<p>I used to be of the mind set that if you couldn’t decide, that meant you shouldn’t do early decision/early action at all. But after working at Columbia for several years, I learned from admissions that sometimes as much as 40% of their students are admitted through ED, so I do think it significantly bumps your chances even though they say it doesn’t. And if your parents can afford to send you anywhere, I don’t think you have to absolutely be in love; I think it just needs to be a school you like a lot and would attend if accepted, without regrets or second thoughts.</p>
<p>Early is when all the legacies, athletes, and top students apply at BOTH schools, not just Harvard. And I know that CC has made this ridiculous hierarchy of HYP and the “lesser Ivies,” but make no mistake - Columbia is very nearly as competitive as Harvard. Harvard only accepted 5.8% of their applicants last year, and Columbia accepted 6.89%. That’s not a significant difference, most likely. The pool of Columbia students is not significantly less competitive than the pool of Harvard applicants, and likely the same students are applying to both. So I don’t think there will be any discernible difference between ED/EA at either school.</p>
<p>So if Harvard is your first choice, do SCEA there and apply regular decision to Columbia.</p>
<p>You’re a great student, but you are average for both Columbia and Harvard.</p>
<p>UVa’s acceptance rate is 27%. You’re a great applicant, but that is one of the most competitive public universities. VT’s is 67% which is on a whole other level, but it’s a very well-respected public university especially for engineering.</p>
<p>There are other great public universities in Virginia. Why not add George Mason (bioengineering), Virginia Commonwealth (biomedical engineering), James Madison (general engineering), or the 3/2 program at William & Mary (not ideal, but you could go on to Columbia for the last 2 years of your degree)?</p>