All these universities will look closely at the subjects your chose at HL (IB). But you will flexibility – you may have aimed at a particular major but change your mind.
When you put application together, make sure it reflects who you are. Be proud of who you are. Be yourself.
Cornell -14k students, Ithaca, upstate – classic college town. Lots of faculty teaching.
Chicago – College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. Core curriculum. Grea books curriculum. 19 max in class. Discussion based classes from Year 1. Multi-disciplinary approach. Research opportunities. Early Action. Higher admit rate in the early round – c50% of early round.
Dartmouth – New Hampshire – very rural. Mountains, forests, river. Largest land-owner in state. Own ski mountain, own garden, network of cabins. Student-run lodge in mountains. 4k. Smallest Ivy-league. Undergraduates are the focus. Get to know your faculty – babysitting. College will pay for you to take your professor out to lunch. Unique feature – academic calendar. D plan – lots of flexibility. 1 summer term must be spent taking classes on campus – then you can take a term away at some other point. E.g. can do internships at less popular times. Lead the Ivies in terms of study abroad. Individual path through the university. 35% through early decision. Strong advantage. TOEFL mostly required.
Tufts – Boston – great location – just north of Boston. Under the river – stop at Harvard, then MIT, then Davis. If unsure of what you want on a campus. Internships can be done a couple of days a week for credit – 15-20 minutes to Boston. 5k undergrads. Lots of double majors – trying different things. Different views, being out of your comfort zone. Highly intellectual. « Cool to be smart » – accomplished, brilliant. Reliably unpretentious. Excited about academics but lots of things going on. Early Decision – nearly 50%! Not easier to get in but regular is harder.