<p>I posted this on the 2012 board yesterday but I noticed more people post on the main page. Sorry about that.</p>
<p>I just visited Cornell on Monday but I've been seriously considering it (top choice) for about a year. Anyway, I loved what I saw and I definitely think I would be happy there, but I'm not sure whether or not I should apply early decision. The positive side of doing so is obviously that I have a better chance of getting in. However, the negative side is that I'm not sure that there isn't another school that I want to try my chances at. I really want to go to UC-Berkeley but I know I have almost no chance since I'm an out-of-state resident and I haven't got many extracurriculars/a super-awesome transcript. However, I'm pretty sure I want to try anyway and see if I get in. Also I get really depressed in the winter, and Cornell has terrible winters while California has no winters, and that's another important consideration. However, there aren't really any other schools besides the UC schools that I like as much as Cornell, so is it worth it? I think I have a decent chance of getting into Cornell, but should I apply early decision?</p>
<p>Unweighted Average: 94.22 (one AP course; taking 3 more next year)</p>
<p>In-State resident
go to a semi-public "gifted" high school</p>
<p>SAT Reasoning Scores: math 690, critical reading 800, writing 790 (cumulative 2280)
SAT II Scores: biology 800, chemistry 800 (may be taking Math II but not sure/will probably get a really bad score)</p>
<p>probably applying to the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences with an interest in molecular or cell biology</p>
<p>extracurriculars
*member of the varsity track team in 10th and 11th grade with medals in XC and 1500m racewalk
*currently have an unpaid summer internship working for a researcher in cell biology at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center
*previously had a paid summer internship in horticulture working at the Central Park Conservancy (and volunteered at the Conservancy prior to that), volunteered at an environmental center for two summers, volunteered for the Queens Public Library for one summer.</p>
<p>In fact, I grew up somewhat near Cornell, but experienced a bit of the winter blues for the first time early in the spring semester. I plan to take more walks next year, as Cornell is still beautiful during the winter. If weather is an important part of your life, though, there is nothing wrong with basing your college decision partly on climate.</p>
<p>Don't do ED. SERIOUSLY. Having a better chance of getting in is NOT a good reason to apply ED. Your stats look good, and since you are from NY, you've got a very good shot at one of the contract colleges, e.g. CALS. </p>
<p>My advice: Apply to UC Berkeley and do regular decision for Cornell. Otherwise, if you apply ED to Cornell, and you get in, you will have a constantly nagging thought in your head that you should have/could have applied and gotten in Berkeley, which looks like your real love. </p>
<p>By the way, have you done a lot of research about Berkeley? I was going to apply there but the lack of diversity in the student body and the reputed cutthroat nature of students (I've heard this from several people) made me reconsider.</p>
<p>Yeah I have heard that about Berkeley but apparently it better prepares you for the real world. It's kind of like a learning experience the way track is a learning experience: strengthening oneself through pain/discipline (lol). I'm tired of these colleges that shelter students so when they graduate they aren't prepared to be adults. Like I visited Yale and you could just tell from the physical aspects of the campus that the college was isolating the students from the rest of the world. And I really couldn't give a flying **** about diversity as long as the college isn't filled with rich people. </p>
<p>I'm definitely going to apply regular decision, because the UC regular decision applications are due before the Cornell early decision letters, so if I get rejected or deferred from Cornell early decision I won't be able to apply to Berkeley at all, which will majorly suck. Also there are one or two other colleges I want to try my chances at.</p>
<p>I wouldn't say Berkeley is my "real love," but it would be my first choice along with Cornell if there weren't financial/residency issues to consider. So it's basically my second choice.</p>
<p>edit: Also there are 25,000 students at Berkeley, I'm sure at least some of them don't suck.</p>
<p>you could still apply to UCB even if the application is due before the Cornell ED letters are sent out. if you get into Cornell ED, you would be required to call Berkeley and let them know you were accepted ED and that you need to withdraw your app. That being said, don't apply ED to Cornell if winter depresses you. Ithaca winters depressed me....and I like winter.</p>
<p>Also....don't forget to keep searching for other schools you'd like. When you're a high school senior, it's easy to get stuck in a rut where you only consider a few schools. Just keep looking around and make lots of apps.</p>
<p>And finally....if being "isolated from the real world" is a concern for you....you should make sure you actually like Cornell.</p>
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Ithaca winters depressed me....and I like winter.
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<p>I don't think it is the winter so much as the darkness. I actually found Boston to be pretty depressing as it gets darker around an hour earlier than in Ithaca.</p>
<p>If you go to school in Ithaca, Boston, or anywhere with winter weather, look into getting one of those SAD lamps that are supposed to replicate the positive effects of sunlight. I have heard that this type of lamp can really work, so long as you use it.</p>