Chance me at Cornell and Penn

Transfer Students
1

<p>I graduated with a 3.3 (88/100) GPA from one of the best public schools in NYC. I tackled almost all the most difficult courses available at my school, including 6 AP classes. I got a 2020 (1350) SAT score and a 31 ACT score which I ended up submitting. My SAT II's were mediocre (660 US History and 670 Math I), but I tried to avoid submitting them whenever I could get away with just ACTs. Senior year, I failed a Discrete Math course (hardest class I've ever taken) and barely passed AP Chem and AP Calculus BC. I passed everything in the spring, but still had a 65 in AP Chem and Discrete Math and a 75 in Calculus.</p>

<p>I had fantastic extracurrics (nationally competitive violist with many scholarships and 3 Carnegie Hall performances) and fencing team captain and recommendations. Still, I was rejected at the majority of the schools I applied to: Penn, Cornell, NYU, Boston College, Middlebury, Northwestern... My low GPA and mediocre essays undoubtedly brought me down.</p>

<p>I am now attending SUNY Binghamton, which is the best state school in NY and the sixth best public school in the country. I am planning on working my butt off here (an am doing just that) to get a 3.8 + GPA and reapplying to Cornell and Penn. I realize my chances are slim with my HS record, which is why I'm doing my best to have a great GPA and extracurrics, and working on my essays way in advance.</p>

<p>What else can I do to put together the best possible application? I am getting to know my profs the best I can, and am soon visiting Penn to get to know a few teachers there and meet with a few friends to get a better feel for the school (I've visited twice already)</p>

2

<p>what year are you in? are you a freshman? don't count on getting a certain gpa, lots of people on here "anticipate getting" a 4.0, but wait till you do it until you make your plans</p>

<p>i would be a little more realistic...I'm from ny, know the private schools, state system etc...3.3 from hs, if you get anything less than a 4.0 at suny after 4 or 5 semesters you won't be considered a strong applicant...suny binghamton is a fine state school, but your at a strong disadvantage to those at stronger schools who want to transfer...if you can't get that 4.0 and fine yourself in the 3.5-3.8 range and still want to get out, fordham, connecticut college, bates, etc etc are fine schools as well</p>

<p>get that 4.0 and work on making yourself stand out if you really want to be at an ivy</p>