bad hs/good college/transfer chances

<p>I had a 2.0 in high school for some certain reasons, which I have a good explanation for. At community college I have approximately a 3.7 in 70 semester hours where I have taken Calc I and II, Physics w/lab, Chemistry w/lab, Elementary German I and II, Intermediate German I and II, and nearly all of the general education requirements…I attend the University of Miami where I pulled a 3.3 with 15 semester hours for the one semester I was there. However, I had to leave due to something personal and the dean as well as the president said they are going to be writing me outstanding letters of recommendations to whatever school I wish to attend. I also have superior extracurricular activities, leadership positions held, president of clubs, and other significant letters of recommendations from professors and such. Do you think they will be willing to overlook my poor high school performance, and do you think I have a good shot for admission assuming I have good essays, etc? I have never had less than a “B” in college. I'd be applying to the CALS.</p>

<p>To be honest: I'd say to you have a below average chance. What Cornell wants in transfers is evidence that they can handle the difficult curriculum at Cornell. Your high school GPA is so low that you would really need to be perfect to offset that. The fact that you only had a 3.3 at Miami is also a big blow against you and the 3.7 at community college isn't great either b/c its community college. Most transfers get 4.0 or very close to it.</p>

<p>However, it seems like the rest of your application is up to par with Cornell admission standards. Maybe this will outweigh your grades. </p>

<p>Sorry if this was harsh, but maybe try to do research and show you're well qualified academically as well as socially and leadership wise.</p>

<p>I'm also a little confused regarding the dean and/or president writing you recommendations letters (great ones at that). How do they know you so well to make such a fabulous assessment of you as a applicant? I'm not incredulous as to whether you are one or not, just curious how you're so personal with these individuals.</p>

<p>thanks for the reply...well i think ive taken the most difficult curriculum to me at the community college, with solid grades and courses...(calc 1 and 2, etc) the grades at miami were 400 level classes for my major..also most of my b's are in foreign language which brought my gpa down otherwise id have around a 3.85...is the reason why the cornell transfer rate is relatively high for an ivy because of the General Transfer Agreement?...do you have any statistics on the amount of transfers admitted that didnt have the General Transfer Agreement?</p>

<p>I have no clue about the transfer stats. All I know is my own experience transferring.</p>

<p>However, given the further information you supplied, I'd say my initial assessment of your chances is probably inaccurate. They'll definitely be impressed with you taking 400 level courses, although how you can do this so early in college is confusing to me. That shows initiative and will be a major bonus for you. Unfortunately, no matter how difficult the courses were at community college, no Ivy league admissions counselor would respect them really. A lot of those course credits might not even transfer. </p>

<p>But I think, despite not being perfect, your courses show that you're willing to challenge yourself and Cornell will love that.</p>

<p>what were your hs/college stats? also whered you transfer from?...if you were going to guess what do you think the likelyhood of me being admitted is?</p>

<p>I might have missed this...but what CALS major would you intend on applying to? Your GPA is above the minimum 3.0, although a minimum of 3.5 is required for Biological Sciences. </p>

<p>While it appears you have extenuating circumstances, realize that a fair majority of transfers who matriculate into CALS have a GPA of 3.7+. My HS stats were mediocre (UW GPA 3.8, SAT 1250/1600) but I had a 3.9 while participating on the swim team at my former college. It also seems you're a non-NYS resident. This will make things slightly more complicated.</p>

<p>Anyway...I don't want to be a downer. If you really want to come to CALS, I suggest you chat with the women who heads transfer admissions. She'll talk to you and give you an honest assessment of your chances.</p>

<p>I had a bad high school record, and I was recently accepted to Cornell. </p>

<p>But I'm transferring from an upper level SUNY school with a 4.0 after 2 years... well... a 3.98 (Damn A-)</p>

<p>im not 100% on the major yet..dewdrop87-u say ur hs stats were mediocre, mine was a 2.0...jdc42-what was ur hs gpa?</p>

<p>longhorn: I wouldn't rely on the numbers of those of us who were accepted to judge your chances. I spoke with the transfer coordinator in CALS admissions today and she indicated that this year's group of external transfer applicants was one of the strongest she's seen in years.</p>

<p>Rather than judge your chances by our numbers....I highly suggest you chat with someone in CALS admissions.</p>

<p>longhorn-</p>

<p>I had about a 3.0 in high school.</p>

<p>thanks guys. congrats jdc42</p>