<p>Hi, I am just finishing my junior year and I have yet to decide where I would like to apply ED/EA. I have legacy status at Yale through my grandfather and I understand that that can roughly double your chances under SCEA at Yale, which would bring the acceptance rate up to around 26%ish. Cornell's acceptance rate for ED is 31%. Does anyone have insight on whether Yale SCEA or Cornell ED would be better for me? Is the legacy status at Yale actually greater than the numbers suggest?</p>
<p>Additional info: My high school has sent people to Cornell the last three years, they all are doing well there. My high school hasn't sent someone to Yale in many years, perhaps around 10.</p>
<p>This may seem like a very basic question, but where do you most want to go? Even if you may have a better shot at Cornell ED, if you do that and actually prefer Yale you’ve eliminated Yale as even an option.</p>
<p>“We turn away 80 percent of our legacies, and we feel it every day,” Mr. Brenzel said, adding that he rejected more offspring of the school’s Sterling donors than he accepted this year (Sterling donors are among the most generous contributors to Yale). He argued that legacies scored 20 points higher on the SAT than the rest of the class as a whole."</p>
<p>Thanks Gibby. Wow, it appears as if legacy status is worthless. I like Yale more than Cornell, but my chances are probably a lot better at Cornell because my stats are a little lower and would be less of a stretch there.</p>
<p>Legacy status at Yale is significantly* less* than the numbers suggest. It should be significantly easier to get into Cornell ED than Yale SCEA but if you like Yale more than Cornell, you should skip the ED round even though your chances are better there. Your chances will remain better there in the RD round as well and yet if you make it into Yale you will retain your opportunity to go to the school you like more. ED is best reserved for a first choice school with no financial need.</p>