<p>I need advice in regards to my situation. I am currently a senior in a school in the middle east. Here are my stats:</p>
<p>School averages from grades 9-11 are A-,A,A- respectively.
Sat Score: 2080 (CR:660, Writing: 670, Math:750)
AP psychology (5), AP Computer Science (4)
Doing 6 more APs this year with expected grades of 4+
Waiting for SAT Physics, and SAT Math II grades next week.
5 IGCSEs with As in all
Applying as an international student</p>
<p>I have an excellent school and teacher recommendations. I also have a recommendation from Microsoft, Rugby Coach (won the national league), and student body, and I got featured on newspapers and television.</p>
<p>The problem is that I do not know whether to apply to Harvard Restrictive Early Action, or Cornell Early Decision? Is it possible to apply to both? I could not find out if Cornell is private or public.</p>
<p>I fear that I would apply to Cornell Early Decision, withdraw all my other applications, and then get rejected for financial aid. That would be a real disaster.</p>
<p>Would do you think my chances are at those two universities? And what do you Advise me to do?</p>
<p>That is not my understanding of SCEA. I thought that SCEA applicants could apply to other EA schools, but not to any where the decision to attend is binding. So, if applying to Harvard as SCEA, cannot apply to Cornell as ED but can apply to say Villanova or Northeastern EA. Someone else please correct me if I am wrong.</p>
<p>CT1417: As far as I understand it, you are correct. </p>
<p>If a person applies ED to any school then they can’t apply Restrictive Early Action to any other school and can only take advantage of RD or schools that offer Early Action.</p>
<p>ngocmai1711, CT1417 and GCMomOfTwo are all incorrect.</p>
<p>1) If you apply to Cornell ED, Harvard does not permit you to apply to it via its SCEA. Cornell has no restrictions but Harvard would. All Cornell cares about is if you are accepted, you formally withdraw all other active applications.</p>
<p>2) Restrictive EA (REA) is synonymous with Single Choice EA (SCEA) and is practiced by 6 schools (Harvard, Yale, Princeton, Stanford, BC, Georgetown). If you decide to use REA/SCEA at any of those schools, you are prohibited from applying to ANY other EA/ED Program. That’s why it’s called “restricted” or “single choice” Early Action. Some of these allow you to apply to EA programs with public colleges. Check the school’s website.</p>
<p>3) Cornell is a PRIVATE university.</p>
<p>Conventional wisdom is that if you need to compare FinAid, then don’t apply anywhere ED.</p>
<p>Thanks T26E4, you have helped me on many occasions and through many posts - even those that are not mine.</p>
<p>Based on my stats, do you think I stand a chance at Cornell without the advantage given to me by ED? Because the strongest part of my application is the EC and without ED I do not think the admission officers will have time to review all the articles and certificates I sent them. </p>
<p>I read on Cornell’s website that Cornell would waive the ED agreement if it does not provide me with financial aid given that I requested aid.</p>
<p>T26E4: If you apply ED to Cornell then, yes, there most certainly are restrictions…those restrictions being that you can’t apply ED or REA, SCEA anywhere else, which is what I said. </p>
<p>If you apply REA or SCEA to any of the schools that offer it, you can’t apply ED anywhere else but you CAN apply EA (early action) to schools that offer early action. </p>
<p>Please reread what I wrote before you say I am incorrect.</p>
<p>To be honest, with your stats, even domestic students would see Cornell as a reach, a high one at that. And the competition for international students is even harder. Hopefully your other scores are better but your SAT 1 stats are particularly weak, especially for science, math, and engineering majors. Maybe you should reconsider retaking the exam.
The recommendation from Microsoft is impressive and everything but it might not be enough to cover you. Who knows though, a miracle might happen? Pray for the best I guess.
As an international student, I would expect that the amount of financial aid offered to you would be next to nothing if anything. Cornell’s endowment (as it is with most American colleges) are reserved for domestic students within North America, and the pool of funds for international students is usually extremely small (especially for early decision, which has a decreased pool of money as well). I know of international students who were forced to take a gap year after being accepted ED for not receiving any aid whatsoever. So be realistic and please take that into consideration if that will be an issue for you.<br>
Also Cornell is a lot about fit, so if you aren’t passionate about your school, intended major, or in the school itself (I’m assuming that you would much prefer Harvard), perhaps it is better if you save yourself the trouble and just apply to Harvard, not that you would have a higher chance at getting in.</p>