<p>“Most Americans have absolutely no idea where Cornell is located.”</p>
<p>People on this site get ticked off way too easily about their school…nobody was disparaging Michigan in that earlier comment. I’m sure the cross-admit numbers speak for themselves. BUT this isn’t a discussion about either one, this is a discussion about the merits of several institutions well-known for their engineering programs, so I digress. (but really, Cornell and Berkeley are a <em>little</em> better in this regard…sorry 
)</p>
<p>OP, you haven’t provided us with any stats, and even if they’re stellar I don’t think you’re certain to get into any of these programs because they’re all so selective. It doesn’t seem like you want to attend Cornell all that badly, so I’d suggest applying EA to Michigan or MIT instead because an early decision acceptance is binding. You’ll also want to apply to a couple of safeties just in case things don’t work out.</p>
<p>Best of luck! </p>