What school do I apply ED to?

College Search & Selection
1

<p>I have to decide where to apply ED in the fall. My grades aren't great, but I've got a few hooks. First the facts: My dad is a columbia alum. I know a columbia prof(doing research with him). I like CS. Now, I want to go to a great CS school. My grades aren't fabulous, but I'd like to set my sights as high as possible. I plan to apply EA to MIT no matter what(even if there's only a .000005% chance I'll get in, it's worth applying for EA). However, for ED, I'm debating between two schools:</p>

<ul>
<li><p>Columbia University - First, because I am a legacy, know a prof there, and I might have a shot here if I get lucky and the interview with the adcom goes well. Also, it appeals to me that I can get a well-rounded education here with an excellent core, so I won't just take CS classes with mediocre liberal arts.</p></li>
<li><p>CMU(Carnegie Mellon University) - Simply put, because it's the best CS school in the nation. I know someone who went there, and he described some AMAZING(I really mean AMAZING, as in never-been-done-before science fiction stuff) stuff that he had been able to work on. However, here I'm concerned that i.t will be all engineers and the guy:girl ratio will be bad :/.</p></li>
</ul>

<p>I feel almost as if I apply to CMU I'll throw out my hooks at columbia(legacy, knowing a prof) as well as a good liberal arts education and (if I get in) I'll be stuck at a school with no girls, and if I apply to Columbia, I'll loose out by not being able to take part in cutting edge research and a great CS education.</p>

<p>I realize there is a very small chance that I will be accepted to either school, but I'd like to set my sights high for ED and then apply to a range of safeties and reaches during RD. What should I do?</p>

2

<p>If you are not 100% sure you want to go to Columbia over all others, do not apply there ED.</p>

<p>If you are not 100% sure you want to go to CMU over all others, do not apply there ED.</p>

<p>You are not ready to apply anywhere ED, since it's binding if you do get in.</p>

3

<p>what are your stats?</p>

4

<p>cory123:
I'm hoping to get my SAT scores up and I anticipate that I'll be able to get straight A's senior year(at least before the ED period). You'll probably laugh at me for even considering Columbia/CMU with these stats but here they are:</p>

<p>My tests:
SAT1: 660W/670CR/700M
SAT2: 640 chem / 710 math iic</p>

<p>My grades:
GPA: 3.68W(honors/AP are weighted up a point :/)
Frosh year
Hon Bio - B-
English(honors not offered, but higher level) - B-
Hon Geometry - C-
Social studies(honors not offered, but higher level) - B-
Hon Spanish - B+
Orchestra - A
Intro comp programming - A+</p>

<p>Soph year:
Hon Alg 2 - B-
Hon English - C+
Hon American History - B-
Hon Spanish - B-
Orchestra - A
Independent CS study - A(no A+ is allotted for this)</p>

<p>Junior Year:
AP Calc AB - B expecting 3 or 4 on AP exam
AP Chemistry - B expecting 3 or 4 on AP exam
Honors Physics - B-
Honors English 1st semester - B+
Honors English 2nd semester - A-
Honors Social studies 1st semester - A
Honors Social studies 2nd semester - A-
Orchestra - A
Chinese(no honors offered) - B</p>

<p>Senior year courses:
3rd semester college calc.
AP Physics C
Honors English 1st and 2nd semester
AP Psychology
Chinese 2(again, no honors offered)</p>

5

<p>You really don't have a chance at MIT, Columbia, or CMU, so this is really a non issue.</p>

6

<p>well i'd your best chance is CMU, despite the CU legacy. Plus, it seems you genuinely like the school, and you just want to apply to CU for the name because you might get in. Write good essays and go CMU ED.</p>

<p>if you're retaking try to go for 2200. That would really help your chances.</p>

7

<p>Ignoring your chances of getting in for a second, which campus do you like better? Don't apply ED just because you think you've got a better shot at one. You've got to spend at least four years at this place, make sure you'll actually enjoy living there.</p>

<p>While you may be overestimating your chances at getting into MIT I don't think that you're totally out of the running for Columbia or CMU. High reaches, but they aren't totally out of the picture. MIT is totally out of the picture. Make sure you research and find some good safety or match schools. You can hunt around and find a good CS program at a campus you'll be happy at that you'll have an easier time getting in to.</p>

8

<p>cory123: Do you think with a 2200 and straight A's senior year I'd have a reasonable shot at CMU? I know the school is very competitive, and I don't want to be fooling myself to think there's any chance of me getting in.</p>

9

<p>chuy:
You don't even think it's worth applying for $70 or whatever it is, considering it's non binding? I mean, I know it's almost impossible for me to get in, but there's no risk other than spending $70 to find out.</p>

10

<p>it's not THAT competitive. It's certainly no columbia or MIT. Yes, I do think 2200 would be competitive there</p>

11

<p>It's your money and time, if you want to apply I don't guess it's actually hurting anything.</p>

<p>edit: To MIT I mean.</p>

12

<p>mikesown: Remember that senior year grades won't even be out by the time you get your ED decision in mid-December. (At least semester grades won't be.) So they are of no use to you in ED.</p>

<p>Straight A's first semester may help in RD, but I doubt they would help enough to negate the C's in freshman or sophomore years.</p>

<p>Besides, you haven't even come close to straight A's before; what makes you think you'll do it senior year?</p>

13

<p>Some schools will downplay your freshman grades, especially if you wait for RD and get high first semester senior grades. Like I said, get some safetys and some matches, and get your test scores/grades up. Also, decide where you want to live for four years, and consider not doing ED anywhere if you're not sure.</p>

