<p>I'm a senior, so I've already applied to college. However, even though I've finished submitting my college applications, I'm still feeling really anxious and nervous. I'm scared I'm not going to get in because I applied to a lot of top colleges.<br>
So these are the schools that I applied to:
Cornell CALS (for plant science, I'm actually really interested in environmental science and horticulture)
UChicago
Barnard
Colgate
Dartmouth (completely out of reach...I'm hoping for a miracle)
Columbia (same with Dartmouth)</p>
<p>I also applied to:
SUNY Buffalo
SUNY Stony Brook
SUNY Binghamton
CUNY Hunter</p>
<p>Okay, so here are my stats:
GPA: 91.78 (unweighted)
SAT: 2220
SAT2: 730 US History, 730 Math 2
AP: 4 US History, 5 Environmental Science
I have taken many honors classes and am currently taking 4 AP classes. </p>
<p>Extracurriculars:
- Key Club 4 years (Projects Chair)
- Literary Magazine 2 years (Founder/Treasurer)
- Botanical Garden (Intern)
- helped build a model of a solar still. The solar still is currently patent pending.
- Cross country varsity 2 years
- Fencing varsity 2 years
- Envirothon Team
- environmental club
- School garden and greenhouse upkeep
- robotics team
- national honor society
- I've also been doing research with a professor at a college for the past two years. My work with him culminated in a research paper which I submitted to the intel competition.
( I think these were all the activities I listed on my common app, I did a lot more but I felt those weren't as meaningful.)</p>
<p>Essay(s):
- I wrote my common app essay on an environmental issue and how I feel about it. (I wrote about how it makes me feel conflicted since I both want to support it and yet criticize it.) I think it was a pretty decent essay.
- For the supplements, I really tried to answer them as truthfully as possible.
For Cornell's supplement, I wrote about what I have done that is environmental and how I want to cobtinue learning about it by learning first the basics of the environment, plants. </p>
<p>So, based on everything, what do you think my chances at the schools I listed above are? My number one choice is Cornell CALS (plant science). Do you think I will get in?
I'm so nervous waiting for the results and I want something to calm my nerves.
Thanks!</p>
<p>Why apply to SUNY Buffalo and CUNY Hunter? Binghamton and Stony should be more than enough of a safety. I certainly hope you applied to Honors in those two schools. And Columbia and Dartmouth are probably very high reaches for you. And I’d say you have a decent shot at Cornell and UChicago. Good luck!</p>
<p>As the decision date draws nearer and nearer, I am getting more and more anxious.
I was rereading my Cornell supplement, and while my common app essay is decent, my supplement is so bad! I feel I didn’t really answer the question though I sometimes hinted at the answer. I just feel I didn’t elaborate that much. Ughhh, I’m hating my essay so much. While writing it, I was actually feeling rather confident.
How much do you think my poor essay will hurt me in admissions, especially to Cornell? I’m hoping it won’t hurt me that much, but I don’t know.
It just pains me to know my Cornell essay was so poorly written, especially since Cornell is my first choice.
Please help me calm my nerves…</p>
<p>You have an awesome story to tell! Cornell is cool (for very many reasons but in particular) because a teacher in your field reads your application with an admissions officer, so your interest and great stats should speak for you. I love Cornell (was accepted ED at Penn though because it was a more dynamic Cornell for me), so I wish you a lot of luck!</p>
<p>You’re in pretty good shape. There are only two things that could possibly hold you back (well two and a half). Firstly, your SAT IIs are a little low for the Ivies, though they are good. Ideally, they should be 760+, but I don’t really think they would reject you over that. Secondly, what is your rank? I don’t know how the system works out of 100, and universities place more emphasis on the rank because of grade inflation/deflation. If you are in the top 5% you are golden (top 10% and you’re still in the running). Your SAT score would be better if it was higher, but it is still in the ballpark.</p>
<p>Assuming you are in the top 10% of your class, you are fine. Good luck!</p>
<p>I almost never do chances, but I think you have a shot at CALS, though it is far from a sure thing. My guess is plant science draws a smaller crowd than some of the other fields there, and that can’t hurt.</p>
<p>But one never knows. IMO best thing to do is just try to relax till the answers come in,
you’ve done all you can do and fretting over it won’t help. Easier said than done, I know.</p>
<p>The decision date is less than two weeks away, and though I’ve really tried to relax myself and take my mind off college, I just can’t!!!
Any more opinions on my chances at Cornell?
My school doesn’t rank but I’m in the National Honor Society at my school, which requires a certain gpa and a certain amount of credits to join. Perhaps that would mean something?
Also, I am currently taking a plant biology class at my school, and my grade in that class, for the first semester, was a 97. Will Cornell see this grade and take it into account? (It was sent to them as part of my midyear report.)
I am really worried about my chances since my essay sucks so much. What’s even worse is the fact that the essay is a major component of the application and helps to show your interest and fit. I listed environmental things that I’ve done so far, and I stated how much I wanted to continue learning about the environment at Cornell. However, I don’t really know if Cornell can determine my “fit” from my essay…I hope they will also look at my extracurriculars…
Also, I didn’t really demonstrate interest even though I am very interested in Cornell. I am unable to visit because I live really far away, and given my financial situation, I do not think a trip up to Ithaca will be happening any time soon. However, I have emailed Cornell a couple times before, and I have also attended an informational Cornell meeting at my school. Does this serve as demonstrated interest? How much will my lack of demonstrated interest hurt me?
I am so anxious and am about to go insane. What are my chances at Cornell?
(I still really like my other colleges but have come to terms that my chances at those colleges, i.e Columbia, Dartmouth, UChicago, are almost slim to none. I guess it might just be Binghamton for me.)</p>
<p>Your SAT is above their average, and your EC’s are stunning… also (hope this doesn’t offend you) I don’t think botanical studies are particularly prevalent areas of study in any of these universities, so I BELIEVE you should have an easier time getting into these programs. Really the only thing that looks relatively weak is your GPA, and it’s still very very good, especially for a competitive school. I really can’t chance accurately, I’m not an admissions officer, but it looks like you’re in good shape.</p>
<p>I wouldn’t worry too much about Cornell if I were you. Though definitely don’t take it as an in because they are not extremely predictable. If I even have a hope of getting in then lets just say that you definitely are lol!</p>
<p>I go to cornell and i think you’ll have a good chance for CALS i hope your essay was good though, it seems like they place a great importance on that. besides that, they love applicants who have a passion and can concretely demonstrate them. if it makes you feel better, you have higher SAT I and IIs than me (although i had a higher gpa), and i got into A&S which is more selective than CALS i believe. your ECs are impressive and seem like a great fit for CALS, i hope you make it!</p>
i hope your essay was good though, it seems like they place a great importance on that. besides that, they love applicants who have a passion and can concretely demonstrate them. if it makes you feel better, you have higher SAT I and IIs than me (although i had a higher gpa), and i got into A&S which is more selective than CALS i believe. your ECs are impressive and seem like a great fit for CALS, i hope you make it!</p>