I read quickly thru all of the posts and don’t think I saw what your reasons for liking Cornell are. Have you visited the school, and most importantly, have you visited in the winter? Winters there can be quite brutal for someone from California- not to say you wouldn’t adjust- but something to consider. We are from So. Cal. and our DD attended Penn State. She loved it, but did find the winters something to get used to. Cornell is much colder. No doubt it is a great school, but I’m wondering what it is that has attracted you.
Something else to consider is that you are not guaranteed admittance to UCLA with your stats. While your test scores are great, your GPA is a little low. I don’t know what your UC GPA is, but if you look at the UCLA posts, you will see plenty of kids with your stats who were not admitted. You definitely need to make sure your list includes some safeties- either other UC’s or other non-state schools. I would say none of the top-tier UC’s are a given- UCLA, UCB, or UCSD, Just don’t limit your list to Cornell and UCLA and end up with nothing.
@wormholes At my human ecology information session the admissions officer gave a crazy inspiring speech which helped convince my dad that cornell was for me. Also the campus is absolutely beautiful. We went during summer so their went too many people there
@HRSMom @intparent Thanks for the input, good to get a parent’s POV as well 
@mamaedefamilia I have not visited yet. However, I have heard from many as well as seen the beautiful campus in pictures. I also want to major in bio/biochem and Cornell is strong in the sciences. I haven’t experienced New York winter…:o
I guess applying RD (or not at all) may be a better choice. Thank you!
@takeitallin Thank you, and you’re definitely right, I don’t plan to apply to just Cornell and UCLA. My UC GPA at the moment is 4.09, but it will go down no matter what since I’ve already taken all the allotted AP courses. However, my uncapped 10-12 GPA is quite a bit higher (4.45) so perhaps that may help?
I know you said UCLA, UCB, and UCSD are not givens, and I completely agree. However, do you think I still have a chance at those schools? Considering my test scores, my rigorous courses, and my very competitive high school…do you think there’s still a possibility that I could get into any of those 3?
Also, would you say UCD/UCI/UCSB would be acceptable safeties?
Sorry for the many questions! 
@CCSenioritis Ah I see…thanks and congrats on your admission!
@wormholes LOL I WISH! i did ed but got deferred so i find out in march haha.
@CCSenioritis Hey well you still have a great chance! what are/were your stats if you dont mind sharing?
@wormholes I have pretty much my entire bio on the first page of the ED Results page. My stats weren’t high by any means but I think my essays,supplement, and everything else was strong.
@CCSenioritis Ah ok,see it. I don’t want to make this like a “chance me” thread, but if I have a strong essay and supplement, etc. do you think I have a chance at Cornell ED?
With an uncapped UC GPA of 4.45 and a 35 ACT, you’ll have excellent chances at both Berkeley and UCLA, and all other UCs are likely safeties. You’ll also have a shot at Cornell, though of course slightly higher with ED than RD. I would say you should apply ED to Cornell if you can convince your parents to pay for it, otherwise I see little point in applying RD.
Although your stats at the moment are very competitive, I would not consider UCI/UCD or UCSB safeties by any means since they do reject some high stat applicants. I would say they are solid match schools for you. UCSC and UCR would be definite safeties.
I think you could honestly get in RD if your essays were strong and you fit into one of the colleges that you applied to. Then again its an Ivy so anything can happen but I still think you have a good chance especially if you apply ED. If not, you still have a shot at RD so not convincing your parents wouldn’t be the worst outcome.
@Gumbymom Thank you! I just thought I would have a solid/very high chance at UCI, UCD, and UCSB since all their avg. ACT scores are in the 29-30 range and my UC GPA is also within/above range.
@CCSenioritis OK thank you…hoping for the best. and once again, good luck to you!
@wormholes: You do have an excellent chance at UCI/UCSB/UCD but with the competitiveness of these schools and a selective acceptance rate of just above 30%, you cannot say they are safeties. You are above the averages for these schools in stats, but essays and EC’s will also come into play during the application review. I have seen high stat applicants get waitlisted or rejected these past few years, so there is no guarantee. I always like to err on the cautious side.
@Gumbymom Yes, I definitely see your point - better safe than sorry. Would it help in any way that I’m in-state for the UCs?
If your parents are not willing to pay more than instate UC, then Cornell isn’t a viable option.
Because we would not qualify for FA, we didn’t support S1 applying to ivies, period-- just not worth the cost difference when so many reasonably priced attractive alternatives are available…
Your parents seem like prudent people, unlike these misguided “prestige-ho” parents:
http://www.slate.com/articles/business/moneybox/2016/01/student_loan_crisis_at_its_ugliest_i_graduated_and_found_out_i_owe_200_000.html
Not sure how you’re going to convince your parents to spend the considerable time and money to fly across country to visit a school they are unwilling to pay for.