Hello, I am submitting my college apps in a few days and I am feeling quite nervous. I am applying (early) to the liberal arts colleges at Michigan, northeastern, Cornell, and UVA. Cornell ED, the rest EA. Here are my stats/extracurriculars.
94.79 GPA
1540 SAT 1
770 math SAT ii
730 us history
690 literature
Two 5s and one 4 submitted for AP exams
Extracurriculars
President/founder: sports debate club
Co-president: cancer society
Co-editor in chief: current events newspaper
Columnist for lastwordonsports.com (online journalism website
Intern for NYC city council campaign
Holocaust museum tour guide
Also both of my parents went to Cornell if that makes a difference (I’ve heard it has some effect). Given all this, what do u think my odds are of getting into the schools I listed? Thanks so much.
I’m assuming that your parents can afford these schools? I also hope that this is not your full list. You need matches and safeties (though I understand that these are your “early” schools only). Still, these are all reaches, which I guess is fine if the other choices will come later. Are you a resident of either Michigan or VA? I ask because these are tough schools for OOS students. Heck, UVA is brutal, even for VA residents! There was a thread on here of someone whose daughter was a 4.0 with high test scores, but because she was shy and didn’t have ECs, she was rejected everywhere, including her in-state flagship, UVA. UVA and William & Mary are more like elite private schools in terms of admission. For OOS students, it’s even rougher.
Sure, go for Cornell. My gut tells me that you’re a bit shy of the typical Cornell admit, but being a legacy does help, so that should be your definite reach that you should cross your fingers for. I’m rooting for you.
On your list, maybe Northeastern is a semi-match. Your ECs are fine, but many sound sort of typical, though I do not know full details (maybe some are more meaningful than they sound here).
Again, have true matches and safeties down the road. The good news is that ED/EA means that you’ll know results before December. Your profile does suggest that you should have a lot of wonderful schools to choose from, but I always get nervous when a student only applies to reaches, completely ignoring the many fine places (from universities to LACs) that would welcome a student like you with open arms.
Best of luck.
@Hapworth thanks. Sorry, wasn’t clear enough. These four are schools I’m applying to ONLY EARLY ACTION AND EARLY DECISION i have a full list with about 12 schools including safeties for the jan 1 deadline. Also, what do u mean by my extracurriculars are sort of typical? haven’t heard that before. Thanks
To be honest, my Extra cirriculars are pretty similar to yours (as are my SAT scores), and I don’t think they’re necessarily that typical or mundane. You have a few officership positions and they relate quite well to your liberal arts inclined major, and your internship seems like it’d help too. I’d say if your college essays and personal statements are well written and coherent you should have a pretty good chance at these schools