<p>While you make a good point cakebatter, for international students, Michigan is as selective as Cornell. I have seen two students get into Cornell (one of them RD the other ED) last year from Dubai, and both were rejected by Michigan (and they applied EA). If he likes Cornell almost as much as Michigan, I think ED to Cornell and EA to Michigan is the way to go. Either way, he gets a great college experience at one of the best universities in the country. Of course, if the OP prefers Michigan over Cornell by a significant margin, then I agree that he should not apply ED.</p>