Chance me please?

Colleges and Universities A-Z Cornell University
1

<p>Hey guys! So I am an High school senior right now and was wondering if you all could give me advice on how to optimize my chances for getting in and the best scores needed to get in as well.</p>

<p>MY GPA is 3.86 and I am 130th out of 740 people.</p>

<p>I got a 1940 on the first SAT I took but I recently took another practice test and scored a 2180, don't know if that matters.</p>

<p>I am taking the ACT in September and scored a 31 on the practice test I took, without even studying, I am aiming to get a 34 or higher.</p>

<p>I scored 750 on both of my SAT subject tests, Math 1 and Physics.</p>

<p>I am apart of Academic team, Key club, Chinese Club, Environmental Club and Octagon CLub. I also volunteered in my City to help restore certain areas of the city that are more run down. I have been doing this for the past few years and have done over 200 hours with it.</p>

<p>This coming year I am taking several AP classes and honors classes. I took two AP's last year and an Honors class as well and ended with A's and B's.</p>

<p>I was seriously ill for half of Junior year and taught myself all my classes and it also hurt my scores on the SAT since I was not at all healthy.</p>

<p>I scored 3's on my AP test due to the fact that I was still seriously ill when I took them but am better now!</p>

<p>Cornell is one of my dream schools and I am hoping beyond hope that I will be able to get in. Please any advice would be appreciated!</p>

<p>P.S. I also make my own games in my spare time, I want to major in Computer Science. Also, if you need anything else, I would be happy to provide it, sorry for the wall of text!</p>

2

<p>Sorry but unless you are URM it will be very very hard for you to get in even if you get a 2400 on your SATs. Your only chance now pretty much is to do something seriously big - something that will surely set you apart in ECs and get everything else settled out.</p>

3

<p>Thanks, I actually just got a report card and now have a GPA of 3.93 unweighted and am in the top 100 of my class, no exact rank was given. Also, I was told AP tests don’t affect you getting in, only for what classes you can opt out of? </p>

<p>Also, I know this probably is pointless but the reason my AP’s are so low is that I was starving to death and had very little time to study and had no one to help me with them. I was under 100 pounds when I am supposed to be over 150. I was seriously ill at the time and wasn’t eating anything. I thought I would be able to write about that in my essay for all colleges. Anyway, I just figured I could try. </p>

<p>May I ask what I could have improved on?</p>

<p>And what would you recommend for something seriously big to do to set me apart?</p>

4

<h1>1. You really need to get in the top 10% of your class in the first place. 94% of the accepted class last year was at least in the top 10% of their class in schools that report ranks/deciles and such. There’s very little chance of getting in without a hook if you don’t meet that supposed requirement. This is pretty much a MINIMUM.</h1>

<h1>2. Get a higher test score - your SATs are rather subpar right now. Take ACTs if you want to.</h1>

<h1>3. You need ECs that show passion, commitment, uniqueness, or success (preferably a combination of these) without spreading yourself too thin with too many ECs. You have little leadership, and your volunteering hours are okay but they’re in no way great. It’ll also help to see you win at state level or higher competitions and get awards/recognitions - that’s what they look for in ECs.</h1>

<p>I wasn’t even looking at the AP scores and yeah they’re pretty bad. As for the “something big”, you really kind of have to decide for yourself.</p>

5

<p><a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/210497-those-ecs-weak-so-whats-good.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/210497-those-ecs-weak-so-whats-good.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

6

<p>Thanks very much for the help! I am confident I can get into the top 10% before applying as it is only a few gpa points. Also, i have been working for a political campaign for the past few months and will be until the election. I am also starting a club next year which I will naturally be the leader of. I have also started my own business which has published apps on the app store so I believe I have shown initiative…I am also taking acts in September and expect to score a 34 composite score…any other advice is appreciated…I just never thought most of this stuff would help.</p>

7

<p>“Also, i have been working for a political campaign for the past few months and will be until the election. I am also starting a club next year which I will naturally be the leader of. I have also started my own business which has published apps on the app store so I believe I have shown initiative.”</p>

<p>For these things to matter, you really have to show that you got some results - something tangible that they can verify. Then it is significant. Starting a club on your own doesn’t help unless you tell them what you actually do and what you’ve accomplished. Colleges can also tell what you’re putting on there to impress them and what you’re doing out of passion. Keep that in mind. You want to come across as sincere.</p>

8

<p>I would of course go into more detail in the application, I am just doing a quick list right now. When you say that I need to show them what I do, what do you mean by that? Do you mean in the club? The business? For the campaign? Something else entirely?</p>