"THE" CMU 2015 CHANCE Thread-- Please STOP creating New chance Threads

Colleges & Universities Carnegie Mellon University
141

<p>

</p>

<p>Once again, do you have any actual data? you keep mentioning “the data” but I’ve not seen anything, so it would be helpful if you could demonstrate some for us. CMU does not publish statistics of ED acceptances (SAT, GPA, etc). I would however like to see some data regarding this for other top-tier schools, because this seems not only contrary to the logic of almost every ED chance thread I’ve seen on this board, but also illogical in the context of the concept of ED. All of the evidence you have given is “Well, I tell people this” and “well, I’ve heard this”. Do you have numbers?</p>

<p>I agree with Euroazn in that it seems most of the time ED is for a reach school that you really want to go to but might not get into during RD. That was the case for myself, all of my roommates, and all of the quads next to us except for a few stellar kids.</p>

142

<p>Hey, kate… care to chance :D</p>

<p>(yeah, I know I’m being an annoying noob here, but hey, I’m a senior that’s a nervous wreck right now xD)</p>

<p>Also, I forgot to add in my chance thread: I go to a <em>very</em> competitive school (think the whole stereotypical uber-academic school where at least a third, up to a half, of all students are asian… yeah, kinda like CMU!) so my class rank is nowhere NEAR the top 10%. I’m probably at 20% (although our school does not officially rank) :S Does that move me from “above average” to “reject”? D:</p>

143

<p>@ Kate
You can check Princeton Review or College Prow or a specific college (at least most of them and there was also an institutional review internal report from CMU through the web recently (I’ll see if I can dig it up)) and see their acceptance rates RD to ED, yes they are higher for ED – but it’s a narrow pool - a pool of students for whom that is their first choice. The acceptance ED rates are higher b/c the schools prefer to accept the students who really want to be there at that school. NO school is accepting unqualified people in their ED pool and ED rates are not 100% either. (Check across the board-- roughly in many schools ED rates about double RD rate for same school). In the RD pool, the college now has to compete with other schools for the same qualified applicants. HYPSM Schools make calculated estimates of who is likely to accept their offers (see research by R. Ehrenberg on college admissions) and react appropriately in the financial and merit packages and timing of admissions. Heck - only a few short years ago, Ivies talked among themselves and actually made decisions on the overlapping applicants and the anti-trust people got involved. To prevent that type of mess, that is why this crowd announces on the same day.</p>

<p>Define Reach-- Reach is the opposite of Safety.
A school is NOT a reach if you have the same or above average stats relative to what a school publishes as the average stats. Then it’s really a “match” – but a Match can quickly become a reach if the following holds.
Match can be defined as a reach if the school has many many many more applicants than it has open spots-- hence the nature of the word “reach” colors how the ED game is played out-- and I suspect we are just discussing semantics at this point. Top schools become Reaches for many students b/c so many student apply to so many schools-- isn’t the average over 7 schools at this point? (with some nervous nut jobs applying to 20+ schools-- honestly that’s nuts)</p>

<p>So what does that imply about CMU ED vs. RD…?
CMU has in just the recent 4 application cycles nearly doubled the number of applicants (4 years ago it was 14,000 and just last year it was 26,000)-- and they publish that the qualifications and stats are going up (not all that much really-- SAT up slightly …gpa fairly stable)…so CMU while effectively still a match for so many applicants is effectively fast becoming a reach school for many of the applicants. Of the 26,000 applicants last year, there were many more qualified than offered a spot. Their yield on admissions offers went down as well. </p>

<p>I find it hard to believe that the peers you speak of in Mudge Quads are somehow unqualified to be at CMU (which is the implication of your statement) and would have been rejected RD. I bet if you ask most of your peers if they thought CMU was a reach – you would get a mixed response-- but reality- it wasn’t a reach , was it-- you’re all here at CMU. There are probably very few if any CMU students who should not be at CMU. Do your ED friends all have lower than published average stats? Really? Or do you all have the average or better stats and just increased your chances by Demonstrating to CMU that CMU was your first choice in the ED cycle? That is an empirical question…if you can demonstrate that all the EDs you know have lower than average stats…then by all means, unqualified people should apply to CMU ED-- but that seems really odd.</p>

<p>The point I’m making–I honestly believe it’s better to use an ED spot on a school you absolutely want to attend than to waste it on a school for which you already know you don’t have the published stats. You don’t get accepted ED simply b/c the rates are higher-- you still have to cross the threshold.</p>

