Where to apply ED? Stuck-Penn, Cornell, Barnard?

College Search & Selection
1

<p>So for the past few years, I had always assumed I would apply ED to Barnard. Its 20 min from my house, is a great school, and I love the city. However, I've started to have second thoughts about the social life. I've started to consider applying to Penn or Cornell ED, both schools that I LOVE.</p>

<p>These things are what i'm looking for, help me decide. All have great academic programs, so this is more social/location:</p>

<p>-close to home (within 4 hours of NYC)
-FRIENDLY PEOPLE-this is a big one, I don't want to go to a school with stuck up people
-in/near a city, or nice collegetown and a medium sized school
-people go out 1 or 2 nights a week to parties, clubs, bars
-not too artsy
-decent athletics, or at least attended athletics
-people are social in general</p>

<p>These are my thoughts for each school:</p>

<p>Barnard: Love most things about it, but the social life may not be too good. I hate going to shows/performances/museums, and that seems like its a lot of what they do there. Don't know if there's enough parties, or enough ways to meet guys.</p>

<p>Penn: Great school, I love the campus and Philly, but am worried the people may be a bit stuck up and I wouldn't connect with them. Seems like a decent mix of studying/partying. My dad went there.</p>

<p>Cornell: From what I've heard, its pretty social, but its not in a city. It may be too big, and I dont like how their classes are graded on a curve. It has a good hockey team though, and is definately more of a college experience.</p>

<p>What do you all think? Where to apply ED?</p>

<p>Basic stats: 2300 SAT, 3.85 GPA, 7 AP's</p>

<p>Published author in med journal (neuroscience, my intended major), two different med school internships, varsity tennis, varsity debate, proficient in four languages-english, spanish, hebrew, chinese, chinese poetry competition, girls state, etc.</p>

2

<p>You need to visit the schools to get a feel for it. It would be really a bad decision to apply to a school with a binding decision when you have not visited. 4-5 hour drive is not a bad one.</p>

<p>Why not Columbia if you think so highly of Barnard? At least you should be able to visit it easily.</p>

3

<p>Apply ED at the ONE school you love above all others. If you don’t have ONE, apply EA or RD. It’s a looooong time from November to September, plenty of time to change your mind and regret your decision when you don’t have one dream school.</p>

4

<p>I ddefinately want to apply to one school ED. I think right now its Penn or Barnard. Does a yone have input on these two schools?</p>

5

<p>ED at Penn, you are a legacy (your dad went there UG, otherwise it won’t help that much). Cornell and Penn are very comparable, and you seem to like Phil.</p>

6

<p>If you are a legacy, by all means Penn. The adcoms specify that legacy is given weight only during ED.</p>

7

<p>I know, but I still probably wouldn’t get in. But then I probably wouldn’t get into Barnard RD, only ED. And I feel like the people at Penn are snobby, and thats not the environment I want.</p>

8

<p>more help? I’m really confused.</p>

9

<p>What puts you shaky ground with Barnard RD? It should be easier than Penn and Cornell?</p>

10

<p>Maybe, but I would have a better chance ED. But I would also have a better chance at Penn ED, as a legacy.</p>

11

<p>Ivy league is pretty much a lottery. Penn gives you better odds than cornell with a legacy. Barnard - I dont have a clue.</p>

12

<p>If money is an issue at all, do not apply ED! </p>

<p>Every year on here we see ED acceptances go into the toilet because the financial aid package was not what the family expected. If you have any concerns at all about your family paying for those 4 years, do not go ED.</p>

13

<p>I don’t think it would be an issue here. Father graduated from Penn, living in NYC, at minimum OP wouldn’t be eligible for FA. Not that many New Yorkers are eligible for FA.</p>

14

<p>So everybody who lives in NYC is wealthy and not eligible for financial aid? LOL…</p>

15

<p>Not many, if they are living in Manhattan. I am assuming OP lives in NYC, but she said 20 min, maybe not. If applying FA, then ED is not the way to go.</p>

16

<p>If you do ED needing FA, the worst that can happen is that you have to decline the offer if it’s not enough, and apply ED elsewhere.</p>

17

<p>Don’t apply ED if you don’t have your heart set on a school, which it sounds like you don’t. Yes, it might lower your chances a bit, but then you won’t have to wonder what might have been.</p>

18

<p>Sorry, I meant “apply RD elsewhere!”</p>