<p>Hey guys, I'm currently a junior at a public school on Long Island, New York and I'm starting to research/plan for colleges. I've always thought about Cornell because it has everything I want but I've been doing research on Uchicago and I'm starting to fall in love with the school's attitude about education and how cool it is. I want to apply early for either of these two schools (dw i'll have safeties too for RD) but I can either do ED for Cornell or EA for Uchicago. What are my chances at getting accepted into these schools?</p>
<p>Ethnicity: Asian
Sex: Female
SAT: (one sitting. Will retake in June/February) 2150 (780 M, 710 W, 660 CR OOPS!) super score probably ~2200+
SAT2: 630 Bio (LOL DEFS NOT SENDING) and taking Math 2 and US History this year
GPA: 96.5/100
Intended major: Public Policy or IR
National Spanish Honors Society, NHS</p>
<p>Clubs:
-MUN 2 years
-model congress 3 years (VP)
-debate 4 years (captain)
-chamber orchestra 2 years (president)
-political science club 4 years (president)
-JSA 3 years (president)
-DECA 2 years (officer)
-science olympiad 2 years
-feminist group 3 years</p>
<p>Achievements:
-Ranked Special Distinction in debate
-4x state qualified PF debater
-2x state qualified Congress debater
-Nationally qualified debater
-varsity debater on national circuit for 3 years
-regional champion in PF debate
-Top 32 (out of 240 teams) at debate Harvard Invitational
-Top 17 (out of 580 debaters) individual awards at debate Harvard Invitational
-Top 16 at debate state championship
-school ranked 3rd at state championship
-violin 11 years
-piano 7 years
-guitar 3 years
-concertmaster at school symphony
-all state symphony orchestra 1st violin
-principal violinist at outside orchestra
-all long island orchestra every year, finished 5th chair out of ~40 violinists
-all county every year, finished 2nd chair out of ~40 violinists
-ranked distinction (highest honor) in associated board of the royal school of music every year
-ranked excellence (highest honor) in new york state school music association every year
-founder of annual school student debates
-DECA 3rd place at regional championships
-Top 10 at DECA state championship
-second place at Scioly Twin Tiers Invitational</p>
<p>Volunteer Experience:
-debate coach at outside organization (~100 hrs)
-tutor at this organization to help immigrant children (~40 hrs)
-coordinator of committee operations at a nonprofit organization (~100 hrs)</p>
<p>I’d say you’ve got a strong profile but the again, so will a lot of applicants. Work on that SAT score and do well on the subject tests. But since it’s hard to stand out in grades, scores, or ecs when applying to top schools your essays and recommendations are key.</p>
<p>As for which school is better…I actually like Cornell better (I’m majoring in Biology so by no means is my analysis all encompassing). Cornell gives its students more freedom to do research and such plus Ithaca is a beautiful place. UChicago seems a little more rigid plus it’s in a big city.</p>
<p>It is obvious that your chances would be higher for Cornell University, since it’s regular acceptance rate is higher than University of Chicago (well, anomalies where that is not true do occur, but not frequently). Here is an example for 2013: Cornell’s regular decision acceptance rate was 15.5% and Early Decision/Action (the source I am looking at does not differentiate, but there is likely a greater advantage for Early Decision as compared to Early Action) acceptance rate was 36.7%. That is a significant 21.2% increase. </p>
<p>You have a very solid profile. Your EC’s are pretty stellar along with the amount of volunteer service you have.Unfortunately, there will be a lot of other applicants applying as well so it will really come down to how well you sell yourself in your essays along with teacher recs. Personally I think you’d have good chances at both schools (try to get your SAT a bit higher). </p>
<p>I believe you are able to do both EA at Chicago and ED at Cornell. Chicago and Cornell are two very different schools, find out which one is the right fit for you.</p>
<p>@oldfort
You could apply early acceptance (no commitment to attend) in addition to your one ED application. If you are accepted ED, you would have to withdraw all your other applications and/or turn down any other acceptances.</p>
<p>If you do ED at Cornell, i think you have a good shot at getting in, so a high match. EA at UChicago, if your essays are good i think you have a better than average shot at it, but no guarantees! Low Reach</p>
<p>Cornell seems like high match, low reach
UChicago is more of a low to mid reach… it is extremely competitive but you are very qualified! Good luck</p>
<p>Your ECs are great!! Just bring that SAT up a little and make sure you do your best on the Subject tests.
I think that you’ll definitely get into Cornell and probably UChicago. </p>
<p>Your profile is all around very impressive! I think that both of these schools are high matches because of your excellent extracurriculars, GPA, and test scores.</p>
<p>You seem to be a very accomplished student. I think with an slightly improved SAT (it’s good as is imo!) and great essays that these schools will be high matches for you. Good luck!</p>