Chance Me for CALS ED please!!

Colleges and Universities A-Z Cornell University
1

I applied as an Environmental and Sustainability Sciences major and International Relations minor.

Demographics:
Asian
Female
Long Island, NY
Medium-sized Public High School (342 students in my grade)
Middle Class

GPA/Test Scores:
W 97.625 (8th grade honors courses were counted but not weighted - actually brought my GPA down, but shows an upward trend from 8th-11th)
Rank - top 10%
SAT(old) - 2190 (700CR, 730M, 760W)
ACT - 32 (32E, 36M, 28R, 31S, 28W)
(did not submit SATIIs//were not required, and subjects taken were not relevant to my major)
AP Scholar
National Merit Commended Scholar

Courseload:
9th - all honors except Art
10th - AP World History, everything else honors except Art
11th - AP Physics 1, AP U.S History, AP English Language and Composition, everything else honors except Art
12th - AP Studio 2D Art, AP Macroeconomics, AP Government and Politics, AP Environmental Science, AP English Literature and Composition, AP French Language, AP Calculus BC, ASL I

Extracurriculars:
Varsity Cross Country (10th, 11th, 12th) - All State Qualifier (11th, 12th)
Varsity Winter Track (10th, 11th, 12th) - captain (11th, 12th)
Varsity Spring Track (9th, 10th, 11th, 12th) - captain (11th, 12th), All Division (10th, 11th)
Foreign Culture Club (9th, 10th, 11th, 12th) - treasurer (12th)
Varsity Leaders Club (11th, 12th) - co-president (12th)
Environmental Club (9th, 11th, 12th) - PR secretary (12th)
French Honor Society - treasurer
National Honor Society
Science Honor Society
Art Honor Society
Community service (through Environmental club, homeless outreach in NYC, abroad - sea turtle rehabilitation in Greece, marine research in North Stradbroke Island, beach/park clean ups around Australia)

Jobs/Work Experiences:
Work at my parent’s restaurant
Worked at Ralph’s Italian Ices (summer)
Babysitter/Pet Sitter
Tutor

Summer Activities:
Work 2 jobs (restaurant/Ralph’s) when not travelling/at camp
Student Ambassador (2015)
Volunteered abroad (2015, 2016)
Cornell Sports School (2016)

Essays:
Common App - probably 8.5-9/10
Cornell Supplement - probably 8-9/10 (I demonstrated a lot of interest, gave examples of classes I would take, extracurricular activities I would participate in etc etc)

Teacher Recommendations:
AP Physics teacher - probably 7.5-8.5/10 (struggled throughout the year, but active participant in the class and close with the teacher)
AP Lang teacher - probably 9/10 (rocky start at the beginning of the year, but improved and overcame the initial difficulties, close with the teacher)
Counselor Reccommendation: probably 8.5/10
Additional Reccomendation: my XC/track coach

SIDE NOTE: I had been indecisive about what I wanted to pursue for the bulk of my high school career until the end of summer/beginning of senior year, so my extracurriculars are not particularly focused on my intended major (kind of all over the place oops).

2

I think you have a good shot. Decent scores for Cornell ED and you seem involved in your community. As long as your essays are true to yourself and explain why you’d like to go into the majors you stated above, I’d say that you have a chance to get in - but then again it’s tough for everyone. Make sure you have some safeties in mind, too! Good luck!

3

I think you have a really good shot! If your recs end up being really good and the admissions officer likes your essays, I think you’re good to go! Are you applying to CALS? I also have the same problem with a couple of grades from 8th grade (although two of mine are weighted 1.05, I didn’t try bc I didn’t realize it mattered), but I think they might recalculate without those grades, I’m not sure. Good luck!!!

4

Although you’re very focused on some specific areas (sports and environmental projects), you’re also very well-rounded. In my point of view, it means you can do a bunch of different things and still make your interests clear. I guess you’re the kind of student Cornell is looking for!

I can see you have a lot of international experience, which definitely would be a plus on your app. If you’re essays are strong, I bet you do have a shot!

Thanks for chancing me. Best of luck!!! :wink:

5

Thanks for chancing me! Agree with above post. You have decent scores that will neither harm nor help you, but it is your extracurriculares that will likely push you in! Hopefully, we’ll both get in!

6

I think your extracurriculars are very strong and can cover your SAT I score. I’d say you have 60~70% chance of getting in to CALS if you are EDing. If your common app essay/ supplement essays are strong, I think u’ll have a great shot at Cornell ED Good luck!

7

I think your test scores are solid along with a high gap and the fact that you are a female also slightly helps, overall I believe you have a solid chance.

8

ADDITIONAL INFO:
Common app essay - I did the first prompt-I feel like what I talked about was unique because my childhood was spent in a rundown area before my family moved to a more affluent place - also talked about opportunities presented to me (its all very complex, I can’t explain really explain it thoroughly, basically how past experiences shaped me into the type of person I am today - kind of cliche, but not haha), had a bunch of my Cornelian friends read/edit them, my counselor loved it and said I was a great writer
Supplement - I visited Cornell 3 times (info session&tour, Cornell Sports School, meeting with head of ESS major) and mentioned what I got from each visit in my essay, also tied in some humor at the end which I hope will give the admissions board a laugh lol

AP Scores (history was not my strong point and physics was tough)
AP World History (3)
AP U.S History (3)
AP Physics 1 (2)
AP English Language and Composition (5)

  • not solid at all (except for Lang)

Also for community service (idk if it really matters, but I included this in my resume), but volunteered at marathons, acted as assistant coach and ran middle school meets.

Family Responsibilities
I’m the oldest out of 4 in my family [2 sisters (14yrs + 3 yrs), 1 brother (12yrs)], my parents work 10+ hours (family restaurant) everyday and when I’m home I have to look after siblings (especially the fiesty 3 year old haha)

Also, I will be a first generation degree seeker!

9

You chanced me so I’m chancing back. Our profiles are similar. I was fortunate to score a 34 on the ACT the first time I took it and that’s really the only difference. My score is in Cornell’s 75th percentile and yours is closer to their 25th percentile, but still solid. I’m not saying that to brag, only expressing that on paper we align and your test scores are plenty high enough to get past the first reject pile. The commended scholar is a plus for you. I missed it by one point.

I think the best hook for you that is an advantage over me is the first in your family to seek a degree. That resonates big time in these selective schools. You will stand out for that.

Your AP test scores don’t mean anything. Those are self-reported after you are accepted.

You essay subjects are a little cliché as you say. Mine were too. When you consider they have to read 40,000 essays every year, I’m sure all of us have written something they have read multiple times before. Unfortunately, in that volume there really aren’t any original ideas anymore. The key is to show dedication to whatever it is you want them to know about you. Your multiple visits will help a lot too - especially if you mentioned meeting directly with the head of a department. I did the same.

Unfortunately, at Cornell being a female applicant doesn’t have much sway, since there are actually more girls than boys overall. I think you are probably a 50/50 chance, like me. That’s actually really good odds when you consider the overall 16% acceptance rate. But there’s nothing about us that says “we must have you now!” but we also fall well within the range of people they have admitted over the last few years.

Regardless of the outcome, you have done a great job in high school. I’m sure you have some other solid schools that will be honored to have you if it doesn’t work out at Cornell.

Good luck.