anyone want to help a rising junior get into Cornell?

Colleges and Universities A-Z Cornell University
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<p>Cornell is an extremely good school, and I think it may be a match school for me. However, i really need to make sure i get in, first :P</p>

<p>I'm a 15 year old Indian male from Illinois (skipped a grade). I go to a completely new school that opened my freshman year. Unlike many of my peers, I try to create opportunities that aren't availible in a regular public high school experience. </p>

<p>I can speak English, Telugu, a tiny bit of Hindi, and i'm getting closer to becoming fluent in Chinese. </p>

<p>The majors that i'm most intrested in are Astrophysics, Physics, and Mathematics. Also, I would like to minor in Chinese. </p>

<p>SAT I: 2000 combined, 620 CR, 660 W, 720 M. (Note: this SAT was from freshman year; my scores have likely skyrocketed since then. Numerous practice tests have told me i'm in the 2200-2300 range now, and i have started some SAT coaching programs as well.)</p>

<p>SAT II: Haven't taken yet, but I will take Math II and either Physics or Chemistry. </p>

<p>ACT: 32 Composite, 31 English, 35 Math, 31 Reading, 32 Science, 30 English w/ Writing (got a 9 on writing). </p>

<p>GPA: 4.5 (w), 3.79 (uw). However, i've heard that Princeton does not consider freshman year GPA.....if that's the case with Cornell, 4.64 (w), 3.93 (uw)</p>

<p>Class Rank: My school does not provide class rank anymore, but I'm in at least the top 5% of a 650+ student body. </p>

<p>APs: Freshie year: Computer Science, 4. Human Geography, 5. </p>

<p>Sophomore year, still waiting on my AP Euro score.</p>

<p>Junior year: Physics C: Mechanics, Physics C: Electricity and Magnetism, Chemistry, Language and Composition, US History, Calculus BC. </p>

<p>Senior Year: US Government and Politics, Comparitive Government and Politics, Macroeconomics, Microeconomics, Literature and Composition, Biology, and probably Art History (self taught)and Psych (self taught). Also, will be taking Calculus III in conjunction with the University of Illinois....although it's not an AP, it's worth mentioning :P</p>

<p>Volunteering: Volunteered with an FEA tutoring station at my school, along with feed my starving children.....probably 40 hours or less in total. I'll probably find a way to bring that up, though. </p>

<p>ECs: </p>

<p>Math Team - Leader for 2, most probably 3 years (by end of senior year). Achievements include 2nd place at regionals freshman year, making state freshman year, leading 2 teams to 3rd at confrence sophomore year, and MANY more to come junior year. </p>

<p>Science Olympiad - Leader for 1, most probably 2 years. Main event is Astronomy, I also partake in technical problem solving and protein modeling (and whatever else my coach tells me to do). Being a new program, we have yet to achieve anything except for the 2011 Spirit award.....with me at the helm next year, hopefully that will improve. </p>

<p>Scholastic/Quiz bowl - Varsity player for 2, probably 3 years. Started off as a reserve jv player, worked my way up with tremendous studying and the like. I have attended a couple of camps for the purpose of increasing my ability at quizbowl, I have definitly improved a lot. Achievements include 2011 Turnabout Tournament All-Tournament (Answered the most tossups), won 2011 Confrence Tournament, 2011 Regionals Tournament, came 3rd at 2011 Masonic Regionals (earning us $200).</p>

<p>Tennis - JV player for 1, probably 3 years. Made the team freshman year, didn't make it sophomore year. I pretty much view tennis as a fun sport, and i'm definitly not extremely serious about it. I have gone to a lot of clinics and coaches to improve my skills, though. I possess 1 JV letter. </p>

<p>Religious Group - I am Hindu, and have helped form a group from the ground up. Since then, we've had 3 public concerts, with attendance ranging from 50-400 people. We have performed at the Chicago Telugu Association, in front of famous actors from India. At that same performance, we earned a cameo on an international television channel (TV9 in India)that was broadcasting the CTA performances. </p>

<p>Chinese - By far, my biggest EC. i'm coming closer and closer to being able to speak the language fluently. My speech and tones are both superb; my writing, while sloppy, is pretty good as well. My teacher recognized my talents early and sent me to a Chinese speech competition in freshman year....which i pulled a gold medal in, without much effort. I promptly did the same in sophomore year, and my gold medal run probably won't end. Next year, if i excel with the speech competition, I will probably earn an all-expense paid scholarship to Taiwan to study. I have also done lots of translating for Chinese ambassadors from Beijing that visited our school. I helped them learn about the American education system and culture, and in the process, i got to know about theirs.</p>