<p>There are two philosophies in the college admissions “game”…use ED wisely – a school for which you know you have the stats but also know that there are always more applicants than spots (and hence, ED demonstrates that it’s your first choice) or use ED as a gamble for a school you really know you’re not qualified for relative to published stats.
There is not one overriding view on this subject.
GCs and College Consulting Professionals will tell you both philosophies are options - and it’s up to the student and family to decide what is best.</p>

<p>Good luck to everyone-- make your best choice and you will know Dec and then April and will be successful wherever you end up.</p>

144

<p><a href=“http://www.cmu.edu/ira/factbook/pdf/facts2010/2_fact-book_webversion_2009_10_admissionfyenroll.pdf[/url]”>http://www.cmu.edu/ira/factbook/pdf/facts2010/2_fact-book_webversion_2009_10_admissionfyenroll.pdf&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p><a href=“http://www.cmu.edu/ira/factbook/pdf/facts2010/8_fact-book_webversion_2009_10_peer-comparisons-2009-all-sections-final_21810_final-final-final.pdf[/url]”>http://www.cmu.edu/ira/factbook/pdf/facts2010/8_fact-book_webversion_2009_10_peer-comparisons-2009-all-sections-final_21810_final-final-final.pdf&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p><a href=“http://www.cmu.edu/ira/CDS/pdf/cds_2009_10/c_first_year_admissions.pdf[/url]”>http://www.cmu.edu/ira/CDS/pdf/cds_2009_10/c_first_year_admissions.pdf&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>Also if Kate could login with her user Id, you can get more stats only available to the internal CMU community
[Institutional</a> Research & Analysis - Carnegie Mellon University](<a href=“http://www.cmu.edu/ira/index.html]Institutional”>What we can do for you: - Institutional Research and Analysis - Office of Institutional Effectiveness and Planning - Carnegie Mellon University)</p>

<p>Click on the “Research on Entering Students”…I viewed this a while ago when it was not on lock down.</p>

145

<p>I HIGHLY doubt that HYPSM would reject a kid that won a medal in any International Science Olympiad (IChM, IMO,IBO,IPO etc) or finished top 10 in Intel, unless they did something seriously bad or was just an applicant solely focused on a specific area (i.e not well rounded)</p>

146

<p>@cortana</p>

<p>Who implied that they would reject such a person.
If you win INTEL or SIEMENS you will be personally sought after by ADCOMs. Absolutely-- but a very small number of students in that category.</p>

147

<p>those data sets are interesting mom2012and14… 100% of CMU/MIT cross admits choose MIT, and it’s something like 90% for Cornell. I understand MIT… although 100% is a bit ridiculous, but i chose CMU over Cornell without a second thought.</p>

148

<p>Ah, now I understand your point better. The links are cool. I wish I could see some comparison ED/RD stats, but I can’t seem to find any. Thank you for the research though :)</p>

<p>I will say though that by the “accepted class” stats you posted we were probably on the low end of match, if even that. We seemed to all be in the 3.5ish range with about a 20% class rank - I had a 3.7 weighted (slightly higher). I only got 5’s on a couple of my AP tests, and took normal versions of many classes that were offered AP. I was one of those kids who was focused on doing things outside of school - writing, programming, creating and swimming. To be honest, I don’t know why I was accepted. I actually called admissions to ask if my acceptance was real. But I’m doing well here, and it’s a good place for me to be, and my GPA is high. :p</p>

<p>@Euroazn: if being in the top 20% moved you to the reject pile, then I probably wouldn’t be here. See above. :p</p>

<p>Realistically your chances look good, but Tepper is so competitive that it really is a shot in the dark, little bro. But I’d say NMS and all 5’s on APs look good.</p>

149

<p>

</p>

<p>isn’t Cornell Engineering better than CMU’s? or are they both strong?</p>

150

<p>I am a senior in high school for the school year 2010-2011. I would appreciate any feedback that would help me in the admissions process. I am applying Early Decision II to Carnegie Mellon. I have showed my interest by joining the school mailing list, attending interest meetings, and doing the sleeping bag weekend. My credentials are as follows.</p>

<p>Gender: Male
State: Virginia
Applying: Mellon College of Science
Race: Asian-Mother from Pakistan, Father from Bangladesh
Recommendations: Very strong recommendations lined up from Physics, Math, and Chemistry teachers.
Interview: Yes
Additional Extracurriculars: Science Club, Programming (Hobby), Clarinet</p>

<p>High School Courses:</p>

<p>Freshman Year: Honors Earth Science, Honors Biology, Pre-AP World History, Algebra II, Spanish II, Honors English 9, Physical Education 9</p>

<p>Sophomore Year: Precalculus, Chemistry, Honors English 10, AP World History, Computer Science, Physical Education 10, Spanish III</p>

