Any way to boost my chances?

Colleges and Universities A-Z Cornell University
1

<p>Hello everyone! I know I should've made a chance thread in the Chance Me forum, but I just wanted to hear some feedback from people who attend Cornell or know Cornell very well. My dream is to go to Cornell. I want to apply for the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences and possibly major in Animal Sciences (I want to become a veterinarian). I know my test scores are weak but I'm taking SAT classes regularly and hope to improve a lot during the summer. My ECs are weak as well, but I was wondering if anyone had any suggestions as to how to improve them? I enjoy everything I'm doing, and I know I should focus on what I want to do. However, I want to do more things that can boost my chances, give me experience, and be enjoyable to me at the same time. All feedback/criticisms are greatly appreciated, and thank you for taking the time to even reply to this thread! </p>

<p>(below are my credentials)
~~
Freshman Year Courses:</p>

<p>Biology H: A</p>

<p>Chinese II H: A+</p>

<p>Creative Writing I: A+</p>

<p>English 9H: A</p>

<p>Geometry H: A</p>

<p>Personal Fitness: A+</p>

<p>Photography I: A+</p>

<p>Speech: A</p>

<p>Web Design: A+</p>

<p>AP US History: B+ (with a 3 on the exam :()</p>

<p>GPA: S1: 4.143 S2: 4.5 (these are weighted)</p>

<p>~~
Sophomore Year Courses: (Semester One)</p>

<p>Advanced Composition:A</p>

<p>Photography II: A</p>

<p>AP US History: A-</p>

<p>AP Biology: A</p>

<p>Chinese III H: A+</p>

<p>Algebra II H: A</p>

<p>English 10 H: A</p>

<p>GPA (currently): Weighted: 4.583 Unweighted: 3.923</p>

<p>~~
My Junior Schedule:</p>

<p>AP Chemistry</p>

<p>AP English Language and Composition</p>

<p>AP European History</p>

<p>AP Calculus AB (will take Pre-Calc over the summer)</p>

<p>Chinese IV Honors</p>

<p>Writing Center Tutor</p>

<p>Themes in Contemporary Literature</p>

<p>~~
My Predicted Senior Schedule:</p>

<p>AP English Lit</p>

<p>AP Psych</p>

<p>AP Calc BC</p>

<p>AP Chinese</p>

<p>AP Physics B</p>

<p>AP Enviro</p>

<p>(Electives are still unsure)</p>

<p>~~
Testing:</p>

<p>My PSAT Score this year is
Critical Reading 66
Math 68
Writing 58</p>

<p>I took a Mock SAT Exam at my SAT class and got: </p>

<p>Math: 670 CR: 680 Writing: 540
I took Writing again months later and got a 650. I am hoping to improve them as the year goes on...</p>

<p>I will be taking the AP tests for all my AP classes that I take. (It's required at my school)</p>

<p>~~
ECs:</p>

<p>-Playing Piano since I was seven (I think I've gone to districts for eight years in a row and have been qualified for the state competition for those eight years...)</p>

<p>-Community Service Officer of the Chinese Club this year (member for two years, trying out for VP next year); also in National Chinese Honor Society</p>

<p>-I also attended a national scholarship program the summer after my freshman year where I was selected to go to China for about 2 1/2 weeks. </p>

<p>-Member of the Animal Care Club</p>

<p>-Volunteer at my local county animal shelter four times a week for an hour (started last month but I'm determined to continue this for the rest of my high school years)</p>

<p>-Founder/President of Creative Writing Club (this will be in effect junior year)</p>

<p>-Will attend a summer program about Marine Animals and will get hands-on training with dolphins</p>

<p>-Next year when I'm 16 I will start volunteering at my local ASPCA</p>

<p>-Will try to shadow a veterinarian this summer</p>

<p>Again, thank you!</p>

2

<p>You’re very early on still, but keep doing what you’re doing and get those As. Your SAT will improve as the year goes on and you can take it junior and senior year, just make sure to break 700 in each section (especially CR and Math for Cornell).</p>

<p>Otherwise you are in solid shape. </p>

<p>Remember Cornell CALS is super fit based, so do your research on CALS and its Animal Science program and write specific essays as to why you want it. </p>

<p>Maybe get some more animal care experience later on as well on a farm or something.</p>

<p>Btw I got like 145 on my PSAT in Sophomore year lol. Then I got 207 on my PSAT junior year. Both of these were without any studying. You’ll be surprised how much you learn in one year, a lot of intellectual growth occurs. I eventually got a 2090 on the SAT (should have gotten higher, this was without any major studying too).</p>

3

<p>Yeah, I’ve been told a couple time now that I’m doing everything a bit early, but my logic behind this is that if I start early in getting chances/suggestions I’d have more time to do everything then struggling for some last minute things at the end of junior year. </p>

<p>I am aiming high on my SATs. The mock exam I took was in December so I’m pretty sure it must be at least 700 by now. When do you suggest taking the SAT? I read somewhere that you should start early Junior year if you are going for a highly selective college, but is that too early?</p>

<p>Are my ECs solid though? Every time I look at other people on CC and then look at mine I kind of cringe because I feel like everything I do is so basic. </p>

