Ahh! Chances for a particularly pessimistic student? Lots of details.

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

<p>Okay, so I'm planning on becoming a Vet, and thus studying something like Zoology or Animal Sciences, or something biology related. </p>

<p>I'll be applying Early Decision to Cornells College of Agriculture and Life Sciences. </p>

<p>If I get rejected, I'll be applying to:
UVA
Vtech
Ohio State
Tufts
VCU
William and Mary. </p>

<p>I'd appreciate chances (especially on Cornell) as I've been starting to freak myself out by overanalyzing my stats.. I just want some chances so I can get a somewhat accurate representation of what to expect as their response from someone other than myself so I'm not too crushed if I get rejected. Any input would be appreciated beyond belief!! :)</p>

<p>Location/Ethnicity: Asian(Indian) Female in VA</p>

<p>STATS
GPA weighted: 3.65 (low, however grading scale in Fairfax County is tougher than several areas? 94-100 is a 4.0 90-93 is a 3.5, 84-90 is a 3.0, etc)
unweighted around a 3.6? (i only got weights in two classes in the past -ap gov and ap bc calc)
class size: 750
ranking: unsure as my school doesn't rank students, but in the top 10% for sure.</p>

<p>SAT: 2250
Math: 740 Reading: 770 Writing: 740
PSAT: 216 (i think i'll be a national merit honorable mention?)
SAT II's to be taken in October (lit, math II, and bio)</p>

<p>Class schedule difficulty: Toughest - IB Diploma
Honors taken (9): AP Government, IB Math SL, IB Math HL I (AP BC Calc), IB Physics I, IB Chem I, IB English I, IB French I, IB History of the Americas, IB Theory of Knowledge
Honors taking this year (6): IB French II SL, IB Biology SL, IB English II HL, IB Physics HL, IB World History and 20th Century Topics, IB Math HL II.</p>

<p>Other classes this year: Symphonic Band</p>

<p>Extra Curriculars (its long.. I'm worried they'll think its just a laundry list?):</p>

<p>Leadership
National Honor Society (VP junior and senior year, member since sophomore)
French Honor Society (Secretary junior year, member since sophomore)
Model UN (Secretary senior year, member since sophomore)
Marching Band (Section Leader senior year, participant junior and senior year)</p>

<p>Service
Girl Scout (since Kindergarten, Silver award completed)
Alternative House Youth Council
Teen Advisory Board at Local Public Library</p>

<p>Other
International Thespian Society (Drama Honor Society - requires 200 hours of work to apply. I was in two musicals and teched several other shows)
Math Honor Society (Sophomore year to present)
Indoor Ensemble (Sophomore year to present)
Academic Team (Freshman year to present - Competed in several local tournaments/It's Academic, as well as went to the national tournament in Chicago junior year)
Kuchipudi & Bharatanatyam (Two styles of indian classical dance. I've been dancing since I was 5. I was invited to and performed at the Kennedy Center when I was a freshman)
Piano & Percussion Instruments (Piano since age six, Percussion, age thirteen)
Step Team (freshman year)
Power Team (sophomore year)
Odyssey of the Mind (Freshman and Junior Year)
Science Olympiad (Junior year to present)</p>

<p>Honors & Awards</p>

<p>2nd place local science fair (sophomore year)
1st place local science fair (junior year)
1st place regional science fair(junior year)
invitation to state science fair (junior year)
ABRSM [Associated Board Royals Schools of Music] certification grades 4 (distinction), 5(distinction), 6(merit)
ABRSM theory certification grade 5(distinction)
Piano Spring Festival Gold Cup (Three superiors three years in a row)
Odyssey of the Mind 3rd place (junior year)
Certificate of Achievement (Scoring a 90 or higher on the AMC 12 as a sophomore)
MOUS Word Certified
MOUS Excel Certified
Attended an invitational math camp at UNL
Attended the Virginia Governor's School for Agriculture 2007</p>

<p>I think thats it.. I'm mainly worried for Cornell because my GPA is a little low, but i'm hoping the intense class schedule and ec's will sway them. Going Early Decision will also definitely help. My recs will be really good though, as most of my teachers loved me. As well as I'm a decent writer, although probably not outstanding, so hopefully the essay's will help a little, or at least won't harm. Should I cut out some EC's? I really had no free time the last two years especially, so I want to put them in since I did spend a lot of time on them. I'll probably cut some of the merely year long activities like Step Team and Power Team (they would have lasted longer but the Captain graduated and the team disbanded for Step, and same deal for Power Team, and i don't want them thinking i wasn't committed)</p>

<p>Okay.. I'm stopping before I ramble too much. If you made it through reading all that, i would REALLY appreciate chances! Thanks!</p>

2

<p>Bump.. Anyone feel like chancing me?</p>

3

<p>Thomas Jefferson High School of Science and Technology?</p>

<p>I don't know why you would include:
MOUS Word Certified
MOUS Excel Certified</p>

<p>Many people have basic computer skills.</p>

4

<p>I actually think you have a solid shot, especially with your great ECs. I don't think your GPA will do much harm, as your school's grading policy is harsh. Good luck!</p>

5

<p>yeah your chances are pretty good</p>

6

<p>I agree with the computer thing. Also, you might want to cut down your laundry list because you'll just look like a "serial joiner." Choose your most important activities/awards to present...you don't have to list everything under the sun.</p>

