Chance me Please

Colleges and Universities A-Z Cornell University
1

<p>Statistics: SAT: 2000 (690 CR, 710 Math, 600 Writing) Single-sitting
SAT II: 680 U.S History, 720 Math I
Unweighted GPA (out of 4.0): 3.0 (not sure but I have around an 85 average)</p>

<p>Rank (percentile if rank is unavailable): Somewhere around 50%. This is probably what will destroy my chances of getting in, but I attend one of the top 100 high schools in America if that has any weight. </p>

<p>[li] AP (place score in parenthesis): [/li]U.S History: 4 (scores not released, score inferenced)
Government: 4-5 (scores not released, score inferenced)
English: 4-5 (scores not released, score inferenced)</p>

<p>I am taking many electives that are law related because my school has a major based system. In senior year, I will be taking classes such as: AP Comparative government, forensics, civil law, business law, criminal law. </p>

<p>Extracurricular:
Cross Country (2 years)
Indoor Track (3 years)
Outdoor Track (4 years)
Student Leadership (2 years)
Key Club (2 years)
Newspaper (2 years)</p>

<p>Job/Work Experience:
Worked in SYEP (Summer Youth Employment Program) for 2 years.</p>

<p>Community Service:
Participated in Alzheimer Walk, AIDS Walk
Participated in setting up road races for the New York Road Runners
Volunteered at New York Chinese School somewhat as a safety agent
Wrapped Christmas presents for Needy Children
About 100 hours</p>

<p>Teacher Recommendations+ Essay:
Both recommendations by teachers will be amazing; one is a very smart A.P English teacher, the other is a well-rounded character who attended Princeton and teaches A.P Government (for my major)
My guidance counselor's recommendation should be pretty amazing as well but not too sure.
My essay should be pretty good. I write at an above average level but not yet in the upper tiers.</p>

<p>Dedicated to becoming a lawyer, which teachers and guidance counselor will vouch for.</p>

<p>I'm planning to apply E.D and I'm not really sure if I qualify for HEOP. I would like the chance to include both HEOP and non-HEOP. I think I have a decent shot except my class rank is terrible.</p>

<p>I'm also planning to retake the SAT and will try to get a perfect 800 in writing and math. I believe I can score 2100- 2200 the next time I take it.</p>

2

<p>Sorry, but I don’t think you have any chance at Cornell University. Your rank and GPA are far too low. Unfortunately, I think it is probably too late to make a huge comeback with regards to your GPA. I’m assuming you are from NY State, so maybe take a look at schools like SUNY Buffalo, SUNY Stony Brook, etc. Good luck!</p>

3

<p>Your rank is bad, especially with your 3.0. Your gpa and rank needs to be higher to have a good chance…</p>

4

<p>I don’t feel too disappointed as I knew that the chances would be low; I will probably still apply here just to attempt. I believe that 99% of the students are within the top 25% percentile or something like that, so it makes it seem like I have a 1% chance of getting in.</p>

<p>I am indeed from NY State. I’m probably going to be looking at Geneso and Binghamton. I have a decent chance of getting in those two.</p>

5

<p>Then go for that two year/three year Columbia degree in Geneseo. Need a 3.7 GPA at Geneseo for the first two or three years and then for the next two/three years you will be at Columbia and earn a Columbia degree.</p>

6

<p>Good Luck. YOu should check the college board stats for Cornell. Cornell does not recognize the writing section at all.</p>

7

<p>Seriously? I noticed that the writing wasn’t there but since it’s always mentioned during admission statistics, I thought it counted.</p>

<p>This gets my hopes up but makes me angry because my GPA is so low, which very possibly ruined my chances. I transferred into my current school; I was getting 90+ in every class in my old school because it was so much easier. But then again, my SAT might not have been as high. Poor decisions in life I say.</p>

<hr>

<p>I also discovered the Geneseo/Columbia thanks to you “Supervisor”. Sadly, I don’t think I’ll pull through a 3.7 GPA. I’ll still apply there though because I might be able to pull through in college. The disadvantage is that my sister goes there haha.</p>

8

<p>My name needs no quotes - it is what it is.
Don’t say you won’t - you don’t know that until you don’t.
Hopefully that little rhyme inspires you…
Good luck. D:</p>

9

<p>I’m inspired somewhat but not from your rhyme (no offense!). I was wondering if there are any similar schools that are like Cornell that I can get into with my grades. My 1400/2000 is decent for some liberal colleges and I stand a decent chance against schools that don’t look at writing. </p>

<p>I want suggestions of schools that parallel Cornell in social life, academics, and “explorable land” on campus. Thanks for taking the time to help me.</p>

10

<p>OP wrote: I don’t feel too disappointed as I knew that the chances would be low; I will probably still apply here just to attempt. I believe that 99% of the students are within the top 25% percentile or something like that, so it makes it seem like I have a 1% chance of getting in.</p>

<pre><code> Your numbers are off – only 75% of the students are at or higher than the 25th percentile. (smile)
</code></pre>

<p>Now, seriously – your SATs are a bit below the average, but not out of the range of possibility. If by top 100 HS in the US, you’re talking about one of the NYC specialty schools, Stuyvesant, Bronx Science (or something similar), then talk to your GC about chances for Cornell. </p>

