<p>Hey I'm looking to apply to CALS at Cornell ED. A lot of people in my family have gone to Cornell (my brother and cousin go there now, my mom, aunt, and uncle graduated) and I have visited the school multiple times. Please be honest with your advice and thanks in advance for your time.</p>
<p>white male from NJ public school, very competitive, top 8% (no specific rank)
4.15 W GPA with a strong upward trend </p>
<p>SAT: 2150
740 W
710 CR
700 M</p>
<p>SAT II:
750 US
700 Lit</p>
<p>ACT: 32
36 R
32 E
31 M
27 S (not too great lol)</p>
<p>APs
Soph Year: AP US 1
Jr Year: AP US 2 (will take AP exam in may), AP English 3 (exam taken at end of sr year)
Sr Year: AP European History, AP Environmental Science, AP English 4
(additional 5 other honors courses throughout high school)</p>
<p>ECs
Leo Club (similar to Key Club) Member (9-10), Treasurer (11-12)
(~50 hrs volunteer work)
Inner Voices Literary Magazine member and contributor (10-11), Co-Editor (12)
6 Years of playing guitar in jazz/rock bands
Stage Crew and Running Crew (11-12)<br>
20/20 Vision Committee Member--a board of youth and adult members solving local problems/community planning (11-12)
National Honor Society
Spanish Honor Society
Work with special needs children during the summer (3 years)</p>
<p>I know a significant portion of Cornell's decision is based on essay/teacher recs, will likely have strong ones</p>
<p>I personally don't know much about Cornell but my cousin made it in last year with a lower GPA and SAT's than yours. He probably had the same equivalence in his EC's, so I guess it will depend on your essays.</p>
<p>
[quote]
Is CALS difficult to get into compared to the other schools?
[/quote]
</p>
<p>The admit rate of CALS is slightly higher than most of the schools at Cornell...but CALS is very fit specific. You could be a 4.0/2400 student...but if you can't demonstrate how the CALS mission fits with your intellectual interests and goals, the adcom will dump you like a hot potato.</p>
<p>Make sure to look up what makes CALS special. Then when you write your essay incorporate that into it. That's an excellent way to show how what you plan to do fits in with the school.</p>
<p>Connect how your prospective goals can be fulfilled in CALS.</p>
<p>Make sure to have your English teachers check your essays. You pretty much have all the basics covered. You have a great chance, good luck.</p>