Hi, so I’m a sophomore in high school. I’ve played varsity lacrosse since freshman year, I’m the class co-president this year (and I’ve been re-elected for next year), I design/sew/sell clothes, and have various other extracurriculars as well. I’ve hosted and organized a Charity Fashion Show at my school for two year and have raised $1000+. I have an solid final grade of an A+ in History, French, and English. I have a B in Geometry. I had a C+ in Honors Chemistry during the first semester, and since then I’ve worked hard to bring it to a B (84.1). I just had my final and I really don’t think it went well (and it’s 10% of my grade) and my year grade will end up either being a B- or C+. I go to a private school that’s known for having a rigorous curriculum. If it is a C+, will one C+ during my sophomore year severely affect my chances of admission to colleges even though I’m heavily involved in extracurriculars and primarily have A’s? My dream schools are NYU, Fordham, and Cornell right now
While your ECs are interesting, the most important component in a college application is academics (unless you are looking into a specific art/fashion design major). In order to gain admission to a top university such as Cornell, a high GPA (think 4.0 W) is essential. Next, a college will look at your standardized test scores (SAT, ACT) and I assume you haven’t yet taken any. These two factors are the baseline. Once students have those, top colleges look at ECs to differentiate the high stat students who apply.
It looks like you are struggling a bit with math and science this year. Here are some questions:
How did you do in your freshman year?
What is your planned course schedule for next year (junior year)?
Are you planning on taking any APs?
Does your school weight honors and AP courses?
Have you won any regional/state/national awards?
What is your class rank? If your school doesn’t rank, where do you think you place amongst your peers based on GPA - top 5%, top 10%, etc.?
If you can provide that information, I can guide you a bit better.
Freshman was almost the same -
Solid A+ in French, History, and English
B+ in Math, B in Biology.
I plan on taking AP U.S. History, AP Lit, AP Environmental, Pre-Calculus, Spanish, and French. I know I can get at least an A in all of my AP’s and an A+ in my languages for sure. I’m hoping to end Junior year with a 4.4-4.5 GPA
My school does weight honors courses, I believe it’s .5 added. It’s finals week right now so I’m not sure what my GPA is, but I’d estimate 3.8 and above (I also get .25 added for having an A in Woodshop I think)
Cornell is on my list because of their unique Fiber Science and Apparel Design Departement. I’ve been accepted into Cornell’s summer college for a fashion design program this summer. I also found the email of the director of the aforementioned program I’m interested in and I’ve drafted an email with my guidance counselor introducing myself, detailing my accomplishments in fashion, and asking the director if we could meet while I’m at the university to discuss how I may become a more competitive applicant and to learn more about his department.
Thank you for your help @scholardad
Oh and as far as standardized tests, I don’t officially take them until next fall but I received a 1200/1600 on the PSAT and hope to bring it to a 1450 after actually studying (I didn’t prepare at all).
I took a look at the Fiber Design department’s website. My concern at this point is that it states:
“Our students and faculty study apparel design and fiber science through the art of design, the science of chemistry and physics, the application of management principles, and the perspective of history.”
The fact that you did not do well in 10th grade chemistry and one of the program’s main components is the study of chemistry and physics would raise a red flag. When do students take physics at your school? The undergraduate program only has approx. 130 students so I imagine it is very selective and the expectation is that applicants would have high grades in both chemistry and physics.
I do think that meeting with the director will be helpful to you. Just be sure to have a good list of safeties and matches and work hard on those applications first.
One other point: I see that you don’t have any arts courses next year. Is there a reason for this? It seems a bit unusual in a college prep/private school not to have an arts course in your schedule, especially given your interest in creative arts. Just curious.
Oh sorry I didn’t include it, I’m taking Photography. I would be take another course but since languages are among my strong suits I decided to opt for Spanish in addition to my French course.
And I do totally get your point, Cornell’s main draw point for me is this Fiber Science and Apparel Design program, and Cornell is primarily known for it’s science courses. Obviously science is neither my passion nor strong suit, so I’m open to any suggestions about good schools that have a program designated for fashion or textile design. I am going to apply to design schools such as Parsons, but I’d rather go to a traditional school. While I want to start my own brand, the fashion industry is expensive, so I feel like it would be best if I got a dual degree or majored in something substantial such as business or law (minor in art or design), so that I have a good financial base before diving into an industry as unpredictable as fashion. How do you think my standings will be at schools such as Fordham (which has a fashion law program) and NYU based on my grades (assuming I get a B- in Chem Honors)? @scholardad
FYI…here are the stats and ECs of a student who is now a first year in the program to give you an idea of how competitive it is to gain admission. I’m not trying to put a damper on your enthusiasm. In fact, I applaude you for thinking about all of this before your junior year! However, I believe it is important to put things in perspective.
Objective:
SAT I (breakdown): 2200/2400 (R: 660, W: 740, M: 800) (Highest Combined)
SAT II: 780 Math, 740 Chinese/w listening, (Planning to take Korean w/listening, hoping for a 800)
Unweighted GPA: 96/100%
Rank (percentile if rank is unavailable):Top 20%
AP (Scores): Language and Composition (5), Chinese (5), Statistics (5), Chemistry (4), World History (4) so far.
