<p>I am a sophomore (Female, 19 yrs) at a liberal arts college. Want to go to Cornell.
Econ major/ math minor.
Current GPA ~3.6 because of shift from poli sci to econ major. initial shock but getting better.
High School (1 terrible year). Therefore GPA : 3.4; SAT 2140
Came second in National Latin exam for 2 years, 3rd one year.
Immigrant: came to the US two months before high school.
Too poor to do any fancy extra-curriculars.
HS EC: 1]Volunteered intensively in organization that
1.fund raises and builds schools around the world.
2.did global awareness seminars in school
3. participated in environmental cleanups/ beautification projects
2] Taught underprivileged Harlem middle schoolers math and English
3] sang in chorus for 4 years - western classical music
College EC: 1] Asia division Inter-collegiate liaison for college's development group
- will be organizing micro-financing and global ngo support
- will perform economics analysis on aid sent abroad by our organization
I absolutely admit that my record is not great however I am trying to make the best of my life. I just had too much thrown at me while I was a dumb isolated teenager. I know how to be stronger now. One of my parents is dying and the other is depressed but still eking out a living to pay for my college. My parents are separated. Me and the parent I live with have no permanent home or family. I have no future without getting into a prestigious school. Along with dissing my academic performance, please also send me suggestions on how to beat the odds.</p>
<p>I’m kind of hugely impressed/intimidated by your credentials. Even though you may have a ‘low’ GPA, you’ve shown great initiative through hardships and I think you have a pretty decent shot at getting into a good school.</p>
<p>Don’t think you’ll have no future unless you go Ivy, you just have to continue putting your all into wherever you go. Not to sound corny, but you sound determined and motivated to go after what you want, and I think you will have a good future and land a good job where ever you go to college. </p>
<p>But anyway, there’s no place to go but up for you even if it takes time. Good luck!</p>
<p>you can always apply and then in the additional information section tell them about your hardships. as long as you write solid essays, you could have a chance. you should just know that CAS is one of the most selective schools at cornell and your major is one of the most competitive. if you have your heart set on cornell, look into other majors that might be related but easier to get into. you could consider ILR, even though that’s more labor-oriented than straight economics, but there’s a good amount of business/econ involved. the acceptance rate is higher for that school/major, and if you hate it, you could internally transfer once you’re accepted. best of luck.</p>
<p>Thanks for replying. If there is a Cornell graduate/insider out there, please contact me as well.</p>
<p>Come on people. Keep it Coming.</p>
<p>Your case is hard to judge because there are so many extenuating circumstances and soft factors at play. Your GPA is low and your SATs are decent, but I suspect your hardships will resonate with the committee and work in your favor to mitigate your hard factors, but how it will end up no one can say with any certainty at all. </p>
<p>Good luck and Godspeed.</p>
<p>Do your part!</p>
<p>“I have no future without getting into a prestigious school.”</p>
<p>This idea is just so very, very wrong that I don’t even know where to start.</p>
<p>You need to think about whether you just plain want out (in which case there are scads of colleges/universities that might meet your needs), or if you only are interested in Cornell. What will you do if you aren’t accepted, or if you are accepted but you can’t afford it, or if you are accepted but the parent who is depressed and struggling to pay for your education just can’t make it anymore? You need a clear back-up plan. Will you stay where you are? Will you transfer to a cheaper/closer-to-home place?</p>
<p>So you spent a lot of time building schools around the world, but then you say you do not have a future without attending a prestigious college? That is not only backwards thinking, but it is quite elitist.</p>
<p>Happy Mom, I do have a backup plan and it is a horrible school I rejected when I was in my senior year of high school. It will not allow me to take advanced/honors classes or give me any recognition for good performance just because I am a transferee. That is precisely why I want to transfer to Cornell - it has a brand name - hence better shot at employment- and it has large number of opportunities for me even though I am a transfer student.</p>
<p>No, I am not an elitist. I want a “prestigious” school because they usually have large endowments and good recruitment opportunities which will help me relieve the burden of my parents.</p>
<p>more chancing and feedback required .</p>
<p>There are a lot of colleges and universities that fall between “a horrible school” and Cornell. You need to look at more of them. Do not limit yourself to one place that you already clearly hate, and another where you may not be admitted.</p>
<p>Many colleges/universities do not offer a single class with “honors” in the label, so don’t fret so much about that. If you show your professors that you are dedicated, and interested in your field of studies, you will have plenty of opportunities for advanced work anywhere you go. This has nothing to do with being a transfer or not. It has everything to do with the relationships you build with the people in your department.</p>
<p>oh dupes. how we here on CC have missed you <3</p>
<p>Why do you need so much feedback Meghdoot?</p>
<p>thanks! 
i hope you’re happy where ever you ended up too bad you’re not at cornell lol it would’ve been great to have you around</p>
<p>“That is precisely why I want to transfer to Cornell - it has a brand name - hence better shot at employment- and it has large number of opportunities for me even though I am a transfer student.”</p>
<p>You need to think honestly about your reasons for transferring, first. Because the one you’ve given is a terrible one. Don’t, Don’t, Don’t write this when filing your application, because it will almost certainly lead to denial. Research the economics department there. Do you feel that the breadth and depth of Cornell’s offerings will enhance your learning and challenge you to think more critically than your current school? Will there be opportunities to work with faculty doing research (you seem to be fairly liberal, so be aware, the great majority of economists are conservative? </p>
<p>If your solely going there for the brand name, don’t. </p>
<p>On another note, you’ve certainly faced some tough circumstances. Play them to your advantage. </p>
<p>But again, think hard about the reason you want to transfer.</p>
<p>NEU2NU I need a lot of feedback from cc because I am not getting any direction from elsewhere and transferring means a lot to me.</p>
<p>happymomof1 there are great colleges in between. I am attending one! But they do not give me adequate finaid.</p>
<p>I am at Cornell. I don’t think transferring here is very hard. The transfer rate for the Agriculture school is pretty high, and the AEM major in ag college is our undergraduate business program, which many think is better than the econ major. I am really impressed by your determination and achievement in spite of hardships. Aim high!</p>