I’ve got a small dilemma. I have 2 colleges on my list that I’d like to attend. My top choice is Harvard and my 2nd is Cornell.
I’m debating whether I should apply SCEA to Harvard or ED to Cornell. I’m pretty sure I’d be alot happier at Harvard, but Cornell ED gives a really nice boost chance-wise (~41% acceptance). Harvard ED is probably a reach for me, but it’s a definite possibility - not a “far reach.” So the SCEA would definitely help. I like my chances of getting into Cornell with ED - its ED is probably around a match for me.
I’m somewhat leaning towards Harvard SCEA just for the heck of it, my non-#1 schools are pretty close together (Cornell is #2 barely) - Amherst, Carnegie Mellon, Cornell, Northwestern, and Purdue. I’ve visited most of these schools at one time or another except for Northwestern, so the environment is mostly fine with me.
<p>I have no idea of your stats but this is my conclusion:
If you need ED to get into Cornell, or are only a match for cornell, you have slim to no chances of getting into harvard.
Maybe you can do both SCEA and ED. Check the rules.</p>
<p>I'm pretty certain about my chances at Cornell, but I wouldn't call it a definite "lock." </p>
<p>Cornell RD is much more selective that Harvard ED percentage-wise. Cornell RD = lower 20s/high teens, and Harvard ED = Mid-higher 20s.</p>
<p>As for my academic stats, they are probably on the slightly low side :-/ (3.7-3.8 unweighted GPA, top 2-3% class rank, Soph. PSAT 202 - retaking this year, SAT I: 2150 (retaking as well), hard course load, decent extracurics - teaching, knowledge bowl, chess club, track/xc, football, tennis, piano, violin, volunteer work, picking up some ping pong and getting a summer job, etc. Just the average Junior (soon to be :))). </p>
<p>However, I have a relatively unique hook and I suppose it all comes down to how much the hook is valued. If the hook isn't considered very much I may just try my luck at Cornell ED.</p>
<p>What's your hook?
Harvard does not offer ED, but SCEA. SCEA applicants are on average better than RD applicants, while ED applicants are slightly weaker. Harvard's SCEA rate is 21%, not mid higher 20s. It's RD is about 10%. Also, more legacies/athletes may be in that pool. <a href="http://www.ivywise.com/Parents_stats.htm%5B/url%5D">http://www.ivywise.com/Parents_stats.htm</a>
Cornell's RD rate is 27.4%. Its ED is 44%. <a href="http://admissions.cornell.edu/downloads/2008_profile.pdf%5B/url%5D">http://admissions.cornell.edu/downloads/2008_profile.pdf</a>
All your admissions stats are wrong.</p>
<p>My bad, I was in a bit of a hurry, I meant Harvard SCEA. I was off by a bit, I was just pulled a range off the top of my head that I thought was on collegeboard.com. I haven't really checked in a while.</p>
<p>About my "hook," I've recently been expanding/building a large network of web related projects - programming/software development, search engine optimization, web site hosting, communities on various topics from movies/games to Mesothelioma cancer resulting from prolonged exposure to asbestos, various large information websites, tutorial indexes (nearing 10 thousand tutorials indexed on various websites), etc. Those are the main topics, there are a couple of dozen of smaller sites that I am in the process of developing that I have left off. I won't count my chickens before they hatch, but I do feel that the network has room for growth. </p>
<p>The network recieves upwards of 5 million visitors a month and serves over 1 million clients in multiple countries (Granted, many of my services are free, I still make a more than decent amount of money off the ads on the sites).</p>
<p>I'm not sure how colleges will view this. Actually, I'm not even sure if they will consider this a hook :(. I don't know if they understand the magnitude of this undertaking and how much time it consumes (although I do hire people part time). Plus, 5 million may not seem like much to those who view the web as an infinite whirlpool of users... I looked at the common app and I wasn't sure whether I'd have enough space to adequately describe or even list all of this. Should I talk about this in my essays? Perhaps this is just some big hobby? (Its more of something that I do for fun than for actual profit. Although I do generate a decent profit every month.)</p>
<p>bumpity bump. Last one! I swear :D.</p>