<p>Hey everyone! So I did some research and I know that VERY FEW people get in to their alternate choice college but what I didn't find out, was whether choosing an alternate lowers your chance of acceptance into your primary. For example, student A only applies to CAS, and student B applies to CAS as a primary and CALS as a secondary, all else being equal, would student A have a higher chance of getting into CAS than student B?</p>
<p>I was really worried about that when I applied, too. Definitely don’t apply to two unless you absolutely could see yourself at both, otherwise it just looks like you’re trying to get in any way you can. They want to make sure you really are passionate about and a good fit for the colleges you apply to within Cornell. I applied CAS first choice and CALS second and got into CAS. Looking back, I wish I hadn’t put CALS down at all as I never would have been a good fit for it.</p>
<p>Interested in finding out more about how you know ahead of time which school is the right fit for you. My D is interested in CALS as 1st choice but could do CAS. How do you know? Thanks!</p>
<p>Confused mom, I would look at the curriculum sheets/ requirements for each school (specifically the major you’re applying to in each school) and base your decision on that.
Collegian, it only hurts you if what you say in your second choice essay contradicts your first. For example, applying to CAS as an econ/gov major as your first choice and Human Ecology as a policy analysis and management major is fine, but if you write about how it’s your dream to be an engineer as your first choice and apply to be an econ major in CAS as your second, that doesn’t look good to an admissions officer.</p>