All of the Ivies, Boston University, Tufts, University of Virginia, University of Miami, Lehigh University
History Major/Pre-Med (Human Ecology in Cornell)
GPA: UW: 3.89 W: 4.55
SAT: 1500 (1510 superscore) R&W 770, Math 740
SAT II: US History 760, World History 710
APs: World History (5), Russian (5), US History (5), Psychology (5), English Language and Composition (5)—AP Scholar with Honor
Senior Courses: AP Calculus AB, AP English Literature and Composition, AP Biology, AP US Government and Politics
School does not rank
Recommendations: US History and Precalculus, have a wonderful relationship with both teachers and guidance counselor
-Interned for the District Attorney, the City Council, a medical office, multi-specialty lab, and a program for people with disabilities
-National Honor Society Member
-President of a community service organization
-Secretary of political debate club
-Certified in AutoCAD
Well written and insightful Common App essay (prompt 2, challenge you have overcome)
Ok, I didn’t keep my promise, instead I asked more questions! It is very hard to get into Lehigh from NY just because there is so much demand. Have you visited? Demonstrated interest is key. Do you know any alumni? Have you interviewed?
I suggest you read more about the background of the Ecology school at Cornell. If you do not fit their mission you will be rejected - apply to a different college at Cornell.
Congrats on your very distinguished high school career.
NE schools are so competitive and all Ivy’s are a crapshoot. I like your chances for UVA. What about other excellent flagship publics with honors colleges or Southern privates? Wake Forest, Duke, UNC Chapel Hill, UMD College Park, even SUNY come to mind. You might also be a candidate for the accelerated programs. Pitt has a great medical school and they favor undergrads.
Think outside of the NE box, with the exception of schools that are seeking to increase the population of Jewish kids on campus. You can browse through the Hillel lists to get an idea. I believe Bucknell may fit in this category.
Do check out awards for debate. I know both Lehigh and Wake Forest actively seek debaters and have special awards for them. Good luck and keep us posted!
I have not visited Lehigh yet, but I do know an alum. If offered an interview, I will definitely take on.
For Cornell, I think that my supplement reflects the tenants of the College of Human Ecology quite well. I essentially write about wanting to improve the quality of human life through equalizing healthcare and why my experiences have motivated me to do so.
I was looking at Southern schools, but they are simply too far from home (and my Jewish mother), so I decided to stick to the NE and mid-Atlantic. I am also applying to a few SUNYs and other safety schools.
Most college admissions offices I’m familiar with assign one individual admissions officer to do the first read of all applications from a particular school and region.
When you live in New York, and go to a top school, even though the school claims that it “does not rank” the more selective schools you will be applying to will have enough applications from your classmates to get a very, very, very good idea where you rank at your school.
In addition, the HS sends a copy of their profile along with every application package. It contains information including courses, grade and standardized test result distributions, college acceptances for previous classes, advanced class offerings and the number of students availing themselves of the offerings.
All this is designed to give colleges a clear picture of where you rank in your HS even if the HS doesn’t issue an official ranking.
So, what this means for a strong student at a “top” New York school applying to T20 schools is that after discounting for legacy, recruited athlete, development (aka big donor) and diversity - all of which skew the results from top NY public (HCHS, Stuy, etc.) and privates (Dalton, Collegiate, etc.) - you need to be well towards the top of your class and have done some serious EC’s to set you apart from all the other top NYC kids applying with very high GPA and SAT.
It also won’t help if you express pre-med/science interest and aren’t submitting any science SAT II or AP scores.
Your list seems very University heavy and the IVY’s are a crap shoot even for the kids with 4.0/1600. Add more match and low reach schools to your list and consider adding some LACs (Liberal Arts Colleges).
“I essentially write about wanting to improve the quality of human life through equalizing healthcare and why my experiences have motivated me to do so.”
The essay isn’t really meant to explain why you want X major or path in life. Ivies can be sensitive to focuing on post college plans. Be careful. They want to see how you can ‘fit and thrive’ there, during the four years, the traits that work in their competitive environment and the community. “Show, not just tell.”
And what you tell us here is a series of internships outside school and two clubs (NHS doesn’t tip.) Is there more with peers? Any impact you’ve had? Some variety? Those ECs are fine, but is there more you didn’t list?
I suggest you spend some time doing more research on the School of Ecology. There must be an admissions counselor in Manhattan who tells clients to apply there — and the school is on to it and it is not in line with their mission.
Thankfully, I am not in Manhattan. I am definitely not applying to the College of Human Ecology due to anyone else’s suggestion, but rather because it combines two passions of mine, healthcare and it’s policy.
Also, straight off of their website: “Improving lives by exploring and shaping human connections to natural, social, and built environments, “ so I think my goals are quite in line with their’s.
Cornell specifically asks for future plans: “How have your experiences influenced your decision to apply to the College of Human Ecology. How will your choice of major impact your goals and plans for the future?“
Much of my EC focus has been on founding and building up my community service club, which is where I also have the most impact on peers. A large group of us work with patients in local children’s wards.
But mimicking their description isn’t what they want in the CA essay.
If they asked a “why this major” question, you’d still need to form your own substantial answer. And the app/supp need to include evidence to back up this supposed interest. Show, not just tell.
I believe I do that, it is just rather hard to paraphrase a 650 world supplement on here. Also, I’m not taking about my Common App personal statement, but rather the specific Cornell supplement.