Annual NY State Scholar...@ Cornell ???

<p>Ok, so I'm interested in Cornell because it's basically the best Ivy for Engineering.
But I've lost hope because my stats are not that great.
But then....I open my mailbox today and I find an invitation to Cornell's "Annual New York State Scholars Program, specifically designed for talented, college-bound students from New York"
Obviously, I will be attending...
..but does anyone know if this invitation means anything?
and how did they get my info if I never sent them anything about me? (The only way they would have gotten something was from my PSATs, and I only quailified for the Hispanic Recognition thingy, and nothing more) so yeah does anyone know what that means?
And Now My Hopes Are Up!!! :)</p>

<p>I wouldn't get too excited. Most likely they got a hold of your PSAT or SAT scores. They probably send stuff to everyone with a certain score, especially URM's. I've already received stuff from many med schools (most of which I can only dream of getting into like WashU, etc.) and I'm nowhere close to applying. They must've simply gotten a hold of my MCAT score.</p>

<p>edit: Let me rephrase: It's probably a good program and I'm sure you'll learn something from it but don't try to extrapolate any type of college admissions info from it.</p>

<p>yeah i got that thingy too, from my psats.</p>

<p>k, thanks for the advice..I won't get my hopes up...same thing happens to me, I've gotten mail from Yale, Columbia, and Penn. And yes, I know I'll never get into any of them :/</p>

<p>Goldenbird: are you planning on going?</p>

<p>i'm not sure. i have a game that day, and i'm a captain, so i shoudl really be there, and i've already been to cornell twice and may be going down again for a CAS info session; not sure.</p>

<p>I went the program two years ago.</p>

<p>As far as the invitation being an indicator that they're interested in you. . . .the fact that you got the card means you could have done something that caught someone's eye, but it is no indication at all that you'd be accepted if you applied. There were a lot of kids there when I visited. . . .enough to completely fill Kennedy Auditorium, about 600....one of the parents asked our speaker "Why did you invite all these people here if you know you can't admit them all?" </p>

<p>Treat the program as a upscale info session. Definately worth going. It sounds like you're interested and it was a good program.</p>

<p>I'm not sure if actually signing up for the event would effect anything. I know some schools check their records to see if there are signs that the student is really interested in the school, which would work in your favor if you're a boarder line applicant. I can't say that Cornell does this, and they probably don't, because they're larger, but a couple of LACs I visited said they do this. . .(Union College's dean of admissions specifically told a group of pre-frosh that it's a major consideration) I wouldn't count on cornell doing this (because they're so large and selective) but it wouldn't hurt.</p>

<p>yeah i went to it, though i got waitlisted , so i doubt it helps.</p>

<p>ok, so go for experience. . .it won't help you.</p>

<p>And definately apply, even if you think your "stats aren't that great." Cornell tends to put a lot of emphasis on ECs. I mean, it helps to have good grades and such, but you can make up for it in other areas.</p>

<p>Best of luck!</p>