<p>Hey guys! I've currently got a situation I'd like to ask about. Since this site was helpful in getting me in, I figure it'll help my friend out a little too. Merci beaucoup if you take the time to read all of this and give some insight!</p>
<p>So one of my best friends is a current sophomore at Siena College looking to transfer from the Biology program there to Cornell (CALS, obviously.) He's a NY state resident who, after applying during senior year of HS, received a GT to the ILR school because at the time he was caught between pre-med and pre-law. Yes, yes, I know (and so does he) that you <em>can</em> be pre-med in ILR, but after his first year at Siena, he decided that since transferring to ILR with it's binding contract of him staying in that school for a full year before doing an internal-transfer would mean he'd have to take a ton of ILR classes that he's no longer interested in as well as falling behind on the coursework needed for the MCATs, he ended up turning down the GT. Now that he's been at Siena for another semester, he and his parents have decided to reapply for this coming Fall. He's concerned on a few aspects on his application, so I figured I'd see what I can find out for him.</p>
<p>1) He did receive a C and a B- in two classes this past fall semester (Orgo and Cell Bio I believe). Obviously this doesn't bode well for a Bio major anywhere, so with criticism aside, would it be best to explain reasons for those grades via his application essays and perhaps a meeting with Cathy or someone before hand? (although I know CALS doesn't do official interviews, is it impossible for him to meet with someone to discuss things about transferring during the process?)</p>
<p>2) Overall his GPA is decent, I believe somewhere in the 3.3.-3.5 range. Don't worry, I've already been over this with him (and actually had a talk with Cathy last summer about my own application regarding this matter) about Biology and being pre-med, how basically if you don't have at least a 3.6 they won't even look at your application. For this reason, he's NOT mentioning anything regarding pre-med on his app and essays, and instead focusing on his love of science, Biology, Cornell, and how he's always wanted to go there. Cathy told me that when they see pre-med anywhere on an application, they put their 'pre-med caps on' and judge you much differently than if you were just applying to Bio, so he's in on that tip. Plus he truly could go any which way with a science field.</p>
<p>3) He has legacy, both his older brother (just graduated in '08) and father went to Cornell, of which his dad was in CALS for Bio and brother in ILR. </p>
<p>4) Like I mentioned above, he's technically been accepted once before. But I'm unsure if being chosen for one school at one point will help or hurt him for a different school. Again as said earlier, he's an in-state student. </p>
<p>5) His recommendations and extracurriculars are off the charts. He's an amazing guy, extremely outgoing, very determined and confident and I know he'll be able to create some fantastic fit-based essays for CALS to show why he belongs there and not at Siena. In just the first year and a half he's been President of his dorm building, just recently been elected Vice President of the student body, he's a member of Army ROTC (uncontracted), he had a 6-week summer internship with Saratoga Hospital shadowing an orthopedic surgeon and then some, and upon returning home for the summer from Siena his boss at the Wings restaurant he works at promoted him from cashier to a high position advertisement job, where he would go to local businesses and otherwise to promote the restaurant and set up parties or events with them for Wings to cater. </p>
<p>He probably has so much more to add on as well, in addition to definitely getting excellent recommendations from professors, advisors, managers, HS teachers, and his squad leader in ROTC.</p>
<p>So I guess what I'm looking for is some tips, advice, and insight on his chances, answers to the questions I've asked, and anything he can do to improve his application. He's seriously wanted to go to Cornell since he first heard the word college, but he's just kind of fallen into place at Siena just like any kid of his personality would. </p>
<p>Please, DO NOT respond if you're going to suggest he just stay at Siena where he's comfortable or if you're just going to say his chances suck. He's very serious about reapplying and wants to make his application perfect and I know he can do it as long as he fills in the glares. So yeah, anything else you guys can offer would be greatly appreciated. ^_^</p>
<p>EDIT: Oh and as a note I forgot to mention, he hasn't taken physics yet, even though that's on the list for pre-req courses for junior transfers. He's already going to speak with someone at CALS to explain how instead of physics, he's been taking advanced biology classes (Cellular Biology/Genetics) and can just take physics in his junior year at Cornell. He has all the other pre-reqs done except stats or calc II (which he can take this summer).</p>