<p>Junior Year: AP Calculus AB, AP Chemistry, AP Statistics, AP US History, Spanish IV, Honors English 11, Art 1, Physics</p>

<p>Senior Year: AP Calculus BC, AP Biology, AP Physics, AP Macroeconomics, AP Microeconomics, AP Government, AP Literature, AP Spanish, AP Psychology</p>

<p>Standardized Testing:</p>

<p>PSAT: 95th percentile for graduating seniors (Scores from sophomore year, could not take junior year due to swine flu.) Not sure if colleges care about these.</p>

<p>SAT: Math-710, Reading-680, Writing-730, Essay-12 (Not sure if I need to take it again, this was my first time taking it and I went in cold. I could probably raise my scores through preparation. Please give me insight as to whether I need to take it again.)</p>

<p>SAT II: Have not taken. Plan to take Math II, Chemistry, and undecided about third, maybe Physics.</p>

<p>GPA:</p>

<p>Weighted: 3.9 Unweighted: 3.7</p>

<p>Freshman Year: 3.5
Sophomore Year: 3.7
Junior Year: 4.3</p>

<p>Class Rank: Top 10% (Not officially known)</p>

<p>Extracurricular Activities: </p>

<p>Internship with Air Technology Company (Collaboration with researchers at Harvard and Johns Hopkins)
Academic Team Captain (Multiple District Championships)
Chess Team Captain
Lincoln-Douglas Debate
Engineering Awards at regional science fair
Air Pollution Research
Religious Sunday School
Sears Cashier
Tutoring (Basically teaching as I am teaching two homeschooled children new material.)
Repeat Contestant on Academic Challenge Gameshow
National Honor Society
Spanish Honor Society
Recreational League Soccer
Recreational League Basketball</p>

<p>I am sure that there is more that is not coming to mind right now, but this is most of it. I would be more than happy to answer any questions that any of you may have or give more information if necessary. Carnegie Mellon is my dream school and I would appreciate any advice. Thank you.</p>

151

<p>your GPA has a nice upward trend and your extracurrs are pretty sexy. My only advice would be to have someone who writes look over your essay - your writing “voice” is very robotic from what I can tell off of this post.</p>

152

<p>

</p>

<p>So sexy.</p>

<p>I’m sure that’s what you what you were getting at kate :D</p>

153

<p>Catholic schoolboys. They’re a hobby for me. obv.</p>

<p>I actually didn’t even notice that. Does sunday school count as an extracurricular activity? I used to go all the time and color pictures of Jesus burning his way through hell. I also learned that gay people have cooties.</p>

154

<p>Oh dear, what has this thread become XD</p>

155

<p>Btw, anyone care to answer my question:

THANKS! I appreciate it!</p>

156

<p>Multiple teacher recs are okay, but don’t send in two letters plus three extra - that’s kind of ridiculous. The best thing to do would be one letter from a teacher, one from a counselor, and one from a boss/coach/etc.</p>

<p>Jaycie said it best, I think, though she’s not working for admissions this season: [Letters</a> of Recommendation - Jaycie Galbraith](<a href=“http://www.enrollment.cmu.edu/admission/blogs/jaycieg/2008/11/letters-of-recommendation.html]Letters”>http://www.enrollment.cmu.edu/admission/blogs/jaycieg/2008/11/letters-of-recommendation.html)</p>

<p>If you send in more than 3-4, they probably will just ignore the rest.</p>

157

<p>

So I’m one over, by these standards :confused: Graaaah! Wanna submit them all xD
How many recs did everyone else submit?</p>

158

<p>I submitted two teacher recs and a counselor rec. Most schools I applied to through commonapp asked for two recs and a counselor rec, so I kind of completely ignored all specific school requirements and just sent that amount to every college. Derp.</p>

159

<p>Er… my post didn’t… post :O</p>

<p>Anyway, I think that ^ is pretty common. So basically, my additional recs are the only “extras” - can’t they effectively act like supplements. Internships have been pretty important to me :D</p>

160

<p>hey can you guys chance me? Iam male asian. </p>

<p>I am early decisoning CIT mechanical Engineering</p>

<p>SAT 2110, 800math 700 writing 610 reading</p>

<p>SAT2 800 math2c 790 chem (bio e 710 but wont send)</p>

<p>GPA 3.81/4 no rank (Come from One of the top public schools in NJ)
GPA trend is just constant all high school.</p>

<p>Took AP BIo test 4. Taking AP CAL BC/ AP STAT this year and rest all honors.</p>

<p>Descent E.C : Soccer/Spring/Indoor Track /Internship/Volunteer/MarchingBand/President of a club.</p>

<p>Good Rec Letters From History/AP BIO/ Counselor</p>