Chance me for Cornell ILR

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

I just got finished researching Cornell, specifically its ILR program. The ILR program caught my eye because of how much they emphasize community service and leadership, two qualities of which I have not seen emphasized in many of the colleges I have researched so far. So I would like to get an idea of what my chances are like applying there.

SAT I:
1410/2130
-Critical Reading: 800
-Math: 610 (working on getting it up)
-Writing: 720

SAT II:
-World History: Around an 800
-United States History: Around an 800
(My truest passion is history. I LOVE LOVE LOVE history!)
Class Rank:
-25 out of 222

GPA:
-Weighted: 4.67
-Unweighted: 3.79

Extracurriculars:
-I have about 300 community service hours logged in right now.
-Beta Club (President)
-Key Club (President)
-Dungeons and Dragons Club (President) (Founder)
-Cross-Country (Team Captain)
-Track and Field (Team Captain)
-AFJROTC (Deputy Corps Commander)
-Palmetto Boys’ State
-Interact Club (Historian)

APs:
-AP US History: 5
-AP Human Geography: 4
-AP Psychology: 5
-AP World History (self-studied): 5
-AP Art History (self-studied): 5
-AP European History (self-studied): 5

Awards:
-West Point Leadership Award.
-Academic Gold Medalist.
-Cross-Country Rookie of the Year.
-AP Scholar with distinction.
-Cross-Country all-Region athlete.
-Cross-Country County Champion
-Cross-Country Rookie of the Year.

Hooks:
-First generation college student

-Ward of the state during my middle school year due to my family neglecting me and creating an unsafe home environment (poverty, drugs etc).

-Homeless for a couple months before moving into a foster home in the summer before my ninth grade year.

-Currently in a foster home

Recommendations:
Probably all 8/10 or 9/10.

Financial Aid: Due to being a Foster kid, and not living with my biological mother, I qualify for full aid.

2

Bump

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See See http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/cornell-university/1671182-cornell-ilr-admissions.html

4

@4kidsdad Very interesting post. I do want an outsider’s perspective into my application though, since I am, of course, biased. If it helps I am from a backwater area of South Carolina.

5

You sound like a competitive applicant. I think Cornell could definitely be a match for you, you have a lot of awards, Ecs and things of that nature. Getting your math score up would definitely help but only time will tell.

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@NJVoTechGirl thank you! The biggest aspect I’m paranoid about is definitely my GPA and SAT.

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Bump

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Hey there! I’m a fellow ILR ED applicant and I just want to say, I feel you. Decisions come out December 10th and I believe we are all flocking to CC to find solace in an increasingly stressful period. No fear, your statistics and subjective qualities seem to fit ILR quite well, not that I’m qualified to deem it as such; nonetheless, your performance in coursework and SAT subjects/AP’s fit quite well into the scope and mission of the ILR college. Most of all I can see how you can use your background (parents, ward, etc.) as a poignant and powerful essay in addition to your status as first generation college student. I can’t act as an admissions officer, but I must say, you sir are in quite the conpetitive stance.

Best of Luck,
A fellow applicant

P.S. I love history too! Chance me maybe?

9

Objective:

SAT I: 2320
750 (CR)
770 (M)
800 (W)

SAT II:
1.) 750 US History
2.) 730 Math II
3.) 620 Chemistry

Unweighted GPA (out of 4.0): 3.65(will explain near bottom)
Rank: 156/1550 (top 10.06 percent, refer to bottom)

AP:
1.) AP Human Geography (5)
2.) AP World History (5)

IB: Full Diploma Canidate
1.) IB History of the Americas HL
2.) IB Physics SL
3.) IB Theory of Knowledge
4.) IB Chemistry HL 1
5.) IB English 4 HL
6.) IB Math SL 1

Senior Year Course Load:
1.) IB History 20th Century Topics HL
2.) IB Chemistry HL 2
3.) IB Math SL 2
4.) IB Spanish 5 SL
5.) IB English 4 HL
6.) IB Theory of Knowledge
7.) AP Calculus BC
8.) AP Physics C

Subjective:

Extracurriculars:
1.) Junior World Affairs Council (president)
2.) Model UN (president)
3.) Science Club (Head of Advisory Council)
6.) Physics Club (founding member)
7.) Current Events Club (founding member);
8.) Speech and Debate
9.) Congressional Youth Advisory Council under Congressman Sam Johnson
10.) Community Of IB Scholars
11.) Student Representative to the World Affairs Council of Dallas
12.) IB Basketball Club (founder)
13.) President’s Council

Job/Work Experience:
1.) Yeung and Wang LLC Law Firm Intern (NYC)
2.) Waiter, Cashier, Busboy at Grand Buffet Restaurant (Local 36ish hours a week)
3.) Intern at local Orthodontist’s Office

Volunteer/Community service:
1.) Tutor at an after school program in central Dallas
2.) Allen Community Outreach
3.) Plano Community Charity
4.) Soup Kitchen NYC
5.) Teen Court Attorney
6.) Local Church (I’m deist and not affiliated with this church)

Summer Activities:
1.) UT Austin Colloquium
2.) Set up International Migrant Labor Classes and English classes in Fuzhou, China- gave history lessons from a non-Chinese perspective
3.) Intern at the Ministry of Health and Family Planning Commision China

Intended Major: ILR has only one degree
State: Texas
Country: USA
School Type: Largest Public School in Texas
Ethnicity: Chinese :frowning:
Gender: Male
Income Bracket: ~$80,000-$120,000
Hooks: First Generation College Student
Financial Aid: Yes

Explanation for GPA and Rank:
As many of you might know, freshman year is a critical part of setting a foundation for GPA and Rank. Previous to freshman year I was a decent student: straight A+'s and 9 hours of sleep. During freshman year, 4 hours of sleep, several c’s, a majority of b’s, and a’s in useless classes. Why the sudden disparity you ask? My role model and best friend died. It didn’t help that he was also my brother. After his death my parents erupted with marital problems. My father’s side of the family blamed my mom and my mom realized a recent case of infidelity on behalf of my dad. I fell apart inside. His death became the catalyst for a year of depression and hate, cumulating in a suicide attempt. In a previous post on CC I explained my circumstances and to my surprise I received thoughtful and understanding reaponses. Here’s the link: http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/high-school-life/1738778-my-brother-died-during-my-freshman-year.html
Anyhow, these are my FINAL stats (updated from the link). I generally have an upward trend from freshman year, 1 B sophomore year, 2 B’s first semester junior year, 1 B second semester junior year, 1 C junior year (chemistry was a killer) and the rest were A’s in both years. Also keep in mind that these are all advanced AP and IB courses. In the end I had to work my way from the top 33% to the top 10% (jumped over 356 people).
Chances for ILR ED?

10

@Infinitium hi! Thanks for your reassuring words. I’m really sorry about your situation. It truly sounds terrible. I think your upward GPA will be very demonstrative of your situation. And, of course, your ECs are great. Overall, I think you stand a good chance! But, since I am just a student and not an admissions counselor, I probably am not the best person to ask. As long as your essays are compelling and show you for you, I think you’ll be fine. :slight_smile:

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@ASJU9511 Thanks! I’ll keep that in mind.