Chances at Cornell (early decision and general)?

Colleges and Universities A-Z Cornell University
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<p>Hi, I'm reposting this from another section of the forum, because recently I have been looking into Cornell. I'm curious as to what my chances at the College of Arts and Sciences if I apply early decision and the usual way.</p>

<p>Race/Ethnicity: White Male</p>

<p>GPA (Unweighted): Around 3.84, but I can't remember exactly. A bit higher than 3.8 anyway.
GPA (Weighted): 4.12</p>

<p>I go to a relatively competitive (I think) public high school in northern California, which sends many students into the UC System. Our Valedictorian was accepted at MIT and Princeton.</p>

<p>I have taken AP English, AP Psychology, and AP US History. I have passed each class with at least an A. Unfortunately, AP World History didn't come into existence here until after I had taken it. Instead, my Freshman and Sophomore I took Honors Courses, which were the most competitive programs available that year. Next year, I will be taking AP Biology, AP Economics, AP English, and AP Government.</p>

<p>SAT I Scores: </p>

<p>Overall: 2310, but I have retaken it several times. This is my highest score.
Critical Reading: 790
Math: 740
Writing: 780</p>

<p>ACT Scores:</p>

<p>Composition: 34
Math 33
English 36
Reading 36
Science 33</p>

<p>SAT II Scores:</p>

<p>Biology: 730
German: 790
Literature: 760
Math I: 700
World History: 800
US History: 800</p>

<p>Extracurriculars:</p>

<p>Lacrosse Team. 3 Years. Junior Varisty for two years, Varsity for one year.
Debate Team. 3 Years. I have won two trophies with my partner.
Interact Club. 1 Year.
Hiking Club. 1 Year.
Public Forum. Not a founding member, but one of the earlier members. I lapsed out of it, and only got involved last year. 1 Year.
High School Paper. I was made an editor my freshman year. Next year, my senior year, I will be made Editor-in-Chief.
Boy Scouts. I am currently a Life Scout; I will be made an Eagle (if all goes as planned...) next fall, right before I send my college application out. Den Chief to the little Cub Scouts.
Black Belt in Tae Kwon Do. Don't know whether this will help at all, but eh.
I'm also thinking of starting a German club next year. I'm sure it would help.</p>

<p>Community Service:</p>

<p>Tutor in all things history, did this during my Junior year.
Many different things with Interact.
Various things with the Boy Scouts. </p>

<p>There is probably a few other things I'm leaving out, but honestly, I can't remember. I plan on volunteering for a political campaign in the fall, but I'm not sure whether that means anything.</p>

<p>Recommendations:</p>

<p>I will have, I think, excellent recommendations. My German teacher used to teach at MIT. My English teacher, my mentor, went to UC Berkeley and got his Master's at Cambridge. My history teacher went to Princeton. Not sure whether any of that helps, but I assume it would. I will have a recommendation from my counselor.</p>

<p>In Conclusion:</p>

<p>Anyway, that's that. I screwed up a bit my freshman year; I got one C in Algebra I my fresman year, but but I'm going to see if I can retake that and maybe a few others I am unsatisfied with this summer. Last year, I couldn't, since I was having spinal surgery (I'm 6'11 as a result of it). Anyway, please chance! :)</p>

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<p>…yes</p>

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<p>

</p>

<p>They don’t seem to really care about where the teacher studied as much as they do what they say in the letter.</p>

<p>Well, you probably already know this, but you have strong grades and scores. But, I don’t really see anything dazzling about the rest of your app. </p>

<p>I’d say you would have a good shot ED. I can’t say anything about Regular, however.</p>

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<p>Ah, ok thanks. Just curious. Thanks for the replies, guys!</p>

<p>I don’t have anything too spectacular. I know Cornell looks for leadership, which other than being Editor-in-Chief and a Den Chief, I am lacking in. Any advice on how I can make myself stand out a little more in the following few months? :P</p>

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<p>Good chance ED; RD is less predictable.</p>

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<p>I don’t usually chance people, but you have a Very Good chance rd or ed. Make sure you read the posts about rd v ed. Cornell takes a huge number of recruited athletes and legacy. Probably the second most athletes to Stanford. Most all recruited athletes are very likely ed. Many legacy are ed. If out of the 1200 accepted ed - say, for argument, that 800 in total were recruited athletes and legacy, then only about 400 spots were left for the ed unhooked applicants making it very - very hard to get in unhooked ed - – on par, if not more difficult than rd for the unhooked. Cornell says they give an edge to ed applicants. still , If you are unhooked ed and get in, you are probably an extremely strong applicant that would have been competitive most anywhere - rd or ed as so much of cornell’s ed acceptances are likely athletes and strong legacy. Just my opinion here. I could be wrong.<br>
Here is the link (at the bottom) that shows the class profile and that over 21% of those that got in are recruited and legacy. You do your own research to make to best decision for you.
There are a lot of threads on cc and other web sites about cornell ed’s “advantage” being a myth. You may want to skim the stats here of accepted applicants this year’s at cornell ed v rd for whatever it is worth. To me, it seems like for the unhooked, the numbers are way - way higher for the ed applicants - meaning it could be easier for the unhooked to get in rd - therefore the ed myth. again, this could all be wrong, just making a point that you should look at. Read through the threads
Just do whatever is best for you in terms of your goals.
here is the link for the class profile of 2014.
<a href=“http://dpb.cornell.edu/documents/1000001.pdf[/url]”>http://dpb.cornell.edu/documents/1000001.pdf&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