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<p>To be honest your resume looks pretty strong and really stands out in its ECs. The only thing that you’d really need is a really good essay and strong recommendation letters I think, otherwise I’d say you have a really good shot at getting in. I’m assuming you are applying to the College of Arts and Sciences?</p>

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<p>Definitly :slight_smile: they have both the extremely sciency astronomy and physics majors i’m intrested in, as well as the east asia studies minor that i’m intrested in as well.</p>

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<p>Nice ECs, really nice! Surely a match. As dragon says, write a killer essay and get great recommendations. Good luck!</p>

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<p>i know i have the audacity to write a great essay…i’m not sure about recs though XD i know my chinese teacher will PROBABLY write one for me (guaranteed gold) but i have no idea about my other teacher. also, i’m pretty sure my counselor doesn’t know my name…</p>

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<p>You seem to be a good candidate. But for Arts and Sciences, you don’t necessarily need the two SAT Subject Tests you mentioned. Any two (in different fields) will do. Pick the ones where you think you are likely to do best (based on your own strengths and what your high school teaches best). </p>

<p>If you take AP US History as a junior, for example, taking the SAT Subject Test in US History might be a good idea. There’s a lot of overlap.</p>

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<p>yeah, but the problem is, many of the other colleges i’m applying to like to see subject test reflect what i want in a major. and i DEFINITLY could 800 at least the Math II test, even now. what’s the advantage of taking 2 tests in different subjects when i know what i want to major in?</p>

<p>oh gosh, us history subject tests…i’m not even that great at history, ahaha</p>

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<p>Bumpppppp!</p>

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<p>Wow, I can’t see anything wrong, other than the 3.79 GPA. I think you’re on an awesome track. As long as you strive for A’s, I think you’ll have an awesome chance of getting in. It’s actually quite funny, you seem like a year older me. Same GPA (though I’d have a 4.0 if it weren’t for my hs classes in middle school:P), astrophysics and physics, and in love with Cornell. Lol. I’ve been trying to learn Chinese, but my vocabulary is quite rudimentary. I’m head of our Science Club/Olympiad as well.
Frankly, I think you’ll be a strong applicant for Cornell, especially with a 2200-2300 SAT. Your EC’s are excellent too.</p>

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<p>Ah, sorry, I meant, you seem like me except a grade older.</p>

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<p>Do you have any advice for a rising sophomore looking at the same track? and for running science olympiad?</p>

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<p>Oh gosh, I going to start running our 1 year old science olympiad program next year lol…but I guess I could say anything about it, make sure you get your team working on projects and stuff AS EARLY AS POSSIBLE and make periodic checks so that everything runs smoothly. Also, go to invitational tourneys so you have a better idea on how competition at regionals will be like.</p>

<p>And for Cornell…idk, I never really thought I had a good shot until now! All I’ve done in high school in terms of ECs are things that interest me a lot and I guess sticking with them for so long pays off. Also, don’t slack off gradewise and study like crazy for the SATs I guess :P</p>

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<p>in retrospect, i’m beginnning to think these posts are a big optimistic…so many people have been rejected from Cornell with better stats than me. for instance, i’ve heard of people with 31+ on the ACT being rejected…</p>

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<p>Cornell seems to reject a lot of high scorers for whatever reason but I wouldn’t worry about it as that is beyond your control. I think Cornell will end up being a match school for you.</p>

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<p>I don’t think its too optimistic at all. Honestly, if you apply ED, I’d give you a 40%+ chance, at the very least. You seem like the model Cornell applicant.</p>

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<p>I am not an adco, so take what I say with a grain of salt. Your ECs are very academic centric. Learning Chinese is not an EC. I would suggest for you to use some of your talents to help other peole - do some tutoring or volunteer work.</p>

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<p>Here is hope for you.
<a href=“http://www.nytimes.com/2011/08/06/nyregion/planning-summer-breaks-with-eye-on-college-essays.html?_r=1&hp[/url]”>http://www.nytimes.com/2011/08/06/nyregion/planning-summer-breaks-with-eye-on-college-essays.html?_r=1&hp&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

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<p>Not to hijack the thread, but just a quick question: If I apply to Cornell, will it be fine if I have a 27-30 ACT? How much will it hurt me if I decide not to take the SAT, or do they care that much?</p>

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<p>oh my god, dr. google, i love you for finding that article</p>

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<p>OldArnold</p>

<p>You can use the ACT in lieu of the SAT. All, or almost all, top schools will accept either.</p>

<p>Cornell reports, that for enrolled students, a score of 29 on the ACT is in the 25th percentile (i.e., 75% of enrolled students score above this level) of students who submitted the ACT. So, 29 or 30 would be very borderline, 27 or 28 less so.</p>