<p>I got home from an overnight to Cornell at 7:20 PM Thursday night (April 30th). I had a lot of mixed feelings... things got ugly...I had a lot of trouble deciding, My parents went to sleep and left me to decide at 10:00. I stayed up basically all night thinking but fell asleep. MY dad and I spoke again at 3am and 4am. I was choking on the decision and to sleep deprived to think clearly. Before school at 7:25 AM on MAY 1st my dad went !!APE ****!! and "Decided for Me" signed and sent a commitment card and a check to Cornell.</p>
<p>I was in shock when all this was going on. yeah I am upset I have really overwhelming doubts about Cornell. I can't even imagine how I would find a place in such a big school. I know I would do better at a smaller LAC. </p>
<p>I contacted Middlebury already about trying to switch Feb admission. My mom told me It's a possibility that I can still fill out another commitment card on Sunday but then my dad convinced her my acceptance WOULD BE RESCINDED AT CORNELL FOR THIS. Even if i send it a day late. its better than having no options at all. (or not trying) you know?</p>
<p>WHAT, IF ANY THING, CAN I DO?
I am considering driving to Middlebury or Bowdoin to deliver a commitment card today (Sunday May 3rd)</p>
<p>I sense you’re still ambivalent about the whole issue; what do your parents feel? If you’re truly unhappy about Cornell, then Cornell should be totally off-the-cards. Once you are totally set on one school, if it is Midd/Bowdoin, then I would contact the college admissions office ASAP (I think driving mightn’t be useful, given that they’re probably not open. Just call on Monday?) and ask if you can accept the spot there.</p>
<p>I do because At Middlebury, my long time top choice, I was offered admission starting in second semester. This would likely effect the Columbia Dual Engineering Degree that I wanted to purse at midd. I was going to drive to drop off the commitment card.</p>
<p>How far away is Middlebury? Why not just call them? </p>
<p>Cornell is not going to have you thrown in jail for changing your mind. Middlebury surely still has a place for you. They are not even going to have all their acceptance cards in hand for a few more days. Just be sure you do not put a deposit on two schools at the same time. You do need to tell Cornell you are rescinding before you deposit a second check (and be sure, first, the second one will be accepted!)</p>
<p>But it sounds like you are not squared away with your parents. Are they pressuring you to go to Cornell because it is Ivy League (or because it has engineering and the LACs do not)? What did Midd say about the Feb admissions issue? </p>
<p>The February admissions thing should not be standing in your way, if Middlebury is really where you want to go but you are trying to work engineering into your plan. If Midd will not budge on Feb, how about taking courses for credit locally in the Fall, so you can graduate from Midd on the “normal” schedule? Or plan to take summer courses at Midd (for example a language school term).</p>
<p>Try to calm down, take a deep breath, and accept that the adults in your life really do want to help you. You do have 3 good choices here.</p>
<p>Part of growing up is making tough decisions. Perhaps your parents senses your inability to do so as a sign they needed to step in. But they definitely made the best choice. Cornell is a great place and you will be fine there. Also, Spring semester admission is indicative of an institution that is ambivalent about you. Why would you want to go there when you have such a great option.</p>
<p>A school as selective as Middlebury doesn’t need to accept students they don’t want. Spring admission is simply their unusual way of balancing the many mid-year dorm vacancies that result from study abroad schedules. </p>
<p>But yes, it’s certainly true that your parents know you better than we do. Cornell has engineering, the two LACs don’t.</p>
<p>You are much better off at Cornell for Engineering. You shouldn’t have any problem fitting in. Why would you even consider Middlebury or Bowdoin for engineering? Cornell engineering students are pretty friendly and very interesting. They come from all over the world.</p>
<p>Agree with tk217. They accepted this student! And who cares if you were not among their top picks if you’re in!! IMO this means you nailed a reach.</p>
<p>I would sit down and calmly assess where it is you really want to go and call first thing Monday morning if it’s not Cornell.</p>
<p>A lot of you have been questioning why the LAC’s Bowdoin and Middlebury for engineering. so let me explain. Because they have a dual-degree program where I would get a Columbia B.E degree and a B.A. from the home college in 5 years. February admission complicates taking the required courses to enter into this program at Columbia for my senior year of college. (that is why i have appealed it) </p>
<p>btw I am in The College of Agriculture and life sciences at Cornell.
I knew from when I set foot on Cornell’s campus that it would be a major trade off for me to attend. sacrificing fit for prestige and quality of the program (plant science). This is because really believe I would do best with smaller and more interactive courses. Its just the way I learn.</p>
<p>I really have disappointed myself, I cannot believe that I was able to choose. The root of my indecision comes from the fact that my two favorite options carry large setbacks.(Cornell-Fit) (Middlebury-Febuary Admission) </p>
<p>Thank you for the advice. I do appreciate it. </p>
<p>please excuse the tone of confusion and panic in the original post. It’s toon is a refection of the feeling that were racing in my head at 6:00 this morning.</p>
<p>okay, you’re confusing the heck out of me. </p>
<p>first off, when you say ‘Columbia’, do you mean the Columbia University in NYC? </p>
<p>secondly, what do you want to major in? you claim to want to do Engineering, yet you applied for CALS at Cornell? is it Plant Science you want to do? i’m pretty sure that’s not engineering. </p>
<p>thirdly, if you are seeking a Bachelors in Engineering like you said, no combination of a Columbia/Bowdoin/Middlebury B.E. will be equal to a Cornell B.E. </p>
<p>i think you need to clarify your situation here, and what exactly it is you want to do in college.</p>
<p>of course Columbia University. lol I hope you did not think I was going to Latin America</p>
<p>I am currently in a pre. eng track in high school I hoped to continue that at college. Cornell had more options and I was interested in environmental eng.(in CALS) and plant science at CALS. My plan is to get a strong science undergrad education.</p>
<p>also @g8orade
I was under the impression that Columbia University was know for its engineering program.
its not a combo degree it just two independent degrees one from Bowdoin or Midd in the arts and a B.E, from Columbia University.</p>
<p>I would have selected Bowdoin. I think it’s the best school of the bunch for an undergraduate education.</p>
<p>You get a GREAT LAC degree. Then you can always do the 3-2 or, do what most LAC people do… just get an engineering graduate degree. Or you may possibly do something else all together.</p>
<p>I think YOU need to make the decision. You can call the schools if you do so right away.</p>
<p>If you want to study environmental science, Middlebury is a fine place to do it.
But you need to have a little faith. If a school like Middlebury admits you, they are not going to let an administrative decision to enroll in the Spring completely disrupt all your academic plans. The school exists for you. If they do not move you into a Fall enrollment, they will help you get on track some other way.</p>
<p>There are no terrible options here, but it sounds like you will be more satisfied if you put yourself in the driver’s seat and make this process work for you.</p>
<p>Just be careful how you handle the communications. Do not double-deposit. But don’t kill your Cornell option before you’ve determined that Midd (or Bowdoin) will accept your late check. Back up any phone call with an email exchange. And be sure your parents are on board.</p>
<p>I’m sure Middlebury would still have a place for you if you explain the situation to them. And the 3-2 engineering program with Columbia would offer the best of all worlds–a liberal arts education in an intimate, spectacular location, and an Ivy League degree in the country’s largest city.</p>
<p>For those of you unfamiliar with a 3-2 program, this explains it (from Middlebury’s website)