Admission chances - cornell

Applying to College
1

<p>Hi, I would greatly appreciate it if you could help me determine my chances at getting accepted to Cornell, particularly their Dyson School of Business as an undergraduate. I am currently a white male in highly competitive public school (top 100 in nation) on Long Island, NY graduating in 2013. My school is an International Baccalaureate (IB) school and I will graduate with a full IB Diploma. For those who do not know what IB is, it is an international advanced academics program comparable to AP. Freshman and sophomore IB classes are weighted by 0.6 and in junior year, by .1.
I am leaning towards a major in accounting and/or finance. </p>

<p>Grades:</p>

<p>Overall GPA in three years (unweighted): probably mid 90’s
Overall GPA in three years (weighted): probably around 100, give or take 2%
Class Standing: top 10% in highly competitive school
SAT: took once, scored 2000 (CR:690, M:620, W:690). I plan on taking this at least one more time in October so that I can super-score closer to 2100, hopefully.
SAT II: I have taken biology, not realizing IB Bio didn’t prepare you for it and scored about 570, and will also take Math I since Cornell requires 2 SATII’s.
ACT: not taking it</p>

<p>Extracurricular Activities:</p>

<p>National Honor Society, Grade 11-12
Business and Management Honor Society (2nd Vice Pres.), Grade 11
English Honor Society, Grade 11-12
History Honor Society, Grade 11-12
Boys’ Leaders Corps, Grades 10-12
Future Business Leaders of America, Grade 11-12
High School Executive Board (non-officer), Grades 10-12
Model U.N., Grade 10 (quit, might leave off application)</p>

<p>Other Activities:
-Molloy College Business Boot Camp, Summer 2012
-Paid work at my uncle’s commercial door sales business doing clerking and office assisting, Summers 2011-12
-Interned at local Cardiology Center, Summer 2012
-I also do personal guitar teaching; it’s sort of my own little business, Summer 2012</p>

<p>Athletics:</p>

<p>Junior Varsity Track, Grades 9-10
Junior Varsity Football, Grade 9
Local church sponsored basketball league, Grade 9</p>

<p>*I have spinal issues acquired while wrestling in middle school and unfortunately it has now worsened to the point that I had to drop sports this year. If not for my injuries, I would probably still be playing football, wrestling, and track.</p>

<p>Honors and Awards:</p>

<p>Young Professionals Chamber of Commerce Business Leadership Competition, 2nd place in Entrepreneurship. (Long Island competition)</p>

<p>Volunteer Service:</p>

<p>Volunteer at local youth center, 2009-present
I also do service through IB’s required Community Action Service (CAS). Honestly, I do not have much time to perform much community service, given that I usually finish my homework around 10 pm as it is!</p>

<p>Also, my interning at a cardiology center should count for volunteer work</p>

<p>References:</p>

<p>I have teacher recommendations from my business teacher and history teacher. I have excellent grades and relationships with both teachers so they can only help me.</p>

<p>Please tell me honestly what you think of my chances at getting into Cornell and their business school. Would you recommend that I apply to an easier subdivision of Cornell, just so that I can get in the door?
If you don’t think I can get accepted in the present state, WHAT CAN I DO TO IMPROVE MY CHANCES?</p>

<p>Please give me your feedback; it means a lot! </p>

<p>Thank you,
Live Long and Prosper</p>

2

<p>Your SAT score is your biggest problem. You should have taken it earlier (Spring of Soph. or Fall of Junior years) so you’d have more time to get it to where it needs to be to have a good chance of admission. I’d recommend that you take both the SAT & ACT in the fall.</p>