<p>How is a 3.7 GPA if you're applying to Cornell? Relatively speaking, would that 3.7 be considered a weak suit? If it is considered low, how can a student salvage that, with regards to SAT scores (What score range would you say makes up for it?), EC's, essays, etc. If a sibling went to this school, would that be considered legacy? Of course, there's no specific way of telling without looking at a full application but it seems like a 3.7 is going to cripple me from what I've read.</p>
<p>The fact that you pay 70 bucks for the app fee better ensure you are going to be “considered”.</p>
<p>If you’re asking for chances with a 3.7, well, like pretty much everything in life, that really depends. How rigorous are the classes you are taking/have taken. All APs/IBs? Is your school known for being super competitive? If so, then that 3.7 (I’m assuming Unweighted) isn’t so crippling. Also, what is your intended major? If it is STEM related, I highly doubt you would need to worry as much about a few B’s in humanities classes.</p>
<p>As for sibling Q, it technically is NOT legacy unless he/she already graduated (since legacy is an immediate family member who is an alum) but yes it will hold weight if that is what you are asking.</p>
<p>All in all, don’t worry about ‘making up for GPA’ in SATs. I don’t really think stats work that way in holistic admissions. If you can justify why it isn’t as high as you would like it to be, be sure to emphasize that. Just focus on improving your grades and doing the best you can on each section of the app.</p>
<p>Best of Luck.</p>
<p>Haha maybe “considered” wasn’t the best word choice</p>
<p>My school is ranked in the top 40 of the nation, but this is a NYC public school and the AP classes are not abundant. Students are only allowed to take 5 AP’s in one year and it’s limited by your GPA. So if you have a 3.7 like me, you are only allowed to take 3 AP classes in one year, and if you have a 3.9 you are only allowed to take 4. My school is definitely competitive but there is wealth of students at my school who have 4.0’s and 3.9’s because my school doesn’t do unweighted averages, only weighted (I’m not sure exactly how it works but we don’t send in unweighted averages or something like that). All of our non-AP classes are considered honors and weighted as honors classes. My intended major is still largely undecided, but for now my mind is set on Business or something business-related. </p>
<p>Yes, my sibling already graduated about 2 years ago, but when asked about legacy sometimes it only asks me about parent or grand-parent so I’m not sure about that.</p>
<p>I’m super worried though because that 3.7 is considered below average for the Cornell body, so already I’m at a huge disadvantage applying. Do you know if a 3.8 is still considered below average?</p>
<p>Just to clarify on the legacy, siblings, whether they are alumni are not, don’t make you a legacy. Your parent, grandparent, great-grandparent, and onward. must have graduated from Cornell undergraduate or a graduate school.</p>
<p>I believe most colleges look at GPAs in their own way - and it was my understanding that Cornell unweights GPAs, but I’m not entirely sure. Anyway, I was accepted ED to Cornell in December with a 3.77 unweighted GPA (my school does not weigh GPAs), so there is hope! </p>
<p>A 3.7 UNWEIGHTED would probably be high enough if you have very strong test scores and generally a strong application otherwise. But a 3.7 weighted is going to be low for Cornell without some other hook. </p>
<p>If you are in NY and go to a ‘great’ school, Cornell will understand how they handle the weighting and use that in their decision process. Basically, they will level the field for you with their other candidates in terms of how different schools weigh grades. 3.7 is not bad, but it all depends upon the competition. We skipped Cornell as an option due to funding, but we did a lot of research on them first. Hope you make it!</p>
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<p>I assume they do what most top schools and unweight the grades. Which is why most admissions discussions for top colleges on CC ask about unweighted CCs. You make it sound like they will cut the OP some slack if they “understand” the weighting – I don’t think that is really what will happen. Now… if the OP’s school has serious grade deflation and Cornell knows it, that could be taken into account. But that is not what the OP has said.</p>
<p>I can guess the NYC high school, and there is definitely grade deflation there, which I am sure Cornell understands and takes into consideration. Your best bet is to check Naviance to see how grads with your stats from your high school have done historically at Cornell. If you are a junior, you should get access to Naviance by the end of this school year.</p>
<p>OP, do you go to stuyvesant?
nevermind…you said your school only does weighted. You should note that most colleges don’t give a damn about weighted gpas</p>
<p>^ at oldmom what school were you thinking of? </p>
<p>Superdub I’m not entirely sure of my school’s grading process since we do have unweighted GPA’s but those do not appear on our report cards or on our transcripts. There is only a little star asterisk at the bottom which indicates that these grades were weighted. But to be frank it is very hard to attain a 3.8 or a 3.9 GPA at my school (the majority of the school would fall below 3.7 but then again the majority of the school does not get into Cornell)</p>
<p>I’m in the same situation (specialized high school in NYC) and it’s my understanding that Cornell is generally understanding about grade deflation in schools here. On Naviance the average GPA for accepted students from my school (typically 14-15 students per year) is lower (relatively speaking) than the average on Cornell’s common data set, and it is weighted. So who knows. I can’t say for sure, but I think you will be alright.</p>
<p>I got in regular decision with a 3.7. If you have a strong essay and good ec’s, you have a shot. Unless you’re majoring in science or math, then you have less of a chance (imo). </p>