<p>So I'm pretty sure that I want to go to Cornell arts and sciences as my number one choice - I'm planning on majoring in computer science but taking some music and game design classes as well - but I don't know if I should do early decision. My parents think I'll get in normal decision and should see if anywhere else gives better financial aid instead of applying early, but if I applied normal decision and didn't get in I would be kinda upset. Any opinions on the matter?
My stats:</p>
<p>Gender: M
College Class Year: 2012
High School: Public
Will apply for financial aid: Yes</p>
<p>GPA - Unweighted: 3.96
GPA - Weighted: 4.92
Basically toughest course load, except senior year I took Acc. Humanities instead of AP English.
5 on AP US History Exam Junior year, 4 more APs this year (Calc BC, Physics C, Comp Sci AB, Music Theory)</p>
<p>SAT I Math: 800
SAT I CR: 760
SAT I Writing: 800
SAT II U.S. History: 800
SAT II Math Level 2: 800
SAT II Biology - M: 590 (freshman year, won't send anywhere)
SAT II Physics: 720 (sophomore year, won't send except to Carnegie Mellon)</p>
<p>Extracurriculars:
Jazz Ensemble (10-12) - Section leader, lead alto sax
Marching Band (10-12) - Section leader, treasurer
Pit Orchestra (11-12) - Both winter and summer, assistant pit director next year in the summer
District Band (11, presumably 12)
Web design for local website
Scrabble club (9-12) - President
Jazz Lab Band (11-12) - Section leader, co-founder
Math League (11-12)
Also work 15 hrs/week at a restaurant this school year</p>
<p>My list:</p>
<p>Cornell University, Choice #: 1
Carnegie Mellon University, Choice #: 2
Brown University, Choice #: 3
University of Rochester, Choice #: 4
RPI (medal award-winner), Choice #5
May apply to Tufts but I have to visit it first, and I didn't like MIT so I'm not applying there (although my dad went there).</p>
<p>I think you'd get into Cornell RD, too. If Cornell is your first choice / if you wouldn't mind being bound to go / if you can finish apps early, why not apply ED? They'll probably give you very good finaid, anyway.</p>
<p>your SAT scores are extremely good, all i'm going to say is that your chances for cornell ED are extremely good</p>
<p>a) You have a right to refuse a college ED if their financial aid doesn't satisfy your need.</p>
<p>b) Colleges see ALL of your SAT II scores, you can't choose which ones to send, so that Bio score is going to hurt you big time...</p>
<p>c) You seem good otherwise, I say apply ED to Cornell.</p>
<p>you bio score is not going to hurt you that much. trust me. its one bad score, but you've proven yourself (at least academically) in a multiple other ways. just be sure, whether applying ed or regular decision, that you show interest in cornell!</p>
<p>The SAT II's only leave a bad impression. On the Academic Index calculator, they just take your top three scores which would be 800,800,720, so dont worry- your Bio score won't be counted, except that it shows to the adcoms a clear defficency in biology, but unless your majoring in biology/science it wont matter at all.</p>
<p>Well it's not that I'm not any good at biology - rather I got an A in the class and was one of the best students in the class - but I didn't know anything about SAT IIs at the time and the course didn't cover the same stuff as the test. Half the questions were on topics we never covered in class, so it was a heck of a lot of guesswork. I mean, I know the biology score is really awful, but with those things in mind and considering I was a freshman (like freshman grades, I assume freshman test scores and not as important), I'm hoping it won't be too much of a problem.</p>
<p>Anyway, I know colleges see all the SAT IIs, but I thought they couldn't judge you on them except for those they ask you to send.</p>
<p>Well don't the admissions officers see the dates when you took the tests? I'm sure they'll understand the bio grade </p>
<p>:o)</p>
<p>
[quote]
On the Academic Index calculator
[/quote]
</p>
<p>I don't think that measure has much validity in elite school admissions...</p>
<p>To the OP: I guarantee that bio score will make absolutely no difference.</p>
<p>It's clear that you have a passion for music when looking at your EC list, but is there are reason that most of them were started in your junior year?</p>
<p>I think your stats are very solid, but your EC are iffy. While they show a certain passion, they were started relatively late in HS (might be okay depending on the reason).</p>
<p>apply ED if you love cornell. youll get in</p>
<p>plus, they have pretty good financial aid services</p>