Chances for a really strange case

Colleges and Universities A-Z Cornell University
1

<p>All right, it's a long story but I'll cut it down to the basics.</p>

<p>I'm a Korean, and I was at one of the top private UK schools (anyone heard of Harrow?) for 8th and 9th grade. However, my family could not pay the tuition any longer and I was home, in Korea, for Easter holidays in 9th grade when the school told me that I was not allowed to return. So that was March last year.
I didn't want to go to a normal Korean school and my parents found that a Korean school that prepares people to go on to US/UK colleges was looking for transfer students. So I applied and I got in in June, but as an 11th grader because they didn't have places left elsewhere. Now, the Korean academic calendar begins in March so I joined almost half-way into 11th grade. As you can see, I jumped from 9th grade to 11th grade.
I've adjusted OK, but in math I never quite caught up, I've only had one chance to take APs (everyone else had three) and my EC's are rather weak. My GC says he has no idea how colleges will see this. </p>

<p>Basic stats</p>

<p>My current school is one of the most competitive in Korea. Private & boarding. The school does not give rank. </p>

<p>SAT I:
I'm taking it in October and November. I'm expecting something in the region of 2250~2300
SAT II:
Bio 800
World History 800
French 680 (retake in December)
Latin 710
GPA: For my current school, 3.83 UW and 4.12 W. There are lots of non-AP course we have to take so that brings down the weighted average a little. For my grades in UK, I think it was something like 3.9 UW.
APs:
Bio 5
Chem 4
Psych 5
Euro H 4
US H 5
WH 5</p>

<p>ECs:</p>

<p>From the school before (so, for 8th & 9th grade)
Varsity Rifle, won a trophy in a SE England competition
Concert band
CCF (British equivalent of JROTC)
Co-prop manager for a play</p>

<p>In my current school:
Varsity Swimming + Water Polo. Silver medal for U18 breast-stroke, division 2, in Provincial Atheletics Competition and silver medal in water polo in the same competition. (FYI, provinces are the largest administrative units in Korea)
History Club - Founder, president
Drama Club
Played flute for students' church services
Worked as a resident programme assistant for a English camp my schools runs, for a month.
Community service - 100+ hours, mostly working as translator for international sports competitions</p>

<p>I'm applying ED to Cornell. I'd really appreciate your opinions.</p>

2

<p>Dude. I doubt anyone would know enough about your special circumstances to really give you good opinion about your chances.</p>

3

<p>so how old are you? Is that a weighted GPA out of 5?</p>

4

<p>Xeal// I just had my seventeenth birthday in September, and I'm a senior now.
Yes, the weighted GPA is out of 5, but like I said, there are so many non-AP courses required for Korean schools that I don't believe it is possible to get even 4.4 in my school, even with straight A's all the way</p>

<p>I know my circumstances are rather unique, but I want to know what you people think anyway.</p>

5

<p>just a question: What'd you do during 10th grade since you weren't enrolled in school?</p>

6

<p>I'm not too sure about what your EC's mean but they're not exactly the best of EC's one could have but they're not bad. That Varsity Rifle sounds fun and I haven't heard of that as a varsity sport before hehe. Is it fun?</p>

<p>Do well in your SAT II's, write great essays. Make sure that between your essays, recs and counsellor reports you adaquetly explain your unique circumstances.</p>

7

<p>I went straight from 9th grade to 11th grade with less than 3 months in between. I spent that time trying to negotiate with my old school and exploring options.</p>

<p>Varsity rifle was pretty good fun, and it lasts all-year round, unlike rugby or cricket. It would have also gotten me a leg up for CCF, if I had stayed, because the shooting coaches also took charge of that as well.</p>

8

<p>Does that mean you will have missing info when they calculate your high school GPA?</p>

9

<p>Yeah, my 10th grade will just be a blank. I've talked to my counselor, so he'll write something about it, I think.</p>

10

<p>they'll probably just average the gpa w/out 10th grade. YOU HAVE AN INTERESTING LIFE</p>

11

<p>it's really hard to tell you about your chances because you need finaid...I've meet many int'l students here who have amazing stories (one even has a father who's a cult leader, and was forced to marry at 18, and she divorced, and finally was able to come back to the US) so...idunno</p>

12

<p>I won't be applying for financial aid - my family's financial situation has improved significantly and my father is confident that he can pay the tuition.</p>

13

<p>That improves your situation greatly!</p>

14

<p>... how does not applying for financial aid improve his situation?</p>

15

<p>Because Cornell is not need blind for internationals.</p>

16

<p>ohh.. i seeeee</p>

17

<p>wait, Cornell is NOT need blind for people in the States?</p>

18

<p>That's right. I'm not even allowed to ask for aid since I'm applying ED.</p>

<p>Anyway, seeing as AASSDDFF has bumped this thread...</p>

<p>I got a 2340 (770CR 780W 790M) in the October SAT. Will it help?</p>

19

<p>Cornell is need-blind for domestic applicants-people who are from the U.S. For internationals, however, there is only a limited amount of financial aid Cornell can give, thus it does take need into consideration.</p>