ED II vs. ED I

Colleges and Universities A-Z Carnegie Mellon University
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<p>I love Carnegie Mellon, and I think I'm a very competitive applicant. However, MIT has been my dream school for a while. I'm not entirely sure if my raw numbers are strong enough for MIT (although my ECs might be compelling), but I need to send my application to MIT for my own peace of mind if nothing else.</p>

<p>The issue lies in the fact that it's important for me to get in somewhere early so I don't have the stress of regular applications. (I don't want to sour myself on college before I even get there!) I know MIT has non-binding multiple choice Early Action, which I will certainly be applying to no matter what. Carnegie Mellon, from what I've read, offers Early Decision I and II, with the main difference being the deadlines.</p>

<p>Previously I though I would apply to MIT EA, find out the verdict, and then if necessary apply to Carnegie Mellon ED II. The deadlines are pretty close, and if need be I figured I'd just apply to ED II without finding out from MIT -- but obviously this is not preferred.</p>

<p>However, I was recently told by a guidance counselor that ED II is lots of people doing exactly what I might be doing: applying to MIT and the Ivies, getting rejected, and then applying to Carnegie Mellon. I'll be facing the same people against whom my numbers don't quite measure up, twice. So, in other words, I'm going to have a tougher time ED II than I might with a regular app.</p>

<p>Is this true? Is applying ED II in this manner a bad idea? Should I suck it up and apply to Carnegie Mellon ED I and likely forfeit my shot at MIT even if I get in?</p>

<p>Thanks a bunch in advance.</p>

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<p>ED II is harder than ED I (this is true). What is your intended major? If it is CS or ECE I would recommend doing CMU for ED I. CMU has the highest % per student at Microsoft than any other university and is highly favored by top companies such as Google and IBM (we have direct links and in our job surveys you see them consistently as our mode companies). </p>

<p>For business I would go with CMU for more Wall Street soft core skills (which the school has been moving forward) and MIT for analytical/thinktank stuff. </p>

<p>Honestly it depends on what you feel. It is true that the class of 2011 is the most competitive ever (most applicants) and CMU is expecting another increase in applications. Visit both colleges and then make your decision. Many people that visit CMU end up falling in love with the suburban traditional college campus that is just a few minutes away from Party Upitt and downtown Pittsburgh.</p>

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<p>Thanks for your reply :)</p>

<p>I want to major in CS and then get an MBA. Focus on entrepreneurialism is a big plus in MIT's column for me, although CMU ain't shabby, and one of the things I like about CMU is the 5 year CS-MBA program. As you can see, I'm somewhat torn.</p>

<p>I've visited both CMU and MIT. CMU is great, but I'm still drawn to the quirky intellectualism of MIT. I can see myself at either campus, but I really feel like I fit in with the brilliant goofballs over in Cambridge. We'll see -- I'm leaning one way and then the other as I deliberate.</p>

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<p>No problem and good luck!</p>