<p>I want to do engineering and maybe the engineering/business dual major. I just retook the SAT, and though im feeling high 700s for reading and writing, I misread a couple of problems for math, trying to rush through it to get to the hard questions so i have time to do them. Anyways, because I'll probaly be applying to the engineering school, will this severely lower my chances? I don't know why I can't do SAT math...it really bothers me.</p>
<p>Also, i have 2 questions. This one is probaly stupid but... is early decision binding at Cornell? I was reading about northwestern and you have til like feb. to make up your choice about early decision, so i didnt know if it was binding or not. And secondly, should I do early decision? A friend who goes to Cornell says it definitely helps my chances, but I dont know if i'll be competing with much stronger candidates. </p>
<p>If it helps, I know i'll get good recs (1 from my chem/ap physics teacher, 1 from my AP us history teacher, maybe 1 from my counselor). I've been in the most "rigorous" courses, which includes a mix of AP classes and what our school calls "enriched". I have like a 3.6 GPAish. I also sort of had a family crisis during my end of sophmore year and junior year, which i would like to include because looking back, had i done more than minimal work, my GPA would have been much closer to a 4.0.</p>
<p>And if you read through this, then i commend you ^_^</p>
<p>-I don't really know how to answer your first question except by stating the obvious... a good math score is good, a bad math score is, er, bad? If you're unsatisfied with your score, take the test again. But don't set really high standards for yourself - you can certainly get into Engineering with a math score in the 600s. It isn't all about the SATs.
-Early decision is binding. You probably will have until late January-ish to respond to an early decision acceptance, because financial aid packages can take a while to arrive after your decision.
-Do early decision if you, er, want to do early decision. Do you definitely want to go to Cornell or not? It's that simple. Whether early decision "helps" or not is really irrelevant here.</p>
<p>Uh I guess? My friends doing it, i dont know the specifics though. See that's what i dont get. Early decision is binding, but i have time to respond? Does that mean I can make a decision, but if i decide not to go, i basically cant go anywhere else?</p>
<p>Early decision is binding so if accepted you have agreed in writing to go there. There are some "outs" related to inadequate financial aid, but you should not apply ED unless you absolutely want to attend that school and you do not need to compare financial aid packages from other schools. You sound uncertain from your posts, and if so, you should apply regular decision.</p>