Should I take the gamble?

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

<p>Here's my question. I'm a junior, two schools I'm considering strongly, Cornell and USC, I've been having conflicting feelings about. I was originally going to apply to Cornell ED, but now I feel that I may feel more at home at USC. The only problem is that I know it's very possible that I'm rejected from one, or both of these. I want to apply RD so I'll have options to both of them, is it worth the gamble of probably being rejected from Cornell with the hope that if I am I have a decent shot at USC? Basically, is it worth me not applying ED to Cornell, can I get into one of these top choices (more than likely)?</p>

<p>GPA:</p>

<p>9-11: 3.73 (4.0w) core classes
9-11: 3.83 (4.0w) all classes
10-11: 3.6 (4.0w) core classes
*I made 4 Bs in core classes last semester, but currently have all As</p>

<p>49/526 (lowish, I know)</p>

<p>Courseload:
By the end of high school I will have 8 honors, 9 APs. This is my senior schedule.</p>

<p>Word Processing
Debate IV
ROTC IV
AP English IV
AP European History
AP Chemistry (or maybe biology)
AP French IV
AP Calculus BC</p>

<p>SATs:
My projections I'll continue to keep.
720 V
710 M
750 W</p>

<p>ECs:</p>

<p>Debate - VIP/Filer Captain 2006-2007 upcoming year
ROTC (Military course/training) - Officer Rank
Beta Club (Like NH Society)
UAMS Volunteer (Hospital)
Student Congress
Piano Player - 4 hours a week/4 years
Cornell Summer College - 3 weeks
Marquette University Debate Institute - 2 weeks</p>

<p>I do a lot of debate, if my awards seem sketchy or superficial; so be it, I've worked for years to get them and they are worthy of mention IMO, it's taken me a lot of work.</p>

<p>8th Debate Team (two people) in the state
4 1st places - 1st Place Champ Debate - State
2 2nd places - 2nd Place Champ/Novice Debate - State/Regional
4 3rd places - 3rd place Champ/Novice Debate - State
1 1st place - 1st place debate speaker - State
2 1st places - 1st place Impromptu/Extemporaneous - State level
Only - Military Order of World Wars - School
1st - Superior Flight - School
Only - Military Order of the Purple Heart - School
1 of 2 - Aerospace Education Academic Award -Scohol
Only - Award of Academic Excellence/ROTC - School
Only - Superior Student/Debate - School
1 of many - (5 promotions,
SAirman/TSrgnt/SSrgnt/MsSrgnt/Lieutenant)- school
1 of few - Six different ROTC ribbons, academic excellence,
superior flight, leadership, good conduct, superior performance,
outstanding performance</p>

<p>And you all know the story, Arkansas/African American.</p>

2

<p>You keep all this up, you can get in almost everywhere. Your stats are excellent and the rural minority bit can only help!</p>

3

<p>U are going to get into both...I cant see any reason why you wouldnt get into both RD. your minority status and your location will help you</p>

4

<p>AA and Arkansas will do a lot, but get rid of the Bs in core classes! USC and Cornell will be relly close to equally hard to get into, so choose the one you want and you should be fine.</p>

5

<p>what does core classes mean</p>

6

<p>I would try applying ED to Cornell; as someone pointed out, AA and rural state plus your great stats will probably give you that push.</p>

<p>As such, USC is not a <em>bad</em> school, but it sure as heck ain't in the same league as Cornell.</p>

<p>I would probably go RD to USC...</p>

<p>Have you visited both schools?</p>

7

<p>Choose the one I want? Do you mean either apply ED to CU or apply RD to both? I think I might rather be in California, which is my dilemma with how I'll do my apps.</p>

<p>Core classes are math/english/history or social studies/science/foreign lanugage.</p>

8

<p>To Indian, yeah, I've visited Cornell but I've only heard from my school mates about USC. But also, Calif. has the climate I want and it's in a city, and on top of that it has my major (USC, that is).</p>

<p>Here's the thing, I can ONLY do RD to USC, there's no other option. My worry is that if I do ED to CU and get accepted, I'd rather want to go to USC.</p>

<p>Basically, I would like to have the option of going to Cornell, but I feel like I only have it if I go ED, in which case, I'm denied the option of USC. (Of course, this doesn't mean I'll actually get into them, I'm assuming).</p>

9

<p>I would apply to both RD. You'll have more time to really discover which one you'd rather go to. It'll just give you more options.</p>

10

<p>When in doubt, do NOT apply ED. Only apply ED if you are SURE you'd love to go to that school & only that school if admitted. You may change a great deal between the time you apply & the time you start school in 2007--give yourself the luxury of not being committed. You can also compare award offers (if any) when you do not commit to ED & you could be competing for substantial merit aid (USC is known to awards some very good merit awards to select students).
If you apply ED, you bind yourself to attend that school ONLY, without qualms about finances, even if you get a lousy FAid package (if any). You are also obligated to withdraw any other applications you may have submitted once you're accepted ED.</p>

11

<p>Let me tell you man (miss?) the Cali weather isn't all it's chalked up to be...</p>

<p>Sure you've got your perfect beach days...then again (like now) you've got your sh***y rain/cloudy/gloomy/really really windy weather.</p>

<p>All I'm sayin' is not to base the entire decision upon climate...</p>

<p>What do you want to major in?</p>

12

<p>I'm going to disagree with the Indian... California weather is amazing, I live in CA, so I should kow. And USC is in socal, so the wether is awesome! sure, you get some rainy days, the the sunshine is AMAZING!!!!</p>

13

<p>Guidez...the weather right now sucks.</p>

<p>I hate wind/rain...</p>

<p>Yeah...and on topic:</p>

<p>ummmmmmm.......</p>

14

<p>I'm not picking solely on weather (it sucks even more here, btw. Not only has it been rainy, but it's freezing cold).</p>

<p>But USC also has aeronautical engineering, something I'd love to go after.</p>

15

<p>If USC has the program you want, why would you want to go to Cornell instead?</p>

16

<p>Because I can deal with not doing Aeronautical Engineering, (by program, I meant major, sorry), when the school, Cornell, has generally better/better ranked/reputed engineering.</p>

17

<p>They are both beautiful campuses in very different ways. No doubt, USC has he weather hands down.u are you aware it sits in he middle of a ghetto? Cornell has prisine beauty but many cold months. While Cornell rates higher, USC is coming up everuy year and is respectable. You seem like a strong enough minority candidate to be invited for a paid for visit. Pursue that when accepted nd go with your gut.</p>

18

<p>By my gut . . . I like that idea. But yeah, I'm aware that USC is in the middle of a ghetto but so is my high school, in the middle of one of the biggest ghettoes in the state, and it's pretty respectable. Ghettoes don't but me.</p>

19

<p>outside the two mile radius of the campus, you better watch your back!</p>

<p>people get raped/mugged/shot/godknowswhat outside those two miles.</p>

<p>the average time for security to answer is like two seconds!</p>

<p>also, your fourth year you cannot stay on campus, meaning it will be an interesting drive/walk/bike there everyday of the year. :]</p>

<p>ok CA weather is alright. I mean yes, we are lucky [I live in Nor Cal, sunny 300 days of the year]. Personally, any weather above 65 degrees is too hot for me, I like dressing up with scarfes and gloves and hats everyday, but unfortunatley, that RARELY happens. =/ I guess if I go to a college which is in a cold state, it will loose its novelty, because I am used to temperate weather.</p>

<p>You have a great shot at USC, and I would ED Cornell if you would really want to go there.</p>

<p>good luck! :]</p>

20

<p>LOL!</p>

<p>Confucious say: Don't get shot in ghetto</p>