Best way to get into Cornell...

Colleges and Universities A-Z Cornell University
1

<p>Hi, I’m a junior interested in Cornell’s college of Engineering, and I wondered how to maximize my chances by senior yr.</p>

<p>Here are my prospective stats by senior yr: </p>

<p>4.0 UW, 4.35W, top 25% at competitive public HS
2100+ SAT
a few 750+ SATiis.
6 AP tests (2 5s already)/4 AP courses
Close to NO ECs!! (perhaps 50-100 hrs volunteering, some science/math competition, a JV sport, but no leadership or other national awards)</p>

<p>What is the best way to maximize my chances by next yr?</p>

<li>Get 2300+ or 33+ on the SAT/ACT and a few ECs (but no national/ground breaking stuff though)</li>
<li>Study a college physics course during the summer and a few ECs.</li>
<li>Do some internships, research or more science competitions as well as more significant ECs</li>
</ol>

<p>I wish I could do all 3 options, but they are mutually exclusive.</p>

<p>Thanks for reading. I am impatient to read your opinion/advices!!!</p>

<p>-Watson&Crick</p>

2

<p>go with 2 or 3</p>

<p>your scores are fine already, but if you haven't taken a shot at the ACT, maybe give it a try. otherwise, just get involved.</p>

3

<p>2100 is fine? I thought as an Ivy, cornell would consider 2100 as low?</p>

4

<p>2100 might be below the average (not sure) but it isn't out of the ballpark. Having had very few good ECs would hurt you more than a slightly "low" SAT score, so I would go with 2 or 3. (Personally I think 3 would help you more.)</p>

5

<p>Thanks. I think I will try some summer programs (including Cornell's biotechnology research program! :))</p>

<p>Any other suggestions?</p>

6

<p>"2100 is fine? I thought as an Ivy, cornell would consider 2100 as low?"</p>

<p>cornell has the lowest scores out of the ivies: "SAT verbal scores over 700 38%, SAT math scores over 700 59%, ACT scores over 30 56%"</p>

7

<p>for the class of 2011 the 25-75 percentile: Verbal 620-730 Math: 660-750
2100 is perfectly fine.</p>

8

<p>yea go with option 3. Hm I won't freak out about having little leadership part. Embarrassingly enough, I didn't have much leadership myself in HS, and after I submitted my ED app I realized my essays are kinda generic, but I still got into CAS as a physics major. If I applied to Engineering back then (as I should have), I would probably have gotten in too.</p>

9

<p>More than a quarter of the Engineering class has an 800 on math SAT. Only 25% has a 720 or below. Don't make the mistake of lumping Hotel, ILR, Ag and HumEC and getting an overall score. You have to look at the specific college to which you are applying.</p>

10

<p>i only read this because i liked your username...</p>

11

<p>you guys been following the whole story behind watson who is claiming that intelligence differs by race? if it's based on lies, i'm offended. if it's based on hard science, i fear the world may see a new era of racism.</p>

12

<p>theslowclap, why do you write this? what does watson's beliefs have to do with this thread?</p>

13

<p>That was really random... anyway, I believe (and what I was told) that if you are qualified (mid 50% test scores, or even 1 bad score) and have a way of showing interest in the school (one way is ED), then the key is writing passionate essays that relate to your desired major. In CALS, ILR, and Hotel, experience in EC's that relate to this major is a Huge +. Hooks also help (URM, 1st gen, legacy), but at Cornell I was told the essays are PIVOTAL.</p>

14

<p>mrsopresident: there is no relevance. but on the flip side, what does your questioning my relevance have to do with this thread? hahaha</p>

<p>but to be fair: if "significant EC" is winning a national competition, then definitely choice 3. Choice 2 is your least important I think. Choice 1 looks slightly less important than choice 3. You might get in. You might not get in. In the end, it really doesn't matter.</p>

15

<p>lol i guess its to get everything back on track. of course, this post alone keeps it off track.</p>

16

<p>have your parents donate millions of dollars</p>

<p>out of those three choices, i'd go with 1</p>

17

<p>i second the million dollar donation movement.</p>