Chance Me?

<p>I am applying ED to CALS. I'll be majoring in Biological Sciences. I'm also going to do the alternate option, and choose CAS as my second choice. I am a white male from New Jersey. I speak fluent Russian but can't read or write. Since I took ESL (English Second Language) classes in elementary school (K-3 I think), can I put on my application that English is my second language? Currently, I can speak English fluently like any other American, so does the ESL in elementary school count or should I just put that I have two first languages? I'll also have taken 4 years of Hebrew and 3 years of French when I graduate. </p>

<p>SAT I: 1350/1600, 2080/2400</p>

<p>1) 720 M, 620 R, 700 W
2) 710 M, 630 R, 730 W</p>

<p>I'm going to take them a third time in November. My counselor said Cornell accepts November SATs even if I'm applying ED.</p>

<p>I have a 94-95.36 (3.9-4.0 I think) unweighted GPA. I go to a private school with a dual curriculum, which includes secular and religious studies. My secular GPA is a little higher than a 94 but my total GPA is a 95.36. My school sends the 95.36, but colleges probably recalculate it. I took 3 APs last year (US History, Physics, and English Language and Writing) and I am taking 4 more this year (Bio, BC Calc, Euro, and English Lit). The rest of my classes are all honors. My school doesn't weigh GPA and doesn't rank students. </p>

<p>SAT 2
Bio- 720 (9th grade)
Math II- 710 (11th grade)
US History- 710 (11th grade)</p>

<p>Notable APs:
English Language and Writing: 4
U.S. History: 3 (Should I sent it?)</p>

<p>ECs:
JV Basketball (10)
JV/V Soccer (9-12)
Pre-Med Society (president) (10-12)
Chess Team (captain) (10-12)
Math Club/Team (10-12)</p>

<p>My school ends at 5:10, not at 2:30, so I don't have nearly as much time to participate in 15 different clubs. </p>

<p>Volunteer:
Friendship Circle (10-12): I am one of ten buddies that spends two hours with a teenager with special needs and we do activities with them. This happens about twice a month in my school.
FLJCC (10): delivered food to elders in my town so they can have a full day's worth of meals over the weekend</p>

<p>Work: I've worked in a day camp this summer and last summer</p>

<p>Leadership:
- captain of chess team
- president of pre med society
- head of my division in camp
- I was handpicked by a group of teachers to act as an advocate/mentor to the 8th graders of a middle school and talk to them about the high school experience. We discussed with them how to cope with the difficulties and stress of high school and acted as a guide on how to make the most of their experiences.</p>

<p>My counselor said that my essay was really good and as she put it, "Super!" I should have two very solid recommendations from my teachers. One is from my history teacher who I had grades 10 and 11 and he is the coach of the chess team. The second one is from my math teacher who I have this year and had last year, and he is the coach of the math team. I'm also getting a recommendation from a very close family friend who is a Cornell alumni and gives yearly donations to the school. She said she would write me a very good letter. </p>

<p>My school is very competitive and has a very good relationship with Cornell. Last year, we sent 4 or 5 kids to Cornell, a few to UPenn, 3 or 4 to Columbia, 1 to Yale, 1 to USC, a couple to NYU stern, 1 or 2 to Emory, a good amount to Brandeis, a couple to Michigan, and a bunch to Maryland, Binghamton, and Rutgers. We might have sent 1 or 2 to Princeton last year also, but I'm not sure about that. We have sent kids to Harvard and Princeton before though, that's for sure.</p>

<p>With all this being said, how do my chances look right now? If I missed anything, please let me know. I look forward to the feedback!</p>

<p>You chances quite low due due to standardized test scores. Also EC’s don’t really stand out seems pretty generic to me :P. I guess the letter from the Donating alum helps, but not by much since it isn’t a direct legacy. I have a question to people who will in time post something on this thread. Do letters from Alums actually help or does it seem like you are simply using social connections in order to apply leverage on adcoms. I personally wouldn’t give much regard to letter written by Alum family friends as social connections (apart from legacy/ having a lot of money) should not be part of the selection process.</p>

<p>I don’t think the letter from the alum will matter at all either, unless they are donating very large sums of money. Otherwise, your chances are decent. If you apply ED, I’d put them at 55-60%.</p>

<p>Honestly, being a Cornell Alumni is just a bonus. She is a very close family friend who can write a good letter with a different perspective about me based on personal experiences and the personal struggles I’ve been through.</p>

<p>btw, thanks for the feedback guys. anyone else?</p>

<p>The letter from the alumnus is moot. Unless they give millions of dollars the letter is not going to do anything. My husband is a Cornell Alum and gives a fare amount and was told this information.</p>

<p>The SAT R looks a bit low, but you know that.</p>

<p>Overall – I think it’s worthwhile applying. No one can really say more.</p>

<p>Your SAT is quite low for Cornell, especially for an out of state resident, and your extracurriculars are pretty generic for this school.</p>