<p>(Just noticed that you did mention that you were considering cutting it down.)</p>

<p>That being said, I think you have a good chance. I think your GPA is fine considering your school's grading school, but in truth class rank would give us the best indication. </p>

<p>Out of curiosity, why do you want to become a veterinarian and why do you want to go to Cornell? Also, have you considered programs like this [url=<a href="http://www.vet.purdue.edu/vad/admissions.html#Scholars%5Done%5B/url"&gt;http://www.vet.purdue.edu/vad/admissions.html#Scholars]one[/url&lt;/a&gt;] (guaranteed vet programs)?</p>

7

<p>Okay, I'll take out the MOUS things.. I had them on there because they were on my resume and I basically just copied over a shortened list of everything I had on there. And I'll cut step and a couple others from the EC list. Thanks for the help guys :]</p>

<p>And Perky.. Actually, I hadn't really considered guaranteed vet programs. It makes sense, but I'm dead set on going to Cornell. I love the campus and their grad school is great for vet, so its one of those places where i wouldn't mind going for undergrad and grad. I was also kind of thinking that if I decided after a couple years the becoming a vet wasn't for me, i could still stick with whatever i major in and do something other than that, whereas with guaranteed I'd be stuck with being a vet. I'm fairly certain I'll stick to being a vet, but I don't want to decide something now that will make me unhappy later on.. But if I get rejected ED from Cornell I think I'll definitely look into guaranteed vet programs. Oh and the reason I want to be a vet is really just that I love animals :] it was kind of a childhood dream that stuck with me and wavered for a little while when i was contemplating engineering last year? But I went to the VA gov school for agriculture for a month this summer and my major was vet med there, so I got to take some mini-freshman intro level classes with some professors at vtech in courses like animal science, and it convinced me that I really did love the subjects and really did want to be a vet. Anywho, thanks for the link!</p>

8

<p>That's a very valid reason for not considering guaranteed programs. The reason I asked was because I'm in a guaranteed medical program, but I chose it because I didn't really care where I went for undergraduate. I like the school I chose, though. If you love Cornell, by all means apply ED. My cat's veterinarian actually went to Cornell's veterinary school. Good luck!</p>

9

<p>How many freshmen does the Cornell Vet School accept? You need to highlight the VA gov school summer program you attended. You need to show a passion for the veterinary world more than it just being a childhood dream. It would be good if you did a vet internship even if only once a week.
Your scores and your grades are good. How do they rank compared to current vet students? If a Cornell rep comes to your school or anywhere nearby, you should attend.</p>

10

<p>The Cornell Vet School is the graduate school, I'm just applying for undergrad - I figured being there for undergrad might help might chances for getting into their grad school if i get stellar grades and stuff. And I actually wrote my CALS supplement essay on the governors school program so hopefully that'll catch their eye.. I haven't done a vet internship but I'll go look into that. That would probably definitely help, and I'd enjoy it for sure.. Thank you for the advice!</p>

11

<p>The Virginia Residential Summer Governor's School program is barely worth anything, unless you were in the very selective Life Sciences and Medicine one at VCU. The Agriculture program at VTech is not very selective.</p>

<p>Cornell is a reach for you, and UVA is about a match, though your GPA is a bit low.</p>

<p>And Gaffe, the OP does not attend TJHSST, as it is not one of the schools in Fairfax that offers the IB program.</p>

12

<p>Sinister, I can understand why you chose that name. Not accurate, not factual, but sinister. Really, this person has excellent chances for CALS in Cornell. Her SAT score is way above average, and the level of difficulty of courses is high as well. Cornell will appreciate this, because when it comes down to it Colleges appreciate high standardized test scores, and value it to almost a greater degree than GPA. Her extra curriculars show a diverse background of interests and accomplishments. Many of them concerning science. Yes, it is true that she should maybe shave off her resume a tad, but I think this long list of extra curriculars will show colleges that academics and her activities go hand in hand to make a well-rounded person.</p>

13

<p>Her accomplishments speak for themselves thus far. I am sure with a good essay and good teacher recommendations, Cornell will be a sure-thing.</p>

14

<p>Two words: great shot.</p>

15

<p>You have excellent stats .You should raise ur sights higher.</p>

16

<p>think positively!</p>

17

<p>grades are on the low side...it's a reach</p>

18

<p>I guess it'll all come down to how much they'll weigh my GPA into the equation. We'll see.. Thank you for all the input guys. I've heard suggestions solely on for Cornell, anyone have any opinions on chances for the others I had listed?</p>

<p>UVA
Vtech
Ohio State
Tufts
VCU
William and Mary</p>

<p>Tech, OSU, and VCU are safeties really. Tufts is my #2 choice after Cornell, with UVA being #3. William and Mary I'm really just applying to for fun. And I'm considering adding Purdue for their guaranteed vet program.</p>

<p>Or does anyone have any suggestions for places I should try?</p>

19

<p>u will definitely get in. but u should seriously consider something better...maybe like yale or johns hopkins</p>

20

<p>Yale is out because I'm not really interested in any of their programs. Hopkins would be interesting, probably a reach for me though.. Maybe worth a "for fun" application if I dont get into Cornell though.</p>

<p>Any opinions on the other schools i had listed? (UVA, Vtech, Ohio State, Tufts, VCU, William and Mary)</p>