m saying it for you in particular You may have a pretty good chance for admissions at Chicago and maybe MIT. You may likely have a few others. So you can compare financial packages. Do you have something against Princeton and Harvard? They have math programs you should look into and give very generous aid for students in your income bracket. </p>

<p>What are you talking about ‘bonus ED financial aid doesn’t apply’?? What??</p>

<p>Now you go to a boarding school? What does your guidance counselor say about your prospects at your top choices? You have a private school resource, yet you prefer to get chances from high school students?</p>