Advice and Chances please...

Colleges and Universities A-Z Cornell University
1

<p>I really want to go to Cornell for engineering,but I think it might be a bit of a reach for me. I will be applying early.
SAT:
Math 740
Reading 710
Writing 770</p>

<p>I took them in March 08 and will be taking them again in October to get 800 in Math. </p>

<p>GPA: 3.8 Weighted. Go to a very competitive highschool that does not rank. I'm in the top 10%.</p>

<p>AP:
AP Calc AB
AP Computer Science(took A test)
AP US History
AP English I
AP German(Didn't take AP test)</p>

<p>I will probably get 4 in Calc, Hist, Comp Sci and a 3 in English</p>

<p>Senior APs:
AP Chemistry
AP Statistics
AP Macroeconomics
AP English II</p>

<p>Extra Curriculars:
National Honor Society
Math Honor Society---Vice President
Academic Team</p>

<p>Community Service:
Local Hospital(100 Hours)
Local Library(75 Hours)
Senior Citizen Home(30 Hours)</p>

<p>Will I have a good chance at Cornell if I apply early to engineering? What other top schools should I be looking into?</p>

<p>Thanks in Advance.</p>

2

<p>Everything looks solid. As long as your recs and essays are solid as well, you surely don't have a bad chance, especially if you apply early.</p>

<p>Pointer: Why take the SAT again? You've got a 2200+. It'd be more worth your time to take SAT IIs instead since [the last time I checked 2.5 years ago when I applied] they're required and you didn't list them, so I assume you haven't taken any. I was accepted regular decision with a 2160 overall coming from a noncompetitive public school.</p>

<p>Other top schools you should look into: Well, this is a question you should ask yourself. We don't know what kind of location you want, how much financial aid you need (although if you want to ED Cornell you're probably not in bad shape), what kind of scholarships you may get, etc. etc. All I can say on this point is that other amazing engineering schools include UC-Berkeley, University of Michigan, Caltech, MIT etc.</p>

3

<p>Sorry, forgot to list SAT IIs.
Math Level IIC 760.
Chemistry 740.</p>

4

<p>you are definitely in fine standing with your SAT and SATII's. Also, your W GPA is 3.8, but what about your UW GPA?</p>

5

<p>Your SATs look good. An 800 in math will only help, so good luck in October.</p>

<p>A 3.8 weighted might be a little weak. What's your UW GPA? It might help that your highschool is competitive and it will definitely help that you are in the top 10.</p>

<p>Although it's too late now, I would have recommend that you gotten a 5 in Calc and perhaps CompSci(depending on what kind of engineering you pursue). Eng courses will inevitably require calculus, so a good score may be a boost.</p>

<p>Your Senior AP's look fine, don't suffer senioritis and slack off. Try to get those 5's.</p>

<p>Your EC's are fine. I'm not trying to be discouraging but be aware that almost every applicant is in NHS and holds a leadership position in a specialty club. The Academic Team might help you stand out, although I daresay it would help if you could list some achievement from there (like winning a competition, etc.)Try to espouse an in-depth participation (with examples) to demonstrate your interest and devotion.</p>

<p>Your volunteer activities are fine as well. They're not mind-blowing or outstanding, but plenty of applicants are like that as well. If it's not too late, try to get an internship working with the engineering field you wish to major in. Volunteer work is good, but it seems to lack direction here. Make sure to detail any leadership positions. </p>

<p>SATII's are good too. You want to try for Physics or Chemistry (whatever your field is) too.</p>

<p>As for your chances, if I could predict them accurately, I would be counting my money instead of typing this out. I don't want to give any delusions, so here's what I think, hard and fast. You have a chance, everyone does (around 25%). I'm not going to say I think you should definitely be acceptable. I think you have a good chance, but don't see it as a sure or very likely thing. Go for safeties and other schools as well.</p>

<p>As for other top schools, I'm pretty sure you're talking about HYPSM. Go ahead and apply to those, I'd give the same advice with the warning that HYPSM is even more unpredictable. Look at other engineering schools too, maybe CalPoly, Embry-Riddle, and Berkeley. I'm sure there are lists of them.</p>

6

<p>AP scores don't affect your admissions.</p>

<p>no sports? no fun crazy **** you like to do? most of the stuff you list there sounds really ****ing boring. idk maybe the hospital and nhs are the hotspots for interesting people these days, but mostly its just kids trying to get into good colleges. get a little bit more personal and i think they'll appreciate it. coming from someone whos at cornell and is doing pretty well, everyone who applies there has the exact same resume as you (it's actually kind of scary). my best, and honest, advice to you is make it interesting. good luck and don't forget to spend some quality time enjoying your senior year.</p>

7

<p>most of the stuff looks pretty good; however that UW GPA is probably gonna hurt you quite a bit. i am by no means trying to sound mean, but as competitive as your high school really is (I also happen to have attended a super competitive hs), ultimately, your raw gpa has to look somewhat comparable to applicants from less competitive high schools. i'll use myself as an example. I had a mid 3.7 UW GPA and above average test scores and still got owned (from the college admissions standpoint) by my friends from far less competitive hs with 4.0s (with less APs, and lower SAT IIs + AP Scores). </p>

<p>I'm guessing you're a rising senior, so theres probably not alot you can do with the gpa. I'd look to make yourself appear really distinctive/unique on the app...but yea, from all your other stats you appear to be a pretty well qualified and high achieving student and I'm sure some excellent engineering school will be able to see that. sorry for being long winded, but i think you have a fair shot applying ED.</p>

<p>as for alternate schools, Berkeley, UCLA, UCSD, USC seem to be good matches if you happen to be a californian. interestingly, USC seemed to be especially generous with financial aid (esp if you're a national merit finalist)</p>

<p>edit: right, AP scores dont mean anything in the admissions process, i just mentioned them because umm, i'm a little jealous of them. JK</p>

8

<p>Taking AP classes certainly helps your admission chances as it demonstrates advanced coursework. As for the scores, I'm not entirely sure whether or not they're considered. However, the only place to put them on the common application is in the honors and distinction (or extra info) section. I would list your scores (unless you did really bad on them) because remember, anyone can get into an AP class but only the good students can get the 4's or 5's.</p>

9

<p>good chances, but I suggest stafety at UIUC. They have an awesome engineering program, and they would salivate over a candidate like you.</p>