Senior Year Course Load: AP Literature, AP Art History, AP Drawing, AP Calculus BC, Environmental Science, U.S. History, Ceramics
Major Awards:
AP International Diploma and AP Scholar with Distinction
COMAP International High School Mathematical Contest in Modelling Honorable mention (Twice, 9th and 10th grade)
High Honors Award in academics for all 6 semesters from 9th to 11th grade
Scholastic Art & Writing Awards Regional Silver key in Ceramics & Glass
Scholastic Art & Writing Awards Regional Honorable mention in Painting
ABRSM Grade 5 Flute Exam with distinction
Hong Kong Music Festival Secondary School Flute Solo Merit
ISSFHK Badminton Team Bronze Medal
Subjective:
Extracurriculars (place leadership in parenthesis):
*None of my E.C.s are more than 2 years because I moved schools in my Junior Year…
National Art Honors Society-2 years (Vice President)
Interact Fashion show club-2 years (Art Section Manager and clothing designer)
Filipino Workers in Korea Self-Sustainment -Published their stories and photos after a make-over(makeup and clothing designed by me) on a town magazine. Also helped establish their part-time jobs (bracelet making)-1 Summer (Founder)
Daniel School Service- school for mentally disabled children-2 years (Project manager)
Art Exhibition-Exhibited 4 drawings and helped organise the exhibition Seoul, Korea-1 year
Service on Saturdays-teaching English to local children in Hong Kong-1 year (Lesson Leader)
Korean Community Church of Hong Kong-2 years (Service Leader)
Student Council-2 years (Homeroom Representative)
Fashion/Art/Photography Blogger-3 years
Homeroom representative-2 years
Badminton doubles player-2 years
Jazz Band 1(highest level jazz band in my school)-keyboard-2 years
Korean Saturday School-2 years
Community Service club-2 years
Art and Literary Magazine editor-1 year
Job/Work Experience:
Intern at a Gallery in Seoul for 3 summers and one winter
Teacher assistant for my school’s primary teacher for 1 year
Sales Assistant at Hyundai Department Store Jean Store for summer
Volunteer/Community service:
Planned and carried out fun crafting projects with mentally disabled children, Ex) Designed and made dresses with the fabrics that the children tie-dyed to present in an art exhibition (Every month for 2 years)
Taught English to local primary students in Hong Kong (every month for 1 year)
Distributed food and clothing to the homeless in Seoul Station (every month for 2 years)
Habitat for Humanity Malaysia-built a house for a disadvantaged family in Malaysia, Kuching (1 week)
Taught English to rural primary school children in Cambodia, Siem Reap (1 week)
Taught English to disadvantaged middle and high school students in Jeju Island, Korea (1 week)
Summer Activities:
9th: Interned at a gallery in Seoul, attended summer school in Philips Academy, Andover
10th: Interned at a gallery in Seoul
11th: Interned at a gallery in Seoul, Filipino Makeover/Sustainment Project, Marketing Research at Sogang University (KTX Train Research)
Other
Supplement: Art Portfolio with 20 pieces of drawings, paintings, sculptures, clothing, fashion scrapbook, process workbook
Country (if international applicant): Hong Kong and Korea (lived most of my life in Hong Kong, currently in Korea)
School Type: International
Ethnicity: Asian
Gender:Female
Income Bracket: Not really sure, but quite high
Hook: AMAZINGGGG PORTFOLIO (All of my art teachers claim that it’s one of the best they have seen in many years…)
http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/discussion/comment/18944356#Comment_18944356
Thank you for your time and effort @scholardad, I realize that I’m not your responsibility and I do agree with a lot of your points. Would you advise that I strive to make my application more like the woman’s that you sent me and send a letter explaining my B- or C+ in chemistry honors sophomore year when it comes time to apply?
Also I’m not sure if this point warrants discussion but I’d just like to mention that there are two sections of honors chemistry, and in my class only about 2-3 people have an A-. The rest have Bs and below
The best person to ask would be your HS guidance counselor who would be familiar with what colleges students with your profile from your HS have previously be accepted at. Since you are at a good private school I’m guessing that when the time is right he/she will meet with you and discuss college options. Until that time just do the best you can in the more rigorous curriculum you can manage (perhaps move out of honors science?). If need be consider cutting down on some ECs and focus on academics if you feel you are spread too thin right now.
I agree with @happy1 I imagine you have a decent college counselor at your school and it sounds like you have already met with him/her and planned a course of action (e.g. working together to craft that email to the program director). You are ahead of the game already just by exploring your options at this point. You have shown leadership skills and initiative. Again, the key will be your academics so keep studying hard and pursuing the coursework that best suits your needs. Please keep us posted in the months ahead of your progress!
P.S. If your school has access to Naviance, check it out to see how recent students at your school have fared gaining access to Cornell (GPA/SAT/ACT scores and acceptances). Be aware, though, that Naviance does not show things like URM. development/special case status, athletic recruits, etc. so a low GPA/SAT “dot” showing acceptance might not be indicative of your own chances.
Yeah I was wondering when someone would mention meeting with my guidance counselor. I’ve met with her a couple of times and she’s great, we’ve called schools together to discuss how much my portfolio will be weighted against my academics, acceptance rates, etc. The reason I’m on here is because it’s finals week and I had a meltdown after this Chem exam and I can’t meet with her haha, but you two have been more than helpful!
As far as cutting down on extracurriculars, I see your point, but I don’t think it’ll be necessary because now I feel like I know exactly how to organize myself and I’ll be able to drive next school year. While this year might have been a failure for me academically, I think I’ve grown a lot and should the opportunity present itself, I’ll be sure to detail how/what I learned in an application essay @happy1 @scholardad
Marist might be a school to look at as well (maybe as a safety). Strong fashion program in a traditional school. Try not to stress too much over one exam or one course. And good luck moving forward.