Chance Me!

Colleges and Universities A-Z Cornell University
1

<p>I go to a decent Michigan public high school, with about 2700 enrollment.
I also have just read bigredd's topic for prospective students, and I've got my work cut out for this summer :D</p>

<p>Here goes:</p>

<p>Academics:
SAT I: 2120 (650 CR 760 M 710 W / 10), Possible retake in October, I'm not sure
SATII: I just took the Math 2 test, so I will post when I have score. I expect at least a 750 on it. I will also take Chemistry and Biology.
ACT: 33 (35 E 36 M 28 R 31 S), Will retake on June 11th
GPA(U): 3.968/4.000 (note: I got a 3.4 in 8th grade because I took Geometry, which was a high school class)
GPA(W): 4.200/5.000
Rank (percentile if rank is unavailable): 1 out of 597
AP: Statistics(5) USH(4) Waiting on Lang, USGov/Poli, Macroecon, Calc AB
Senior Year Course Load: AP Calc BC, AP English Lit, AP Biology, AP Chemistry, Yearbook, Physics
Major Awards: N/A</p>

<p>Note: Our school does not offer AP Physics, nor an honors physics. Also, the five point scale was just recently introduced last year, hence a low weighted GPA. Also (again :S), there were no AP classes available for freshmen (you need prerequisite of some kind) available until last year.</p>

<p>Extracurriculars:
2 Year Varsity Tennis- Conference Champs, District Champs, Division Champs
Youngest competitor in the William C. Byrd International Piano Competition
Played at Kaufman Center NYC for the American Protege Competition
Pianist for 12.5 years
Started a freelance web design company
Open source project contributor
2nd Place 2008/10 State of Michigan State Piano Competition, '11 Honorable Mention
Citizen's Bank Young Musician of the Year - 2008-09
Honorable Mention State of Michigan State Piano Concerto Competition, '10
Speak fluent English, Mandarin Chinese, and decent (yet slow) German
Assorted volunteer hours</p>

<p>President (2 years), elected, of Student Musicale, a student run music club
NHS (no leadership)</p>

<p>Summer Activities:
100+ Hours of volunteer service at a hospital
Other job shadowing and experience (at least with one person)
Assorted computer development and website jobs</p>

<p>Recommendation:
Chemistry teacher loves me.
English/Yearbook teacher adores me, and we share a lot in common, other than music and political views.
Statistics(Math) teacher loves me, and I help and tutor in her classroom whenever I can.</p>

<p>Financial aid: Will apply
Intended major: Premed->med school, Biomedical Engineering, possible Computer science double major
Ethnicity: Asian
Gender: Male
Income level: 100-150K
Hooks: N/A</p>

<p>I'm interested in CAS and COE.</p>

2

<p>Being valedictorian is a plus; your ACT score is a fair bit better than your SAT score at the moment, so send the ACT score if you can’t raise your SAT score.</p>

3

<p>Hi, I’m an Engineering Pre-frosh. I was in your shoes last year, and while it may seem like you have a lot of things to get done and applying to colleges can be stressful, there is a light at the end of the tunnel and it is definitely worth it in the end. So put your heart into it.
First I just wanted to tell you that there is no biomedical engineering major. There is a biological engineering major (through CALS or CoE) or a biomedical engineering minor.
I would retake the SAT if you feel you could bring up the CR score, otherwise I wouldn’t worry about it as the math is very solid and the writing isn’t considered.
I’d say your all around a solid candidate. Your grades and rank are excellent. If you took the most rigorous schedule possible, it doesn’t matter so much that your school didn’t have the advance Physics class, etc. The tutoring and helping with math shows passion IMO. I think with solid, passionate essays (particularly the college-specific essay) you will stand a very good chance. Good Luck!</p>

4

<p>I just noticed your ACT score, and I agree with I V that you should send that if your CR doesn’t come up.</p>

5

<p>Psh, you can send in that SAT score. The ACT score looks great as well, but the reading is the only thing which hurt you and a 28 on it looks bad compared to the >30s you got on every other section.
Good ECs for Engineering so I will underestimate and say match.
CAS - just get a higher SAT and improve that GPA (hey, the higher the better). Right now, match (underestimate).</p>

6

<p>^Still though, most schools weight the English/Math sections of the ACT higher than the other two, and the OP has scores of 35 and 36 in those sections. I would say it is a much bigger deal that he has 650 in CR as opposed to 28 on Reading. The ACT score is, in my opinion, substantially stronger than the SAT score. Sending in both certainly won’t hurt you though.</p>

7

<p>Hey guys, I’m sorry I didn’t reply back. CC didn’t send me an email for some reason even though I checked “instant notification” :S</p>

<p>Anyways, thank you for the responses! And I apologize for the slow response.</p>

<p>@I V
I’m planning to retake the ACT this Saturday. I should improve my reading because the school sponsored ACT test in March reading section had a brutal prose fiction passage, in my opinion. The science second-half was also kind of complex, but I should be able to raise it (I hope).</p>

<p>I’m not quite sure my school does valedictorian (I’m hearing rumors next year though), and with our school year almost over, I hope my GPA can still come out on top. I’m kind of worried about some other kids who have had more AP classes than me, but I don’t have any control over that.</p>

<p>@blee2011
Thank you for the support! I will have to look at this biological engineering business at Cornell. It sounds like biomedical engineering.</p>

<p>@Supervisor
I will think about sending in the SAT score once my next ACT score comes in. My SAT score acts like a 32 on the ACT, which kind of verifies my score (and shows my apparent weak reading skill). Thanks for the tips.</p>

<p>@I V
That’s interesting about the English/Math heavier weighting. Do you know, by chance, if Cornell superscores?</p>

<p>In regard to my 650 in CR, based purely on proportions, the SAT CR score is about a 29… so I’m not sure what to think about that. Right now, I’m kind of leaning against submitting the SAT score, but I’ll consult my parents and ask some counselors around to see what they think as well.</p>

<p>Thanks for the replies!</p>

8

<p>@lmike215:</p>

<p>You should email admissions about whether they superscore the ACT or not. Their policy does not seem that clear, and it may have changed for this year.</p>

9

<p>I V,</p>

<p>I’ll be sure to contact them. I’m looking around, and I’ve seen articles that say they’ve superscored, and those who said otherwise…</p>

<p>Thanks :D</p>