Chance a URM with a bad class rank!

Colleges and Universities A-Z Cornell University
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<p>Hey guys, </p>

<p>You might have seen some of my other threads asking if class rank was my main weakness. I noticed however I really didn't post all my stats, which may be the reason I really didn't get a clear response. So, the more and more I look into Cornell I really like it! Right now, Cornell (AEM) and Penn (Wharton) are my two dream schools. I know its probably a reach for Penn....but chance for Cornell?</p>

<p>Can you guys also chance me for : Georgetown, Fordham, NYU Stern, Princeton, UChicago, Rutgers, Columbia, UVA (OOS) </p>

<p>GPA: 3.6/4.0 unweighted 3.9/4.0 weighted (I took Honors and AP's throughout high school and showed a consistent record of improvement)</p>

<p>Rank: Top 15% (I know....it used to be top 20)</p>

<p>SAT: Projected 2100 (Should I try to raise this)</p>

<p>Awards: Gold Presidential Service Award, Regional Awards for FBLA 3 years, FBLA State Awards 1 year (3 separate awards), National Awards: Membership Recruitment Award, Business Achievement Awards Highest Level, Presidential Service Award for Educational Excellence, Consumer Bowl County Winner</p>

<p>Business Courses Taken:
Sports Marketing :98%
Contemporary Business : 99%
Business Law: 94%
Financial Math: 100%
Accounting :100%
Marketing: 95%</p>

<p>EC's:</p>

<p>President of my school's FBLA chapter (Future Business Leaders of America) Publicity Committee (Director) Membership Committee, State Officer for two years
President of my school's DECA chapter (Marketing Club)
Co-President of the Technology Student Association (Soph Year)
Editor In Chief of my school's literary magazine (soph year)
Math Team member, Student gov member , NHS member
Varsity Golf</p>

<p>Outside of school:</p>

<p>Attended Penn's Startalk Summer program an received an A (I got a full scholarship)
I tutor international students at an Ivy League University in English (I'm getting a letter of rec from the director of the program, he is also on the board of trustees)</p>

<p>I'm HISPANIC, and Native American but I'm not enrolled in a tribe, so I won't claim it. </p>

<p>Letters of recommendation are phenomenal, I read them and was actually surprised how many great things my teachers said. </p>

<p>I go to a competitive school...everyone in the top 10% has like a 97 or up GPA but most kids just attend state schools. My school doesn't really send anyone to top 30 schools, mostly because everyone just has a high gpa and nothing else.</p>

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<p>Thank you guys! I’m really clueless to this whole process…and I’ve learned so much on this website. I actually thought a 3.7 GPA WEIGHTED which I had my freshman year was competitive for these schools…and was told it was by my counselor. So, if anyone has any suggestions towards my app, I’d really appreciate it!</p>

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<p>Anyone…</p>

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<p>Well I noticed you were asking people specifically if they were/knew people with class rank in the lower tier and still getting in, and people most told you it doesn’t happen most of the time. I’d just like to say it - it is indeed a holistic process, so although people with 15% class rank don’t often get in, they still have a fair shot. </p>

<p>I think your marks in your business classes are commendable, and definitely helps. Your ECs are great too. The only downside for you I see is the fact your high school doesn’t send many people to top schools - that doesn’t say much about you, but even if you are qualified, top schools just tend to pick mostly from the same schools, with the occasional exceptional candidate from a school that rarely sends any students to top schools. Yet you still have a fair shot, so go for it. Just two things.</p>

<p>1) SAT: You only mentioned ‘projected: 2100’ this could be the game changer if you get it any higher (although don’t kill yourself over it if you can’t). Although I don’t know how accurate you are with your projected score, often people either over or underestimate. So just keep working on that, along with continuing your ECs, and upward GPA trend.</p>

<p>2) The Hispanic/Native American does help - I think it’s fine to claim your Native American even if you’re not enrolled in a tribe - whatever helps the cause works in my opinion.</p>

<p>Good luck, just have a good variety with your college list - the schools you mentioned seem like a good mix, add in a safety or two, and it should be fine. Good luck! End of the day it is holistic - so worrying about chances too much becomes meaningless - because you might think your more or less qualified than you can actual come out to be. </p>

<p>So it’s not like you are completely hopeless, or at the same time - amazing, awesome chance - but you’re somewhere in the middle like most people. Look into EDing to Penn or Cornell, it may help.</p>

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<p>Gee, you’re almost a mirror image of me when I applied. You’d have a decent shot at either school but definitely apply ED to one. Which one you decide should be based really on your preferences of course type, school location, and other factors.</p>

<p>Edit: Do you have any AP’s/subject tests? Doing well in those would certainly help.</p>

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<p>Apply ED if you can if cornell is your #1 choice and you are secure financially, but it will be a bit of a longshot. top 15% is pretty weak, especially for AEM which may be the most competitive program in Cornell, up there with college of engineernig and arts and sciences. hispanic ethnicity will help, but you need to do great on the SAT and aim for a 1500+ critical reading/math or even a solid 1450+ (cornell doesn’t look at writing)</p>

<p>I don’t see Wharton happening, your stats for wharton are very weak and many of the accepted students have outstanding business related ECs. You can apply, but I really think you will get rejected there. Also take a look at NYU stern, easier to get into and a highly reputable business program.</p>

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<p>AEM is much more competitive to get into than anything else. It’s not really competitive as a student unless you’re going for the same types of jobs that most other AEM students go for. It’s actually pretty easy to dodge the corporate stuff.</p>

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<p>Thanks guys! I really appreciate all your help. Right now I’m leaning towards Cornell AEM ed. I would be applying to ILR as my backup, as I am really really interested in that school as well. Would I have a shot at ILR? From what I’ve heard Wharton is a little to cut throat for me and Cornell seems like a perfect environment. Do you guys think that an outstanding recommendation letter from a Board or Trustee at a top Ivy would help me out a lot?
@cortana431, I thought I had outstanding Business EC’s? President of both business clubs in my school, over 10 business awards, on 2 state committees, and an officer for my entire state for two years. Is there anything I’m missing?</p>

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<p>Does Cornell AEM emphasize calculus like penn does? I am planning on taking AP Stats and regular calc (I took honors precalc) Although, if they really emphasize it, I could always take AP. Side note I am already taking 4 other APs.</p>

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<p>Not at all. Calc I is required by all AEM majors but one can get away with taking no more calculus. There are a few exceptions (like myself) that have decided to take Calc II at Cornell but in general you’ll see very few AEM majors here enthusiastic about math. And the major courses don’t try to use calculus at all, really.</p>

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<p>Makes me love Cornell even more!!! If I got my sat score up to a 2200, would that make a difference?</p>

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<p>bump…</p>