<p>Alright, so I have mediocre grades: Some As, Mostly Bs, a couple Cs (you're looking at maybe 3.6 weighted).</p>
<p>I do have a reasonable "excuse," but in the end it really is just an "excuse."</p>
<p>I was wondering if my ECs (listed below) and essay (assume it is written wondrously for sake of chancing) would massage my poor academics a bit enough for them to consider me as a prospective Early Decision student for the College of Engineering?</p>
<ul>
<li>Private research lab for 4 Years- experience with many machine tools, software programming
--- Author of two published research papers in swarm intelligence, published in IEEE ICSI conference and IEEE CIS&RAM conference.</li>
<li>3 years+, One of the district leaders for a city-wide volunteer organization boasting over a thousand members.
--- Congressman's Service Award (awarded by House of Representatives congressman) for extensive/notable community service</li>
<li>4 years +, competitive and ranked archer (yes, Archery, got a problem? :P)
--- Attended several junior national team camps
--- I am a U.S.A. certified/licensed coach for the sport</li>
<li>3 months, still ongoing:Started a local non-profit organization for teaching/coaching students interested in archery.
--- Affiliated/Sponsored with the US Olympic Committee
--- Over 20 students so far, and several other coaches</li>
<li>2 years, High school robotics team, fabrication leader</li>
<li>High school JV tennis team</li>
</ul>
<p>@rlaehgund… i agree on “my chances” posts. The OP’s question is the subject line though…</p>
<p>On that, I feel ECs + essays overshadows decent but not best grades. Speaking from experience as such a student applying to ED and just finished my 2nd year here.</p>
<p>Why are you so angry? I am not the one sugar coating my responses to gain some kind of CC karma. I don’t need anyone to chance me back, I am being realistic.</p>
<p>His grades are decent, average. They would be damn good if he were applying to colleges with lower standards. But to make the claim that a 3.6 weighted makes him in a good position for admission into a school like Cornell is ridiculous. </p>
<p>Your ECs are fantastic, physex, and your SAT and ACT scores show you are clearly qualified. I have every faith that you will be accepted into the College of Engineering, especially if you apply ED. </p>
<p>But I don’t want other students who may have your same grades, but not nearly the stellar list of extracurriculars you do, to be filled with unrealistic hopes.</p>
<p>cpyxmkii, get realistic. Based on these grades alone, the applicant would be sub par for a top program at a top school like Cornell COE. These are not chendrix’s high standards, but the standards of the college the OP asked about.</p>
<p>Even weighted I don’t see how “Some As, Mostly Bs, a couple Cs” will get you to a 3.6 Yes you’re EC’s & SAT’s are above average but your grades are below average for the college you’re applying to. You will be considered but I’d say your chances are less than good.</p>
<p>ripemango you get realistic. My grades were only slightly
better than the OP’s, my ecs sucked, and my test scores were
worse than his and I still got in.</p>
<p>You can find exceptions but DON’T generalize from your lone experience. Yes you give hope that he could be admitted but based on his grades it is unlikely.</p>
<p>this is what i meant about my chances posts
there are those who smile benignly and encourage you on, while the others tell you to “be realistic” and start mentioning numbers and statistics.
in the end, it just makes you nervous& second guess yourself. </p>
<p>like i said, apply or don’t apply as you like- the only thing that’s stopping you is your mom’s credit card.
good luck!</p>
<p>My attitude with my D’s has been that you’ll get accepted to schools that you belong at. Youngest D is applying Ed to Human Ecology. She’s a reach (math scores are below 25th percentile), but if she doesn’t get in it just means she may have been in over head there.</p>
<p>Thanks you guys for the feedback. However, as fallenmarc said, this thread is not a “chance me” thread, but rather a question of whether or not my ECs/Essay can soothe my poor academics.</p>
<p>In that consistency, I’m not asking for what you think the adcom at Cornell would most likely say, but as this is Cornell’s forum (and thus likely to be filled with many Cornell students), what you would say based on experience, etc.</p>
<p>P.S. Please remember that I’m applying ED to CoE. And while I could apply to colleges with lower standards, I’ve visited Cornell and I’ve been stolen by its location, people…</p>
<p>lol “lower standards”. NOW you’re looking for trouble.</p>
<p>Like I said before, I’m rising junior and I had applied to CoE ED with eh grades (89% GPA, bottom of top 10%, 2070 SATI single&only sit, 750 MathI, 760Physics,) and tests but I guess unique, if not great EC’s. I have always felt my ECs got the CoE’s attention.</p>
<p>Maybe I’m from Canada and a little bit ignorant, but um… archery is quite unique? My most unique one was getting glider pilot and private pilot licenses through a scholarship program within Air Cadets which was a Defense Department funded youth leadership thing I had stuck with for 5+ years. </p>
<p>I definitely feel empathetic to your situation so if you’re really set on Cornell, go for it. I think that the deciding factor (besides luck) for you will be your essays, assuming you get decent recs. Write about what you care about and what drives you but not in an explicit way. The fact that you care about something deeply should be reflected within the context, and doesn’t require you to tell the reader directly. Borrow some books on college admissions essays and spend time doing that. Send em over if you want a review. Have fun applying!</p>
<p>one thing I repeat every year is, RESEARCH THE COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING.</p>
<p>COE loves it when your essays aren’t just generic common apps. They want to know that this essay is personalized to them, beyond just changing the name of the college in it.</p>
<p>Look up the website for the major you were thinking about, look at the research being done, look up project teams at Cornell, or facilities or programs. Look up professors. And mention everything that interests you BY NAME in your essays. Use the research being done currently to tie into your interests and goals.</p>