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<p>Excellent SAT’s, great GPA. What’s your class rank? Are you in the top 10% of your class?</p>

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<p>Thanks for the links and reviews! I have not decided on whether I will apply early or regular. I’ll probably be visiting Cornell this summer, along with a few other Ivy League universities.</p>

<p>As per my class rank, I’ll have to check. I do not remember what it was for this year. My school has around 550 students. My freshman year, like I said, was relatively poor for someone hoping to go to a place like Cornell. But it has been an upward trend since. My first rank at the end of my first Freshman trimester was not in the 10%, but I moved ahead by my Sophomore year’s first trimester. My Junior year’s trimester was probably in the top 10%. My school is very much divided. I live near a national laboratory, and many children of the scientists come to school here. So, that makes the academics very competitive at the top.</p>

<p>Class ranks at my school are somewhat useless, though. They are only really used to determine the valedictorian.</p>

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<p>Curious: You said your GPA wasn’t that good in your freshman year. The GPA you have right now, does that include your freshman year?</p>

<p>Your chances are good! Nice teachers you have at that school… Really nice.
Almost seven (7) feet tall… Apply anywhere and say you would also try out for basketball.
Skills or no skills, height is really all that matters (unless you’re just freakin’ fantastic at the game).</p>

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<p>Yes, my GPA now includes my freshman year. </p>

<p>5 Bs and 1 C my freshman year (2 in Honors English (well, very high (like 89%), 1 in Bio, 1 in Digital Photo (yeah, pathetic I know… I missed a lot of school for this one), 1 in Algebra I, and the C in Algebra I. I’m planning on retaking Algebra I this summer.</p>

<p>In Sophomore year, I got two Bs. One in Con. Physics (wasn’t eligible for chemistry yet), and the other in Geometry. My school goes by the trimester system, so each grade is stand-alone. They aren’t combined at the end of the year. Ever since my 3rd Trimester of Sophomore year, I have had straight A’s. Every Honors/AP course available to me I have taken.</p>

<p>Except in Algebra I, in every course I have taken I’ve gotten at least 1 A. If it wasn’t for freshman year, my class rank and gpa would probably be much higher. T</p>

<p>Each trimester we have 15 Classes, so in short:</p>

<p>Freshman Year:</p>

<p>9 A’s, 5 B’s, 1 C</p>

<p>Sophomore Year:</p>

<p>13 A’s, 2 B’s</p>

<p>Junior Year:</p>

<p>15 A’s (well, god willing I don’t screw up majorly the next three weeks).</p>

<p>Senior Year:</p>

<p>Dunno but I’m going to try real hard.</p>

<p>Heh, maybe I’ll play Basketball next year after all. I played in Middle School, though I prefer Lacrosse.</p>

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<p>don’t worry about not taking AP World, because they don’t count it for any credits at Cornell, and if it wasn’t available to you your school report will make that clear.</p>

<p>also, I think that your leadership activities are adequate. they both require sustained and regular attention, and there are high standards for both I am sure. also, they both use different kinds of leadership: one produces a project, one works with other (younger) people.
only play the sports or start the clubs you really care about.</p>

<p>also…wow to your teachers! I never had any teachers with such backgrounds! they were fine/great most of them, just their educations were not comparable.</p>

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<p>Thanks for the responses, guys! I feel more upbeat about applying.</p>

<p>Actually, it turns out I calculated it wrong ><. My real GPA (at the end of my junior year, counting my classes now) is a 3.8/4.11. I’m confident that after next year’s first trimester that it will be 3.82/4.16, though. Is that bad? Or do you think I still have a good shot? </p>

<p>Would it be better to apply RD or ED?</p>

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<p>I also managed to get (with the help of one of my teachers) an internship with UC Berkeley’s journalism program. Would that help? :P</p>

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<p>ED would give you a slight edge so long as your essays have a lot of depth / are well written, etc.</p>

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<p>about ed v rd, that has been a very debated issue.<br>
without a hook, it could very well be that rd is easier than ed
look at my # 6 post here.
just my personal opinion
good luck</p>

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<p>Yeah, I’m debating which to do. I’m not a legacy (my parents went to junior college) and our income bracket isn’t below the poverty line. Since I’m applying to CAS, I want to get the best chance possible…</p>

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<p>ok - good luck, Is Cornell your first choice?</p>

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<p>It’s getting to be. It seems to be exactly what I’d like in an education. The campus looks beautiful, the academics seem challenging but enlightening, and it just seems like a great experience in general.</p>

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<p>Out of curiousity, though, I would think it harder to get in RD, mainly because there would be so many others applying there while also trying for HYP. I would think that those applying to Cornell ED would have somewhat lower stats, which would make it easier for someone like me (3.8/4.1) to get in.</p>

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<p>read my post #6 here.
also don’t get caught up in the stats you see here on cc.
3.8 is great; my school has had several students between 3.5 and 3.8 go to HYP and Stanford without any hook. It is much than scores or GPA, but that is basically what people on cc have to compare to one another.
good luck</p>