Would it be unwise to apply ED at a school that wasn't your #1?

<p>I'm a junior, and this is my list I guess:</p>

<p>1) Stanford
2) Harvard
3) MIT
4) Princeton
5) Cornell
6) University of Virginia</p>

<p>I'm thinking about applying ED to Cornell next year. With my stats I think I'd have a great chance at Cornell ED. </p>

<p>Or I could apply to UVA EA and wait for RD decisions from my 1-5 schools.</p>

<p>The thing is, if I got into UVA EA and then rejected from my 1-5 schools, I'd be okay with it but then I'd think "what if I just applied ED to Cornell?"</p>

<p>Also I'm in-state at UVA so tuition is much cheaper if that makes a difference. My parents could afford full tuition but of course saving money is always better.</p>

<p>So: ED at Cornell or EA at UVA for next year?</p>

<p>If you have the stats for Cornell ED, then you’ve got to assume it won’t make a difference whether you apply to UVA EA or RD. If you wanted, you could do both ED at Cornell and EA at UVA if you wanted to be done with them early/get results early from both of them. You’d just have to withdraw the EA application if you got into Cornell.</p>

<p>So essentially the question is about whether you want to go to Cornell or take a chance at the other schools. Even if Cornell isn’t your #1, if you would be 100% satisfied with Cornell and would have no regrets about going there if you got in ED, then go for it. If you think you might not like it for some reason or you would regret not having the opportunity to see if you would get into your top 4 choices, don’t.</p>