Hello!
I was recently selected as a QuestBridge Finalist, and I have to submit my application and supplements to all the schools I ranked by November 1st. This is my current ranked list:
Yale
Cornell (ILR School)
Stanford
Princeton
U Chicago
Duke
U Penn
Rice
However, I was thinking of re-ranking my schools to look more like this:
Yale
Cornell (ILR)
Stanford
Rice
U Chicago
Princeton
Duke
U Penn
I was wondering if anybody has any insight about these schools and unique programs related to my interests that I may have missed (ex. ILR school at Cornell). I’m interested in a Pre-Law or Political Science path but I’m open to variations, such as ILR at Cornell. Also, if you know of any particular traditions or quirks (like Rice University’s outstanding community or U Chicago’s goofy essay) feel free to include them. Any insight or opinions would be greatly appreciated!
I have no particular knowledge about individual programs but Cornell would not be that high on my list. It is known for having a very high student depression/suicide rate, probably based on the culture and climate. UChicago is very dog-eat-dog (my high achieving nephew is there now and has said everyone is way overextended and rather frantic most of the time.) Everyone I’ve known who’s gone to Yale or Stanford has loved them. Rice is a great school in a warm, metropolitan city that isn’t expensive to live in. I’d put that one higher.
I think it looks good to me! Are you adding a few more or is this it? I know it’s a lot of work, but you can list up to 15 schools. What’s the plan if you don’t match from your top 8?
I only matched these schools because I didn’t want to make a binding decision I wasn’t 100% sure on. I cannot add more schools on the Match Revision form, unfortunately, or else I would’ve added W&L.
Thank you for this insight! Rice is one of my top choices, simply because I love the community there and feel like I would be very happy there. I’m going to talk to my parents about my rankings as well to see what they think about my rankings.
Go with the ranking that is most comfortable for you…it’s not possible to strategize likelihood of admission via how you rank things (not sure if that’s underlying your question), so just put them in the order of your preference.
A few other comments:
1-if you don’t match, get ready to get some fast apps in (you aren’t limited to the schools you ranked at that point.) Look on the QB site for what each school allows for unmatched finalists…some will still allow an ED1 app, some will still allow an EA app even though the deadlines have passed. Some of the schools will have ED2 (you can choose one of those if you don’t match or get in ED1 somewhere.) For any other schools of interest, you can roll the QB app into RD. I have worked with several unmatched finalists who had excellent results in RD.
2: You posted this on your other thread:
Have you gotten your U Minn app in? Don’t miss the EA deadline (it is ok to apply to your state flagship even though you ranked QB schools.) It’s also ok to apply to rolling admit schools…have you applied anywhere yet?
Sorry, but the overwhelming majority of students at Cornell are very happy. 97% of freshmen return for their sophomore year. Furthermore, it has one of the highest graduation rates in the country. It is very misleading to say that it has a “very high depression/suicide rate,” especially as it is, sadly, nowhere close to being alone with such terrible incidents.
CC is not the place to make sensationalistic blanket statements based on a few tragic and well-publicized incidents.
Since you’re interested primarily in political science, I would agree with those who way to push Cornell even further down - political science is not one of Cornell’s strengths, while it is for Yale and Princeton.
I would even recommend replacing Cornell with MIT, or, if you don’t mind being in the Midwest, you could look at WashU as well. It has a well-regarded political science program and is a QB partner.
Congratulations on being selected as a finalist
Seconding the //fit&vibe between Rice and Yale.
I would rank Princeton higher than Stanford myself although the vibe is markedly different… but ultimately ALL these are incredible so the best ranking is what YOU feel is the best for you.