<p>I am an above average student and I want to apply to one of my top college choices for early decision to increase my chances. I want to major in Computer Science, and I have narrowed my choices down to Cornell and CMU.
I like Cornell because it is a highly prestigious Ivy and I like sports (Cornell has division1 basketball)
I like CMU because it is probably ranked the #1 school for anything computer-related</p>
<p>Any opinions on where I should apply early decision?</p>
<p>What is your financial situation like? If you can’t pay full fare, but don’t have huge demonstrated need, CMU can be stingy. However, it is simply amazing for CS, and though I’m biased as a CMU student, I would tell you to go with CMU for CS is your okay on finances…Cornell is a prestigious school, but in the CS world, CMU is golden.</p>
<p>This may not be important to you, but Cornell is 50-50 M-F, while CMU has a preponderance of males. Cornell is indeed D1, but hockey, lacrosse and wrestling are traditionally the strong sports there, on the men’s side. Basketball had a great run, but most of that team graduated last year.</p>
<p>So as an overall school, Cornell is the better choice… But as a computer science school I should go to CMU?</p>
<p>Have you visited both? I’d go with where you felt more comfortable. Both are great at CS. I don’t think either will offer an appreciably better education or job prospects over the other, but the experience during your four years will certainly be different. Note that many people change interests in college, so that’s something to consider as well.</p>
<p>good point bluedog… i think i will schedule a visit to the 2 campuses before i make my decision. life in pittsburgh is definitely different than life in ithaca</p>
<p>also cmu has about 15% higher acceptance rate for early decision than cornell. but would applying to cmu for computer science actually be harder to get in than cornell?</p>
<p>Couple of misconceptions:</p>
<p>-Although CMU is slightly better than Cornell in Computer Science, the difference is insignificant and, at the undergraduate level, completely innoticeable. CMU is ranked among the top 4 while Cornell is ranked among the top 6. </p>
<p>-For some strange reason I do not comprehend, CMU’s ED acceptance rate is lower than its RD acceptance rate. Cornell is more “normal”, accepting a higher percentage of ED applicants than RD applicants. For example:</p>
<p>Class of 2014
CMU ED acceptance rate: 21%
CMU RD acceptance rate: 34%
Cornell ED acceptance rate: 33%
Cornell RD acceptance rate: 17%</p>
<p>Class of 2013
CMU ED acceptance rate: 24%
CMU RD acceptance rate: 37%
Cornell ED acceptance rate: 37%
Cornell RD acceptance rate: 17%</p>
<p>Class of 2012
CMU ED acceptance rate: 29%
CMU RD acceptance rate: 39%
Cornell ED acceptance rate: 37%
Cornell RD acceptance rate: 23%</p>
<p>I would personally apply ED to Cornell.</p>
<p>does anyone happen to know the rough acceptance rate for computer science applicants for cmu and cornell (early decisions)? would i have a better chance being selected into cornell’s program (despite the lower overall acceptance rate) or cmu (probably more competitive cs, but higher overall acceptance rate)?</p>
<p>neal, it is obvious that universities do not break down ED acceptance rates according to college or major. But the CIT is the hardest program to get into at CMU. </p>
<p>Either way, I hope you are not applying ED to improve your chances into any university but rather, to improve your chances at the school of your dreams. CMU and Cornell are sufficiently different that you will like one better than the other.</p>
<p>thanks alexandre… i happen to really love both of these schools and am having a tough time deciding which one to pick. any slight advantage will put one above the other, and having a less selective acceptance rate would qualify as a slight advantage.
i am not looking for solid statistics, but roughly would getting accepted into the CIT of CMU actually be harder than the CS department at Cornell?</p>
<p>At Cornell, the CS department is part of the CAS and of the CoE. You can apply to either college and major in CS. The CoE has a higher acceptance rate, but expects better grades and stronger standardized test scores. </p>
<p>At CMU, CS is its own college (School of Computer Science), which as I mentioned above, is the hardest college to get into within the university. </p>
<p>Between Cornell CAS, Cornell CoE and CMU SCS (School of Computer Science), I honestly do not know which is harder to get into ED. I would guess they are roughly equally as hard. Go with your gut.</p>
<p>thanks alexandre!! very helpful information!</p>
<p>Alexandre - CIT isn’t the hardest program to get into at CMU. SCS is: [Admission</a> > Admission Statistics](<a href=“Home - Computing Services - Office of the CIO - Carnegie Mellon University”>Home - Computing Services - Office of the CIO - Carnegie Mellon University)</p>
<p>I also think that CMU does have a very real edge over Cornell UG for CS, but that’s only opinion.</p>
<p>Oh, I just realized. In post #10 you said CIT was harder, and in post #12 you said SCS was harder. 
I’m out of this thread before you switch to H&SS or MCS!</p>
<p>That is correct MisterK, I meant to say that SCS, not CIT, is the hardest college to get into at CMU.</p>
<p>As for the difference between CMU and Cornell in Computer Science, I obviously do not know the specifics. I guess seeing placement rates into top PhD programs and industry would be telling, but I cannot imagine how a program ranked between #1 and #4 would be significantly better than a program ranked between #5 and #6. That would be like saying that Princeton is better than Yale in Economics or that Stanford is better than Columbia in Law; yes, the statement is true in both cases, but the difference is insignificant.</p>