<p>The problem is is that I live in a pretty urban city so I’ve basically never even been on a farm or know where the nearest one is. I guess I’ll try looking. All the zoos and wildlife reserves are like over an hour away from where I live, so Im kinda at a loss :&lt;/p>

<p>And wow I hope I could get a high score on the PSAT junior year too! My PSAT score is so bad :frowning:
Also, thanks for replying :)</p>

4

<p>Its good that you are starting early, just make sure you maintain the As and minimize the Bs. </p>

<p>For your SATs, where I went to school most people took it at the end of their junior year, and if they wanted to retake it, they took it again at the beginning of their senior year. This worked out well. It also gave you time for SAT IIs in between.</p>

<p>Your ECs are good, but make sure you connect a few of them all and portray yourself with a theme for Animal science. Remember, fit based. The farm is just one suggestion, you could work at a pet store, or any other animal care experience.</p>

<p>Ha I told you my PSAT scores because I got a very low score in sophomore year and then a drastic jump junior year. You have a 190+ in sophomore year, which is very very good, keep up the good work.</p>

5

<p>Alrighty then. Thank you so much for your help!
Your posts actually helped me so much because I’m ending my sophomore year and I’m looking back thinking I have nothing to stand out for Cornell.
And your suggestions will definitely help as my junior year starts, so thank you!</p>

<p>(also I didn’t know my PSAT was good actually. Most of my friends got 70+ so I’ve always thought I was at the bottom of the pile. But thanks for telling me! :))</p>

6

<p>With EC’s, quality always matters more than quantity. It’s much better to have a few passions than to have your toe superficially involved in everything.</p>

7

<p>Yes I know :slight_smile: I feel like that’s the thing that everyone says when someone posts about “good ECs” or “ECs colleges like”.
It’s just that I feel like my ECs are too basic/generic. Would they stand out among other applications to Ivies?
I also want to do more ECs in things I enjoy (animal care and the like) with maybe some things that will also stand out for colleges (as I posted in the beginning), but I just don’t really know what else to do.</p>

8

<p>Um…so pretty much we’re twins. Just kidding. But seriously. After you posted on my other post, I decided to check out your threads. </p>

<p>I’m taking pre-calculus over the summer too. </p>

<p>Keep getting your community service hours! They look excellent to colleges.
Your SAT score will improve with time.
Also, make sure your personal statement is excellent when you actually apply.</p>

<p>I’m planning to apply to Cornell too. :)</p>

<p>Are you class of '15?</p>

9

<p>Ahaha really? That’s actually so cool.
And I’ll probably be racking up the comm service hours this summer because I’m planning on doing a lot of things. Hopefully I won’t fail in the process though.
Woo Cornell Buddies :smiley:
And yup 2015 :slight_smile: Are you '15 too?</p>

10

<p>Take the SAT in the fall, you will then have a whole year to raise your score if needed. Attend an information session for CALS at Cornell. This will help you craft your essay.</p>

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<p>^^
If I take the SAT in the fall and don’t do well, and then send all my scores to Cornell, will it not be good for my chances? Or is it alright?</p>

<p>Also, I was thinking about going to an information session in the summer. Is there anything I need to prepare? Is it just like a lecture type meeting? Or like a question&answer? (sorry for all the questions) also, I’m a sophomore so will it be weird going too early or are there sophomores there too?</p>

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<p>Cornell “Super scores” the SAT I, so lower early scores won’t hurt you. Also you may want to take the ACT, some students score better on it. Attending info session sometime during or at end of Junior year makes sense: [Info</a> Session Registration | College of Agriculture and Life Sciences](<a href=“http://cals.cornell.edu/admissions/visit/info-session-registration/]Info”>http://cals.cornell.edu/admissions/visit/info-session-registration/)</p>

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<p>Oh okay. I guess I’ll sign up near the fall then. Thank you!
I’ll be looking into the information session in in my junior year then.
Do you have any suggestions on what I should be doing now?</p>

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<p>If possible, go to some classes on a visit to Cornell. The admissions office has lists of classes that visitors are invited to join. You can refer to them in an essay if you want. Cornell really wants kids who really want to be there.</p>

15

<p>^^
Oh that sounds really interesting. I just checked and they’ve finished for the spring semester, so I guess I’ll look at it during the fall.
Also a bit of a weird question, is it possible to seem too interested in Cornell? I know people who just visit and think that should be it. But if I were to attend and information session, visit a class, etc. etc. would it look like its too much? I really want to do all those things because I want to do whatever is in my ability to get into Cornell, but would it seem too much for them? 0.0</p>

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<p>No it would not appear “too much”, attending info sessions, a class, etc. is pretty common practice, it wouldn’t stand out as “odd” at all.</p>

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<p>Oh okay then thank you!</p>

<p>And thanks everyone for all the helpful comments :)</p>

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<p><em>bumpbump</em></p>

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<p>For Cornell, the essays are a integral part to your application. So you need to research the school (the website is a great place to start) and ask for more information (pamphlets, etc) from the cornell website. They really look at if you fit their individual schools, which is great because being at a college is more than studying but about fitting into them as well</p>

20

<p>Okay. I’ll probably start researching a lot about CALS during the summer. Thank you!</p>