The outstanding reputation of the JH medical school does not really affect the fine reputation of the JH undergraduate school and, in any event, it is no easier, and may be even more difficult for JH undergrads to enter medical school there than for students from other top universities, as there seems to be a general policy among medical schools, with the possible exceptions of Harvard and Yale, not to take their own undergraduates so frequently as they accept them from other top schools.

Cornell, JH and Washington are the easiest of the group for admission in general and I have no reason to believe that this situation would be different for early decision.

If you don’t mind the cold weather and geographical isolation of Cornell, it would be the best choice as its engineering program is rated so highly. Cornell also has the prestige of being an Ivy.

JH admits a slightly greater percentage of applicants than the others, has an engineering program rated almost as highly as Cornell’s and certainly has the warmest winters, but has the slight disadvantage regarding admissionn to its medical school. However, there are many other medical schools which are virtually as good as JH.

Dartmouth has no particular advantage in relationship to the others, has the lowest-ranked engineering school (though it is still a good one) and admits the lowest percentage of applicants of any in the group. It also has very cold winters and geographical isolation.

Personally, I would choose JH, but climate and being in the geographical mainstream would be the factors which would cause me to prefer it to Cornell.

I traveled around the world when I was thirty as a gap year in my professional career. I do not see that it has anything to do with a selection of an undergraduate school.

You are very lucky to have a choice among such fine schools and since you are seriously considering them, it is likely that you have a record which will result in admission to at least one of them, whether by early decision or the regular process.

If you found my answer helpful, I hope you will send me an email in which you tell me your eventual choice for your education. Good luck.