Chance me with this kind of marks

Colleges & Universities A-Z Cornell University
1

<p>Ok... I know that "everyone who applies has a chance", but with this kind of grade nine GPA...</p>

<p>Grade nine:
English (gr. 9) 84
Math (gr. 10) 87 (A in British Columbia)
Science (gr. 9) 78 (B in British Columbia)
History (gr. 9) 78 (B in British Columbia)</p>

<p>Grade ten:
English (10) 93
Math (11) 97
Science (10) 94
History (10) 95
Mandarin (12) 93</p>

<p>Grade eleven - twelve:
IB predicted score: 38/45</p>

<p>Courseload according to my counselor: most rigorous available
Percentile: top 10% (no rank)</p>

<p>SAT: Math/Reading/Writing (800/730/760)
SAT II: Math II: 800 Chemistry: 800 Physics: 800</p>

<p>I know my test scores are o.k. but I am kind of worried about my grade nine grades...</p>

<p>By the way, this probably will hurt me a lot: I am an international student (in case you have not yet noticed I am from Canada).</p>

2

<p>I dun know much about IB scores, but I think you have a pretty good chance as long as you keep up with your grades (try to get yourself into the top 5%)</p>

3

<p>What else do you have though? Scores aren't everything. Bright people with amazing scores have been turned away because they are the same like every Ivy-applicant...nothing interesting going on except the high grades. What are your extracurricular activities? I imagine that the international applications are evaluated the same way national applications are. Therefore, extracurricular activities do set people apart.</p>

4

<p>Oh... hmm... here are some of my ECs...</p>

<p>Royal Conservatory of Music - Level 10 Piano Practical
RCM - Level 4 Harmony (theory)
RCM - Level 3 History</p>

<p>Swimming - Bronze Medalian
Swimming - School Swim Team (gr. 10)
RSSAA Championships - Butterfly 50 metres 2nd place
RSSAA Championships - Freestyle 50 metres 4th place</p>

<p>Community Involvement - Vancouver Public Library (Reading Buddies 50 hrs+)
Local Hospital (30 hrs+), etc.</p>

<p>I think my ECs are just like everyone else. I don't think my grades are good at all (especially my horrible grade nine scores).</p>

<p>Oh... I think this will help: I immigrated from China to Canada when I was grade six, and also, from grade seven to grade nine, I was addicted to video games.</p>

5

<p>Is that only a fraction of what you've done or is that all you've done so far? Have you won any regional or state competitions for piano? RCM seems kind of like certificate of merit here, which isn't very uncommon. Maybe try to get other types of piano awards. The swimming accomplishments are good. I think you need to get more involved in your school's activities and clubs and try to get a few leadership positions atleast. Do you have high financial need as an international? If you do, you definitely need a strong hook to get in.</p>

6

<p>haha nice to see a fellow IB British Columbian :-) Very nice SAT scores. Only weakness I could see is your IB score.. 38 isn't exactly a great one (though I got in with a 39), since there are many applicants in BC area with 40+ applying.
Hm how have you been doing with math and sciences contests? Like Euclid CAP Avogadro etc. I think having a solid rank in them could definitely help. I am pretty sure my ib score, essay, ec, and rec didn't do me too much good in admission. Overall I think if you get your IB score above 40 you are pretty much in.</p>

7

<p>I think he must have gotten a bit of club activities (which I assumed in my comment above), and Canadian permanent residence and citizens have need-blind. So financial background is not a factor.</p>

8

<p>Well... yah... those things above are just "some" ECs. </p>

<p>I try to focus on three aspects: music, swimming, and volunteer activities.</p>

<p>I will try to get some leadership experiences. The reading buddies program at local library has helped me a lot with "leading" kids. ;P</p>

<p>Oh and here are some more scores...</p>

<p>Calculus AC: 5
SAT II: Mandarin - 800</p>

<p>and... I am one of the student council member at my school.</p>

<p>I am still worried about my crappy grade nine scores...</p>

<p>I hope Cornell does not want to see 4 years of science and 4 years of history...</p>

9

<p>Cornell wants 4 years of science, 3 years of history, but the 4 years aren't really 4 years. They see your senior year schedule and your midyear report so that's fine.</p>

<p>And the ninth grade scores may actually work out better for you because you have an upward trend.</p>

10

<p>Oh... I think this will help: I was addicted to video games.</p>

<p>hahaha</p>

11

<p>So... they won't look at my grade nine grades and say "ok this guy sucks" and trash it immediately?
I mean... I hope they can actually keep on reading a little bit...</p>

12

<p>No, they won't do that....</p>

13

<p>As a fellow BCer accepted to Cornell, with some similar things</p>

<p>My stats
<a href="http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/showthread.php?t=318524&page=5%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/showthread.php?t=318524&page=5&lt;/a>
I know that's on the Penn thread but can't find the Cornell post - did get a "likely" e-mail from Cornell with those stats btw.</p>

<p>You have a chance for sure. However you will certainly have to work extra hard on differentiating yourself from the pool, whether through activites in the next year or essays. And of course the higher marks the better</p>

14

<p>hmm how come u only take 5 classes a year?
in ontario, we take 8</p>

15

<p>Oh, I just post academic courses. In gr. 9 and 10, you have to take some non-academic courses, like... one or two.</p>

16

<p>sdong, what do you mean you got a "likely" e-mail from Cornell with your stats? Is this pre-application or something.</p>