<p>Hi, I was wondering if I have any shot of getting accepted to Cornell, either early decision or regular decision. I will be a senior this coming fall. I am a white male. I live in New Jersey, and I believe i am within the top ~3% of my class of about 530 students (potentially in the top 10). My dad also went to Cornell.
GPA:
101.95 (my school doesn't use the 4.0 scale)
SAT:
combined score of 2220 (800 math, 770 writing, 650 reading)
ACT:
took once, 32 composite
SAT II:
800 on math II, 800 on chem, considering taking one of the bio ones
AP:
4 on chem (sadface), and 5 on statistics. will take bio and calc (probably BC) this school year
EC:
*interact club 9-12
*boys tennis 9-12 (jv 9th grade, will be captain this year)
*sportsmanship award and allstar award 11
*USTA team tennis for 3 years
*tennis lessons for over 7 years
*french honors society 10-12
*ESCAPE club (environmental club) 11-12
*english department award 10 (given to the students with the 2 highest averages in honors english)
*second place in chemistry olympiad test in my school (not sure if this means anything)
*volunteering at an assisted living place for the elderly (started recently, going 1-2 times a week for a couple hours at a time)
*summer job working as a cashier at a grocery store (between 10th and 11th grade)
*summer program at northwestern for medicine and leadership for 10 days (the program gave a letter of recommendation, and noted 73 hours of educational events. met with real doctors to experience the field of medicine).</p>
<p>Hopefully I didn't forget anything. So what do you think my chances are? Will the fact that my dad went to Cornell affect my chances, and if so, how much? Thanks!</p>
<p>I think you would have a great chance for ED or regular decision. If Cornell isn’t one of your top options though, don’t ED just because it’s easier to get in. People from my school ED’d, got in, then transfered out as soon as they could.
Don’t apply just because it’s an Ivy League, apply because you want to go there. It’s a great school, and it deserves students who actually want to be there.
If it is your dream school, then I would recommend ED’ing. If it’s not your dream school, then I would try to use the ED on a school you like more. Your stats make you competitive almost anywhere.</p>
<p>I took a tour of the campus about a month ago, and I really liked what I saw. Then again, it was just a tour. My top schools are Cornell, Northwestern, Tufts, and Brown; I’d be thrilled to go to any of them.
How much of an effect does legacy have?</p>
<p>@csdad
2 people got in ED, then transferred out within the first year.
Also retention rate only speaks to the people who disliked it(or had some serious reason) enough to go through the hassle of transferring.
I also know 3 friends from the last 2-3 years who got into Cornell and absolutely love it there. I wasn’t trying to dissuade you from applying there. I just subscribe to the notion that you should go where you will be happy, and not apply/go to a school simply on the basis of prestige.</p>