ED to Duke or Cornell?

College Search & Selection
1

<p>I know that my chances of acceptance are very slim for both Duke and Cornell (3.6 uwGPA, 4.6 wGPA, top 20%, 2100 SAT, great ECs), but I know for sure that I want to apply ED to one of them. I know I'll have a better chance applying ED to Cornell Human Ecology, but I know I would be happier at Duke... if I got in (highly unlikely, I know). Last year, 6 people got in ED to Duke from my school (top 10 HS, very rigorous).</p>

<p>What should I do? ED Duke or ED Cornell? I also go to school in NC if that helps.</p>

2

<p>These schools are close enough in selectivity that you should apply ED to the one you prefer. The answer in this clearly appears to be Duke given your post and screen name.</p>

3

<p>I don’t think you’ll have a particularly better chance of admission at Cornell just because you’re applying to a particular program. Your GPA and test scores are a little bit low, but that certainly does not mean that you won’t get in by early decision to either school. I would certainly make sure that you have some backup schools ready just in case you do not get into your early decision school.</p>

4

<p>The acceptance rate for Human Eco at Cornell was around 30% in 2011, so it kind of makes me think that I have a way better shot if I applied ED there. I feel like if I applied to Duke, I’d be wasting my ED shot. But I really don’t know…</p>

<p><a href=“http://www.dpb.cornell.edu/documents/1000151.pdf[/url]”>http://www.dpb.cornell.edu/documents/1000151.pdf&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

5

<p>ED is the school u prefer. Not the school u think u can get into morr easily. Apply ED to Duke. Plus, perhaps Duke will see something in u that Cornell wont. U never know. So apply where u would be happy. U dont know what the adcoms want, hence u dont know which school u will have a better chance at.</p>

6

<p>As goldenboy points out, your screen name makes your preference clear!</p>

7

<p>“U dont know what the adcoms want, hence u dont know which school u will have a better chance at.”</p>

<p>It’s not as big of a mystery as you make it seem if you’re applying to a very pre-professional program at Cornell such as human Eco. An applicant can get as clear of a sense as possible as to what Adcoms are looking for in applicants to that program.</p>

8

<p>^ generally, yes. One can figure it out. I mean theres always that intangible that they are looking for or are attracted to would be better. It differs from adcom to adcom. Ive seen kids get rejected from Cornell yet accepted to Yale. Yale saw something in the guy that Cornell didnt</p>

9

<p>Apply to Duke ED since you like it more.</p>

10

<p>Read your own screen name: BlueDevil18.</p>

<p>Apply ED to the school that you really want to go to. Even if you don’t get it, there is nothing more you could have done. You maximized your chances.</p>

11

<p>I agree. ED should only be used when you one to attend one school above all others. In this case it is obviously Duke. If you apply anywhere else and get in ED, you will always be nagged by the thought if you might have gotten into Duke.</p>

12

<p>Thanks everyone!! All of you are so right, and I’ve decided to apply ED to Duke. I was blinded by numbers and realized that the slim shot I have of getting into Duke is still a shot. Much appreciated. :)</p>

13

<p>On another thread you mentioned that you really want to go to Notre Dame and Emory is your second choice so why are you applying ED at all? What if you got into Notre Dame EA and Duke ED but had to go to Duke because of the ED agreement? I would highly discourage applying ED unless the school is truly your first choice school.</p>

14

<p>If you like duke more then apply to duke ED. You don’t want to be unhappy at the school you end up going too. If you don’t get into Duke ED maybe you can then apply to cornel for ED 2 if they have it.</p>