14

<p>if you had a higher gpa you may have a chance at columbia but you'd have to superscore your sat to at least a 1400</p>

15

<p>I'm studying <em>very</em> hard for the SAT. I have 8 tests in the blue book, 6 tests online, and 3 QAS tests with answers which I haven't taken before. I plan to take all of these tests and review all of the questions. It's my last hope.</p>

16

<p>Don't think though that just because you don't get into Colombia or CMU (which you still might, especially with higher SAT scores) it's all wasted effort. There are still other good CS schools that you can get in to; your stats aren't bad, they just aren't stellar compared to the schools you're shooting for.</p>

17

<p>cory123: Do you think with a 2200 and straight A's senior year I'd have a reasonable shot at CMU? I know the school is very competitive, and I don't want to be fooling myself to think there's any chance of me getting in.>></p>

<p>You should only apply Early Decision if you think your record up to now is as good as it's ever going to be. If you feel strongly that you need a semester of A's to prove yourself, consider applying RD. If you think an extra try at the SATs and subject tests might be your shot at bringing up your test scores, consider applying RD. Yes, you might get deferred in the ED pool, and still be able to show your improvements, but getting in off of deferral is tough at such highly competitive schools.</p>

<p>I think Chuy is on the right path with his questions/suggestions: Use ED for the school you like best where you have a solid shot of admissions. I also think he's right in suggesting that there are many, many great CS programs out there -- keep looking until you have a list that includes safe bets and matches, not just reaches. Then decide where or if you want to apply ED. That way if you apply ED to a reach and don't get in, you'll have a solid back up plan ready to roll.</p>

<p>Finally, it is still really early. There is no need to make a decision about ED NOW. Give yourself more time. A lot of students find their preferences change right up until April. </p>

<p>Good luck!</p>

18

<p>Thanks for the advice. I think you guys were right about Columbia in that I'm giving myself a false impression that I could get in. I think CMU is my first choice now, because of the strength of the CS program. That said, what would you advise me to do? Would applying ED result in an outright rejection, or a deferal most likely with my stats? My biggest fear is applying ED and being outright rejected, thus not allowing me to retake any tests, or show my semester's senior grades.</p>

<p>Also, is it possible for me to send along grades even at ED? The way my school does grades, by november, at the very least, a preliminary progress report is released with my current senior grades. Will colleges look at this if I send it in?</p>

19

<p>Mikesown, it's a tough decision and it's way too important to rely on the advice of strangers who don't know you for an answer. </p>

<p>My advice would be to sit down in the fall with your guidance counselor and review your transcript, test scores, etc. Your guidance counselor can also probably give you some advice about what types of people have been admitted to CMU (or other colleges) from your high school. Your GC can also advise you about whether your high school might be able to send out mid-semester grades, and how those might be viewed at CMU.</p>

<p>I will, however, give you this more general advice: Fear is just part of the process of applying to college. There is NO shame in getting rejected or deferred or put on a wait list. If it happens, you will survive and go forward. But, the best way to manage the fear and anxiety of the college application process is to have a solid back up plan that you can be happy with.</p>

<p>You know you like CMU and Columbia and will probably apply to them. Now it's time to find some other schools that you will like just as much (and I assure you THEY are out there!) but which might be somewhat easier for you to get into and start learning about them. </p>

<p>I'd suggest that you start with making a list of what you like about CMU and Columbia ASIDE from the CS programs (i.e., location, size, cost, core programs, or whatever you like besides the CS program), then look for other schools that might offer those same environments to you. You should have a full list of other options BEFORE you apply ED anywhere. It is also not a bad idea to consider applying to one or two safer bets either through rolling admissions or non-single choice EA at the same time you apply ED somewhere -- the sting of getting rejected or deferred is always easier if you have other options already in the bag. </p>

<p>But, don't focus too much on your fear of rejection -- that can be paralyzing and also cause you to make ill-advised decisions. Build a solid back up plan, and remember that it is extremely rare for students who have planned a solid list to end up without great options come April. Keeping that in mind will help you make the right choice about where or if to apply ED. </p>

<p>Two good resources if you're interested in computer science are <a href="http://www.careercornerstone.org%5B/url%5D"&gt;www.careercornerstone.org&lt;/a> and <a href="http://www.tryengineering.org%5B/url%5D"&gt;www.tryengineering.org&lt;/a>. The second has a searchable database that will let you find other good solid, ABET accredited options for CS.</p>

20

<p>Well, my biggest fear is not really rejection so much as rejection during ED period. I can live with being rejected RD - because I will have many other options then, and (hopefully) my grades will have taken an enormous turn for the better. Plus, I know that there will have been nothing I could have done differently(as opposed to applying to a different school ED).</p>

<p>However, applying ED and getting rejected is the worst scenario. In this case, I have no option to show the college that I can increase my SAT scores, or get straight As in my classes first semester. </p>

<p>Getting deferred ED is fine for me. To me, this gives the opportunity to do better on my GPA/SAT and hopefully prove my worth.</p>

<p>I also don't want to NOT apply ED. Yes, financial aid is necessary for me, but first and foremost I want to go to a great school(CMU). ED definitely increases your chances of getting into a school- there's no arguing about that. It can only help to mitigate my GPA (somewhat). </p>

<p>So, do you think I have a shot(of any kind) at getting at the very least a deferment(i.e. not rejected) from CMU if I apply ED?</p>