@absolut1618 A lot of people on here don’t like chance me threads from juniors because you have a lot of time left. But I disagree. I for one realize that junior year is probably the most important year in high school, especially for ED applicants. So here is my brief advice. BTW, I was accepted ED for College of Engineering in December so I’ll be a freshman this coming August. I am also a girl so hopefully this will help relate to you:
Your SAT and GPA stats are off the charts. My GPA is similar to yours but I submitted the ACT, which was a 34. You are already way ahead of the game so please don’t even consider the idea of taking an SAT or ACT again. You’re done. You would be amazed how many people on this thread score 99 percentile and say they want to take it again. I can assure you Cornell doesn’t want perfect scores, they want human beings. Also, forget about your AP test scores. They are meaningless in an application because they are self-reported for college credit anyway and are not really a required measurement. In other words, I suppose of you got all 5s, then maybe putting them on your common app as a way of saying “hey, look at me, I’m really smart,” but they aren’t needed so don’t focus on them in your chance me threads like a lot of others do. If anyone tells you submitting AP scores in your application is important, they are wrong.
You will have to take two SAT subject tests for college of engineering. One has to be Math II and the other another science like biology, chemistry or physics. I took Math II and Physics and got 730 and 680 respectively, fairly average scores and maybe even below average, so they aren’t critical to getting accepted. My scores aren’t stellar with the subject tests as you can see and I still got in. Instead, treat them like a tie-breaker. If you and another applicant were competing for the same spot and everything else was equal, then SAT II scores might be the difference, but don’t stress over them unless you completely bomb them and get 500s or something. I didn’t study for either and you see what I got. Why would you take an English SAT II? Not necessary and a waste of time and money. They want two so give them two. More is not better.
Your ECs are solid, but common. That’s okay too. Some kids had three pages worth of ECs and good scores and still didn’t get in. I suspect because they tried to overwhelm them with quantity instead of quality. When you go visit (and you should), please pay attention to what they say. They want kids who have a passion for one or two things and are really good at them, not kids who have a long list of things they do and have only done for a year or two to pad their resumes. It’s fake and obvious. Be genuine.
As for your frowny face on hooks? Why do you think you want to be a chemical engineer? If you can definitely answer that question and sound passionate about it, they will like you. By the way, don’t EVER use the word “passionate” in your essays. How many times do you think the read that word. Gag! 
As for the bottom of your chance me, it’s not proven but there does seem to be a slight bias towards Asian applicants only because there are so many - especially in STEM majors. But your stats should offset any potential bias, and you being a female applying for engineering should neutralize that even further. CoE is still a male dominated college and I get a sense they are trying to balance the scales. Also, your high family income will help a lot. Again, they would never admit it, but what would be better for Cornell, a family who can pay full tuition or at least close to it, or a family who needs 100% aid. Unfair? Yes. The truth? Probably. For what it’s worth, we’re considered high income and I still got a $20,000 grant.
Last but not least, here’s your practical advice:
Sign Up - This one is easy. Sign up for their mailing list. It’s somewhere on their website under prospective students. Also follow their Facebook page, YouTube page, and any other social media you have that they have. Not only will you absorb a little more about them, but once you’re on their mailing list, you then become a permanent
Your essays - I think those are so critical. Your general common app essay should tie to your Cornell CoE supplemental essay. So write your common app essay as if Cornell was your only choice, then relate it to your major specifically at Cornell’s CoE in the supplement. For example, I wrote about my degenerative joint problems in my common app and how they defined me in what I want to do in my life. I then took it further in the common app and explained how I would use their facilities and instruction (I mentioned specific labs and professors) to help find a cure for degenerative joint disease. You may be asking, “how can I do that if I don’t know anything about chemical engineering?” Don’t worry. To this day I still don’t have any research or biomed experience and they still took me. But I did talk about stem cells and tissue regeneration in my essays, so you still have to at least research your major.
Visit - A lot of people will say visits don’t matter and they don’t record demonstrated interest. That’s BS. They want to know why you made Cornell your first choice and took the risk to apply ED. They are looking for fit and it will come out in your application essays that you aren’t the right fit if you send them something generic that might apply to any college. I think my essays clearly demonstrated that I knew what facilities they had and how I would take advantage of my time there to change the world. I named names and I think that’s important. It also demonstrates that you will actual enroll if they give you one of their precious spots. A generic response to them is like say “I might not enroll even if you accept me.” And yield (the percentage of people who enroll after acceptance) is super critical to universities. Your in NJ so no excuse.
This Summer - Do whatever it takes to get some professional experience this summer. I am going to be a biomedical engineering major so I looked for biomed related internships last summer. I couldn’t find any that were suitable, so I took one with the American Foundation for the Blind in New York City. It’s the major organization for the visually impaired founded by Helen Keller. So even though I didn’t get experience in biomed, I did spend 5 weeks of the summer getting “professional” experience with a diverse group of people. It provided perspective and I could relate it back to my goals at Cornell as well. So don’t work at the mall or as a lifeguard this coming summer. Go do odd jobs at a local engineering company or something else as close to your intended major as possible. Work for free if you have to. Just show the admissions committee your summers were meaningful. That helps show them you’re ready to take on anything.
Sorry, I said I would be brief, but it got away from me. When I was a junior I wished I had someone to give me REAL advice and not online articles. So I’m doing the same for you. Us female engineers have to stick together.
My dad was really helpful too. He loved helping me with research and going through the list of possible colleges.
So the hard part is done. You crushed the SAT and have a great GPA. Finish your junior year strong because that’s the only transcript they will have to judge you. Only give them what they ask for. If they say two recommendation letters from teachers, just give them two. Don’t send them one from your tennis coach and piano teacher. They won’t read them. In fact, the practically begged us in the information session not to send more than they ask for. Anyway, I could go on and on…
Honestly, based on stats alone, I think you have a great chance. But hopefully some of what I have written will help put you over the top.
Good luck and feel free to PM me if I can help.