<p>Top colleges recognize that almost anyone attending those schools could be in the top 10% almost anywhere else and factor it in. Basically, it’s a different standard. I don’t think any of us non admissions officer types know exactly how they factor this in or can evaluate the chances for students from these schools.</p>

11

<p>You are correct zephyr, it is one of the NYC specialty schools. However, I don’t believe colleges factor in what high school you go into too much. It also makes it harder since they typically compare students from the same school.</p>

<p>The 75% in the top 25 percentile gives me a bit more hope I guess. I know it’s a long shot but it’s worth a try. I’m working on my SAT scores this summer. I only scored a 600 on writing and I’m sure I could bring it up to the 700 range quite easily if I actually learned the rules instead of listening with my ear. For math, I just need to look over my work and could possible get an 800, bringing up my score up by nearly 200 points.</p>

<p>Does anyone have any data regarding EOP/ HEOP applicants (in terms of scores)?
Do you know if there were any similar schools like Cornell that are easier to get into?</p>

12

<p>@ClassicLays: I hate Chance Me threads because no one here can reliably chance you. No one here has worked in Cornell admissions, and no one here will know who you are competing against.</p>

<p>Cornell admissions has said 80% of all applicants stand a chance of getting in. So apply. I’m assuming you either attend Stuy or Bronx Sci, and they send many students off to Cornell each (probably more than any other high school).</p>

<p>Also, the writing portion won’t matter with the SATs. Cornell does not consider that. But SAT is the least deciding factor in admissions for Cornell. It’s your essays (showing why you’re a fit), your transcript (and that you’ve taken advantage of what your school has to offer) and your ECs. </p>

<p>Good luck.</p>

13

<p>ClassicL said:H owever, I don’t believe colleges factor in what high school you go into too much. </p>

<p>I’ve heard the exact opposite. Check with your GC, or Naviance, as to how many students Cornell admits from your HS.</p>

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<p>So I guess I have a decent shot. I’ve taken some of the most rigorous classes that I could as well as have some nice EC. I just have to work on the essays now; I’ll try to find a writing course because I know my writing is definitely not up to par yet.</p>

<p>1310- 1500 is the middle fifty percentile according to collegeboard so I’m almost in the exact middle. Hopefully I’ll pull off a perfect math to get into the top 25 percentile.</p>

15

<p>You are an extreme long shot with an 85 average and no hook. Someone suggested Geneseo but your chances of admittance there are even lower since their admissions is based soley on stats.</p>

16

<p>csdad</p>

<p>In this case, I think OP needs to talk to his guidance counsellor. </p>

<p>I don’t know where you’re from, so I apologize if you know this already. New York City has several speciality high schools, which admit students based on competitive tests. Essentially, to get admitted, you need to be in the top few % of all students in the system.</p>

<p>Essentially, to give an example, a student in the top half of Stuyvesant would almost certainly be in the top 5-10% of any non-specialty school. </p>

<p>A very big question for students who attend these schools is how much the top universities take the competitiveness of this high school into account. Though I may be wrong, I’ve heard that it is in fact considered very strongly.</p>

<p>So, what I’m suggesting to OP, people’s opinions here have even less validity than normal and that s/he talk to a guidance counselor who is in a far better situation to evaluate what colleges s/he should be looking at than anyone in a forum like this.</p>

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<p>You are correct but a student in the top 5-10% of a “non speciality” school would probably be at the 50% of strong suburban schools. Taking into account that Cornell has admits from these schools, exclusive boarding schools, international schools, etc. 99% of the enrolling class last year were in the top 25% in class rank…this includes athletes & legacies. A student with a class rank at the 50% and no hook realistically has little of any chance for admittance, jut my opinion but I think it’s an informed one.</p>

18

<p>@csdad</p>

<p>I posted the same statistics that 99% of the enrolling class was in the top 25% but apparently it is 75%. I can’t find my source again so it’s hard to determine the validity. And I already know that class rank 50% with no hook has lowered my chances and I’m at reality with that. And regarding Geneseo, I’m not sure if they do look at statistics only. My sister got in with an average about two points higher but my SAT on M+R is 130 points higher than hers. I really shouldn’t of transferred into one of the NYC specialty schools :frowning: </p>

<p>At this point, I’m not too worried and would like some alternatives to Cornell. My income is higher than the EOP/HEOP cutoff but I’ve heard that even though some people were over it, they still qualified.</p>

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<p>It is 99%</p>

<p><a href=“http://dpb.cornell.edu/documents/1000001.pdf[/url]”>http://dpb.cornell.edu/documents/1000001.pdf&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>…as far as Geneseo, I shouldn’t generalize. At our rural NY state HS we can’t get a student in with under a 92 average. Two years ago our val. was accepted at Cornell but didn’t get in at Geneseo (SAT’s were below their filter). This is why I said that Corenell seems to look at the applicant more holistically, at Geneseo it is about the numbers.</p>

20

<p>Ahh, I see. The legacy and URM rate was higher than I expected, so is the amount accepted on the waiting list (0). I’m going to have a rough road ahead of me.</p>