Please Chance GA Resident Applying for CE to Georgia Tech, UT Austin, UC Berkeley, and UMich [4.0 GPA, top 3%, 1550 SAT]

Congrats on a great record. Yes, Cornell has no merit - so makes no sense (IMHO).

You can’t beat Tech but you can beat Ga State. If you’re willing to go away, add a UMN or Ohio State as safeties. Or Alabama for dirt cheap.

The safety is important, I’d say most important but it seems like you’ve not given it good study.

Those are very good schools - really almost the same level as a Purdue/Michigan.

Good luck.