<p>I apologize for yet another thread about this...</p>
<p>I am New York State Resident.</p>
<p>Intended Major: Biological Science
concentration: systematcis/biotic diversity and/or biochemistry</p>
<p>GPA:
UW: 95.3
W: 99.2</p>
<p>Class rank: 6/207</p>
<p>SAT (weakest part of my application)
640 CR
540 Math
560 Writing
*I retook in october... I'm expecting at least a 100 point boost in math and writing. I'm also taking again in November.</p>
<p>SAT II:
Biology E. 800
US History 700</p>
<p>AP's:
World History: 4
US History: 4
Biology: 4</p>
<p>Senior Schedule:
AP Environmental
AP Chemistry
AP Statistics
AP Literature
Economics/criminal justice
Band</p>
<p>EC's:
Team Captain of school's NOSB (national ocean sciences bowl) team
Independent Research at Stony Brook University
Simons Summer Research Fellowship at Stony Brook
Co-Founder/Co-president of high school greenhouse club
jazz, pep, pit bands
National Honors Society
crew for musicals
Internship which evolved into a Job as educator at local aquarium
also worked as swim instructor at YMCA and for private swim team
Varsity swimming for 3 years (as well as private swim team)</p>
<p>I've worked on two research projects in HS at actual lab (my abstracts will be attached)... this is highlighted in my essays. My essay also details my participation in the research fellowship.</p>
<p>I know the SAT will probably hold me back... do you think they may overlook this because of my research experiences?
Thanks in advanced for your insight!</p>
<p>There is a huge gap between your SAT scores and your school mark. It can be inferred that your school is way too easy. You have to boost your SAT scores.</p>
<p>Yes, definitely I've thought of this... wouldn't my performance on AP's and SAT II's show that my school is not too easy? ( I can assure you it's not, it's a small public school in a very good neighborhood, the school was the reason my family moved here)</p>
<p>I'm sure my SATs will go up... I can guarantee mid to upper 600's on every subject, but I'm not sure they'll reach 700+ for each part.</p>
<p>Could one component of my application really prevent my acceptance? I thought Cornell and especially CALS took a much more holistic approach.</p>
<p>CALS does take a more holistic approach in viewing applicant files. Grades and test scores are important...but overall CALS is dedicated to taking students who will benefit from the CALS curriculum and mission. This is determined through the essays. Through my experience as a CALS Ambassador I sat in on many admission panels. The adcom member running the panel often said that they consider the essay to be just as important (if not more so) as the student's numbers.</p>
<p>thanks dewdrop87! Your post is reassuring! My "main" essay for the common app. is solid; I'm still working on my supplemental essay. I'm going to make sure they are top knotch!</p>
<p>Thanks, again!</p>
<p>Do you think that applying to such a competitive major (biological science) may hold me down also? Do you think my application reflects the kind of passion they are looking for.... especially if I can convey that passion in my essays?</p>
<p>Not to be a nag, but do you think applying ED would greatly increase my chances of being accepted?</p>
<p>I hate to do this: bump.</p>
<p>Can someone please help me out? Feel free to be as brutally honest as possible!</p>
<p>Would applying at all (ED or not) even be worth it for me?</p>
<p>Yes -- while i might give you a 20% chance of being admitted RD, ED would definitely get you closer to 50%. You are the type of applicant that Cornell likes to admit ED. A good student with a strong interest in their field of study, but a bit rough around the edges.</p>
<p>I applied ED and managed to improve my SAT Scores:</p>
<p>700 CR
640 Writing (10 on the essay)
640 Math</p>
<p>To Clarify:
I have great rec. letters; including one from my research mentor. In my essay I stressed my strong interest in research... not pre med, and the experiences I have to back that interest (two independent research projects, Research Fellowship at a major research institution, numerous science EC's at school). My projects showed a strong interdisciplinary nature, but were mainly related to the environment and resource sustainability (regarding fish species). I think this is something CALS, especially, is interested in. </p>
<p>Do you think my chances have improved at all?</p>
<p>Thank you for your insight!</p>
<p>You have a very good shot. Cornell CALS is not as SAT obsessed as most people on CC are. The local schools in my part of NYS regularly put students with lower GPAs and sub-650 SAT scores into CALS. And these are not students with world-class ECs. The major difference I can see between your "resume" and theirs is that most of the kids from this area who have gained admission were either ranked in the top three or were legacies.</p>
<p>I think you have a good shot.
CALS is wholistic, but try to get those SAT's up - I mean, your other test scores are strong and your gpa is high, so you must be smart...what'd you do, take the SAT hungover? ;)</p>
<p>hahaha, well we can't all be 100% perfect! </p>
<p>Thank you for your input, I appreciate it!</p>
<p>hudsonvalley- represent! lol. sorry had to do that.</p>
<p>OP> I think you def. have a strong shot. I had nearly identical stats (lower SATiis but a high ACT), and I was given a GT. Then again, they only admitted <20 into my major. Bio is def. competitive as well, but you are certainly still in the running. Best of luck!</p>