SCEA, ED dilemma

Parents Forum
1

<p>This thread is also in the "College Admissions," but I decided to make a duplicate in this forum as to get different parents' views in addition to the students'.</p>

<p>I'm considering Stanford and Cornell--I belive that I'll be very happy at either institution, but Stanford has an edge in reputation.</p>

<p>I cannot however apply to Stanford SCEA because I have to take the subject tests in November--while Stanford suggests one to apply RD in such case.</p>

<p>So I'm not sure if I should apply Cornell ED, which significantly raises my chance of getting in--for Cornell accepts November scores for ED consideration.</p>

<p>And also, I will be applying for financial aid, as my family of four has a very low income of <30,000/year.</p>

<p>So I'm here to ask you for advice on what to do--Cornell ED, or RD both?</p>

<p>Here is my stat:</p>

<p>Asian, Male
SAT: 2300 (800 M, 750 W, 750 CR)
SAT II: 780 Biology M, 800 Math IIC, 800 Korean (I'm a native speaker)
GPA: 3.81 UW (9-12)
3.89 (I calculated the "Stanford" way, unweighted, and not counting freshman year.)
Rank: Top 3%</p>

<p>Extra Curr:
Yearbook Staff (11,12)
Yearbook Editor (12)
Church band drummer (10,11,12)
Youth Leader at my church (11,12)
Sunday School teacher (11,12)
SSC (Students Serving Community) Secretary(11) President (12)</p>

<p>Community Service:
Countless hours from church
~200 hours at a local hospital</p>

<p>Work Experience:
Part-time tutor (10,11,12)
Activities Director at a local childcare/educational institution (this summer)</p>

<p>Awards:
Sadly, none.</p>

<p>Recs:
Teacher: Assuming great.
Counselor: great</p>

2

<p>You already have 3 SAT-IIs with very high scores; why do you want to take more? If you don''t take more tests, you will have the choice of Stanford or Cornell on their merits rather than based on their application schedule.</p>

3

<p>Then you should apply at EA Stanford since it is non-binding leaving you the opportunity of comparing offers. You could probably still get into Cornell during the RD round as there really is no significant benefit to applying there ED.</p>

<p>Since you state that your family income is $30,000 and I don't remember Cornell stating that they meet 100% of your demonstrated need, you could end up commited to a school that you cannot afford to attend. Cornell is also very upfront with the fact that loans will be part of your FA package and you will have a few of them.</p>

<p><a href="http://finaid.cornell.edu/Shared/FAQ.htm%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://finaid.cornell.edu/Shared/FAQ.htm&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

<p>Do your research as far as the average financial aid, what % of students graduate with debt and the average debt that they graduate with. </p>

<p>
[quote]
I cannot however apply to Stanford SCEA because I have to take the subject tests in November--while Stanford suggests one to apply RD in such case.

[/quote]
</p>

<p>I am a little confused as you stated your stats as:</p>

<p>SAT: 2300 (800 M, 750 W, 750 CR)
SAT II: 780 Biology M, 800 Math IIC, 800 Korean (I'm a native speaker)</p>

<p>You already have your 3 subject tests so what is the problem?</p>

4

<p>Oh, I forgot to point out that I actually got a very low score on SAT II Chem (500's), which I'm sure I can get an 800 if i retake it during November.</p>

5

<p>I would not worry about the SAT-II Chem. It will be treated as a fluke.</p>

6

<p>If you already have your three SAT II scores, why are you planning to retake - they will only consider your three highest scores anyway. Eitherway, I would go ahead and apply SCEA to Stanford. If you get in, great; if not, you can still send in your new scores and hope for the best in RD. That way, you won't be stuck in an ED contract with Cornell, especially because of your financial situtation and if you're not 100% positive thats where you want to go.</p>

7

<p>based on what I've heard thru the grapevine, your Stanford app would be much enhanced with another SAT Subject Test, particularly if it was not science. According to a local, private GC, Stanford is known for appreciating apps with SAT II's in multiple subjects, even tho they don't require them. Moreover, a "foreign" language for a native speaker maybe discounted somewhat, human nature being what it is.</p>

<p>According to USNews, Cornell's ED acceptance rate is 44% vs. the RD rate of 27%.</p>

8

<p>The ED advantage at Cornell is very small, especially when you consider the proportion of those acceptances which are legacies, athletes, URMs, or to the school of hotel administration.</p>

<p>But can you "afford" ED at Cornell, even if you get in? Could you afford Cornell if, based on your need, their offer was $11k-plus per year worse than the next offer? The difference could be that great, or even greater.</p>

<p>To me, Cornell ED would be far, far too risky, especially as it really isn't your first choice. As for the Stanford SCEA, there isn't much risk in it, is there?</p>

9

<p>Oh, Cornell ED is really not much of an advantage?
I was thinking of applying to Cornell ED because I thought it would give me a significant advantage of getting accepted into the school, while I only have a slight chance at Stanford.</p>

10

<p>"Oh, Cornell ED is really not much of an advantage?":</p>

<p>To me, not when you weigh the very substantial disadvantages. Let's put it this way: our experience was that the difference in financial aid grant assistance from the best to worst offer, all 100% of need schools, over four years, ws $45.9k. If taking out an additional $45.9k in loans over what you might otherwise pay doesn't make you blanch, you should consider doing ED AT YOUR #1 CHOICE. But Cornell isn't even your number 1 - so why exactly would you consider doing that? In fact, your #1 isn't really even particularly clear, not if you are willing to apply to your second choice ED for such a marginal advantage. Stanford and Cornell are very fine schools, but can name at least 3 dozen schools at which you'd get an equally fine education - some of which might leave you debt free to go to med school, or grad school, or whatever.</p>

<p>It would seem to me that you are a perfect candidate for multiple RD applications. The SCEA at Stanford won't hurt you - the worst they could do is reject you outright in which case you move one; if you get accepted, you can still apply to multiple other places and compare financial aid offers.</p>

11

<p>I agree whole heartedly with what mini said because all financial aid is not created equal even at schools that meet your demonstrated need.</p>

<p>The 44% ED rate takes into consideration of all 7 undergrad schools. My guess would be that bulk of this ED rate consists of NYS students applying the land grant universities taking advantage of the lower tuition (agriculture, human ecology and ILR) in addition to students applying to hotel administration than students attending CAS, engineering and Arch.</p>