@blevine -
With respect to SAT scores everything is relative and it is harder to fill a big school with high scoring students than a smaller school. Cornell’s 25th percentile SAT score ranking is low compared to it’s US News ranking. Around 20 vs. around 15. Northeastern scores higher, but it doesn’t count the scores of International students.
Cornell also recently implemented a delayed admissions program.
https://admit.cornell.edu/first-year-spring-admission
@moneydad - Note that Cornell (Arts and Sciences) recently restructured their admissions office and hired a new Dean of admissions - in an attempt to keep up with the other Ivies. Cornell’s selectivity has increased significatly since then. This could explain why the the college of Arts and Sciences re-instituted the program.
http://as.cornell.edu/news/college-announces-restructuring-admissions-and-advising-office
This was about the same time that Dartmouth, which has the second lowest 25th percentile SAT in the Ivy League, restructured their admissions office. They created a provost-level position and lured away Tufts’ Dean of Admissions. They have also become more selective.
The Ivy League schools are hyper competitive with each other (and other schools) when it comes to managing the perception of selectivity so as not to dilute the Ivy brand.