<p>hi, im new at this site. i saw your discussion about grades and thought you could probably help me to figure something out.</p>
<p>is a u.w. GPA of 3.7 too low for Cornell? what are the things that i can do starting from my junio year to do to increase my chance of getting in?</p>
<p>Thanks a lot for reading.</p>
<p>No, assuming you're on a 0.0-4.0 scale, my U.W. GPA was noticably lower. I did have other good things to back it up, like significantly above average (for cornell) SAT scores and a very good extracurricular profile and essay.</p>
<p>Things to do (in no particular order)
1. Visit campus on an official visit
2. Apply early (if it's your top choice)
3. Make sure your grades are static or rising
4. Take challenging courses, including senior year.
5. Make sure to participate in things you are interested in to the max. If you like a sport, or politics, or an instrument, or anything, make it a passion, not just an interest.
6. Don't get into trouble with the law or suspended from school.
7. Talk to this years graduating seniors who are going to top schools about the college admissions process--they probably know as much or more than your guidance counselors.
8. Get friendly with your guidance counselor. Just stop in to talk, tell her whats going on in your life, etc. She will be writing you a recommendation.
9. In your junior year, have a few teachers that you do the same with. Classes that you do at least fairly well in, but more importantly, where you work hard and display a passion for the work. These teachers will be the ones you want to ask for recs. The exception would be a senior year teacher who is also your coach, or who you have had in F, S, or J year.
10. Figure out which SATIIs you want to take, find test dates, study for them, and kick their butt. It's best to take 1 at a time, although theres nothing wrong with taking 2 or 3 on one date. The advantage to taking only one is it allows you to cancel your scores without cancelling the other scores from that test date (you can only cancel a whole test date, not an individual test, but since there are no other scores from that date...yea)
11. If you're not the SAT type of person, consider the ACT, or take a review course. Princeton Review raised my friend's score over 100 points.</p>
<p>Not to be self-aggrandizing, but if i knew all this at the start of my junior year, I'd have had a much better time witht he college process. Basically, be a good student, a good person, be passionate about your activities, and make sure cornell knows you're interested. (you dont have to worry about that till spring of J. year though, when you can go on a campus visit, take the tour, and fill out the card that says "I wuz here." :p) good luck, and enjoy HS while it lasts.</p>
<p>hey thanks for all the suggestions=)
they really do help clearing up some of my confusions about what else i should do to get into Cornell. but.. can you tell me what kind of EC's would impress Cornell the most, specifically?
i haven't won any big awards or anythig during my 2 high school yrs so far, and for extracurricular activities..i've been committed to church worship service for almost 2 yrs, and i will be in the school news team starting next year. i'm not in ASB and doubt that i ever will..not really involved with the school clubs.</p>
<p>i'm just feeling very uncertain about how the ivies might think of me as they look over my experience in extracurriculars mainly because i've seen many students with absolutely outstanding grades and extracurriculars(such as ASB, club leader, athlete)growing apprehensive about college acceptance.</p>
<p>is being a club leader a must? do i have to join a sport? what are some the possible additions that the ivies will like? thank you.</p>
<p>too late now to start joining clubs/sports (unless your a prodigy at one or more or them). Focus on the extracurriculars you have right now, and if you could, becoming "a club leader."</p>
<p>any more suggestions from anyone?!! will winning tournaments(say, for badmin or tennis) and 2 years in both chorale and newspaper(as a staff writer, cartoonist plus graphic designer) show that i'm involved enough? and if not, what else can i do?????</p>
<p>adcom told me that they couldnt stress enough having a focused interest in one thing and being able to express that interest in intended field of study</p>
<p>yeah or two things...just dont be scattered</p>
<p>Hi, I have a question about chances. My school is not offering AP Physics my senior year because...aarrgh...they are evil...yeah. Is that going to hurt my chances a lot for Cornell's engineering school. Up until this point I've taken AP World, AP Chem, AP German, AP US, and AP Latin Literature. I've also taken Precalc and next year I am taking AP Bio, AP Gov't, AP Calc, AP Latin Vergil, AP Stat, and AP English. I have A's since 9th grade and my SAT's are V:680 and M: 710. I want to raise my Math at least 20 more points. Hope to get feed back about the Physics though. I will be taking normal Physics since AP isn't offered.</p>
<p>If you have like 40 APs, and you're missing one, OH GOD NO, you're horrible. are you serious? dont worry about it...</p>
<p>thanks for the advice, i really appreciate it :)</p>
<p>You don't need to take AP Physics. You already took AP Chem which is probably just as good in their mind, and even more if you will be doing chemical engineering. If you still want to show proficiency in physics, get a SAT II prep book for the physics test and sign up to take the test in the fall. Don't worry about it. However, try to get the Math SAT I a little higher. The average for Cornell Engineering is 740, and its always good to be at or above average. Good luck.</p>
<p>I want to study Biological Engineering with a minor in Biomedical. Any tips?</p>
<p>bump bump bump</p>
<p>i guess i can just repeat some old stuff:</p>
<ol>
<li>work on getting the SATs into the 1500s (however that translates on new one)</li>
<li>start research or project that reflects your interest in engineering and not to advise you to mold your life based on apps, do something that you would typically find enjoyable anyways (your essay would be more genuine also)</li>
<li>have ECs that fit into interest: math/science club, mu alpha theta, young engineers (does that exist?)</li>
</ol>
<p>i hope that is in any way helpful!</p>
<p>apply early if its your first choice!</p>
<p>
[quote]
2. start research or project that reflects your interest in engineering
[/quote]
you don't have to do that at all
[quote]
1. work on getting the SATs into the 1500s (however that translates on new one)
[/quote]
you don't need that high, you want to have your writing and reading be above 650, and your math sat 1 be at least 700, preferably at least 740. You also want to have your math sat II be at least 750
[quote]
3. have ECs that fit into interest: math/science club, mu alpha theta, young engineers (does that exist?)
[/quote]
that is exactly right</p>
<p>haha, thanks for translating/correcting mine!</p>
<p>(i wasnt sure of any of it as i wrote...just made it up a little ;) )</p>
<p>hey..</p>
<p>IS AN AVERAGE GPA OF 3.5(u.w.) HIGH ENOUGH TO GET INTO CORNELL?</p>
<p>it almost sounds like a joke to me, but i think that's what im getting...at the end of my junior year, instead of a 3.7..</p>
<p>too late now to start joining clubs/sports (unless your a prodigy at one or more or them). Focus on the extracurriculars you have right now, and if you could, becoming "a club leader."-akai</p>
<p>what if i was thinking about founding a mu alpha theta chapter at my school, do you think that would help a lot</p>
<p>i think it wouold</p>