An as example, my daughter is an environmental science major. She answered the PIQ about a favorite subject and wrote about learning foreign languages - NOTHING to do with her major or anticipated future career at all. She answered the “talent” PIQ about various times she taught skills to others - again, NOTHING to do with her major or career aspirations. But it showed her breadth.
One PIQ about your major is enough. Use the other PIQs to set yourself apart from every other - and there are THOUSANDS - of CS applicants. Show how you are unique and stand out from the crowd with your talents and interests.
Now im thinking to do the “subject that inspires you” to be my “why major” adjacent PIQ, and have a lot more leeway with the other three. I think it’ll be much more interesting and less redundant If I focus on my other creative pursuits as well.
I do think that the rigor and stress level will be similar at these two very good universities.
For computer science or computer engineering, being in the Ivy League really does not impress any hiring managers. If I were accepted to both Cornell and GT for either of these majors, and IF THE COST WERE THE SAME, then I would either prefer GT, or flip a coin, or try to decide whether I was more willing to survive the bitter cold and snowy winters of Cornell or survive the hot summers of Georgia.
Given that you are from Georgia, you are likely to find a big cost difference. I do not think that there is any way that Cornell is worth being full pay versus the in-state cost at GT for anything that is “engineering, math, computer science” related.
I would probably say the same thing comparing UC Berkeley to GT. Both are excellent. If you get into both, my recommendation is that you attend GT and save big bucks that you could, if you want, later use for a master’s degree somewhere (or let your parents just save for retirement or a few vacations).
If you get into GT (which I really hope that you do, given your great stats and being in-state) then it is a really, really good university. Hiring managers in high tech all over the US and all over the world know how good it it.
For all of these schools, this is all assuming that you are willing to work very hard for a full four years. None of them will be easy. All will be full of very strong students and strong professors (and all will probably have a small number of bad professors).
Show that you are well rounded and tell them how you will contribute to their campus community. They are wondering what type of roommate will you be, what social activities will you participate in, what clubs you will join. They are looking for a class with diverse interests and personalities.
Take some time to look at Berkeley’s admissions website.
This line is important:
Thoughtfully describe not only what you’ve done, but also the choices you have made and what you have gained as a result.
My parents were the ones who advised me. They come from a country where technical skill and testing is pretty much the only consideration for admission, and other extracurriculars are considered fluff. I have tried to explain to them that the system here is much more qualitative.
My DS accepted into Georgia Tech OOS and UT Austin OOS last cycle. Chose GT CBE and absolutely loves it. Your resume looks really good and it’s great that you are from Georgia. Good luck!