Chances for an average girl Cornell ED? or even RD?

Colleges & Universities A-Z Cornell University
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<p>Basic
Gender: Female
Ethnicity: Hispanic
School Type: Public (~4K & not nearly competitive enough)
State: PA
Income Bracket: $65K maybe? (mother has been unemployed for over a year now) (She earned much of the that household income)</p>

<p>Intended Major: Psychology or Ind. Major (Forensics related)</p>

<p>GPA: 3.7 UW/4.2 W
Rank: 16/760 (unweighted/weighted? idk)
Top 5%</p>

<p>Tests (that will kill me):
SAT I: 1870 (plan to bring up to ~2000)
SAT II: U.S History (640), Math I (650), Spanish (750)</p>

<p>4 AP Exams/Courses so far
- AP English Language & Comp (3)
- AP US History (4)</p>

<p>Senior Schedule:
- AP Econ/Govt
- AP Calc AB
- AP English Lit
- Choir
- German 1 (Planning to change to French 3)
- Forensic Science/Forensic Psychology
- Cardio Development (in place of PE)
- Study Hall</p>

<p>Awards:
- Honor Rolls throughout HS
- QuestBridge College Prep Scholarship Recipient 2009 (Counseling, Conference Invitation, Nomination for Expense-Paid College Visits)</p>

<p>ECs:
- Key Club (10,11,12)
- Key Club Webmaster (10,11)
- Key Club Treasurer (12)
- Construction Company Creative Design Team (11,12) (Worked along with local construction company to help improve physical features of school)
- NHS (12)
- Self-taught guitar (5+years) (Don't like entering competitions and such)
- Choir (10,11,12)
- Audition-based choral ensemble -> Chorale (12)
- plan to join Odyssey of the Mind and start Badminton Club upcoming year
- Winter league soccer (Soccer was eventually not for me :p) (10)</p>

<p>Volunteer Work:
Key Club (40+ hrs)
Chorale (by end of senior year, prob 150)
Nursing Home (40+ hours by end of Oct)</p>

<p>Hooks?: URM, Queer (lol will that help me?), Low income</p>

<p>Common App Essay: Will prob be about how growing up in a very religious family and my abrupt coming out has helped me mature over time and become more confident. Or something around that.
Supplement: Should start working on it soon.</p>

<p>Essays should be good for Cornell and hopefully recs will be, too.</p>

<p>Any feedback will be appreciated! Esp ways to help enhance my app</p>

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<p>anyone? please?</p>

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<p>you look like a pretty standard applicant, except for yout SAT scores. Both SAT I and II scores need to be brought up, then you have a slightly above everage chance I think, but currently, I would say admission is unlikely.</p>

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<p>My daughter got in to A&S with similar stats and did so through the Psych Major. The key is to show how Cornell and the Psych department is a good fit for you. Don’t just write a sob story or a story of triumph, Show how Cornell, combined with your experiences will make you a better person. Show what you can bring to Cornell to help make it a more interesting place. Cite specific courses and professors that can help you attain your goals ( such as the “Feminist, Gender and Sexual Studies Program”)[Cornell</a> University - Feminist, Gender,&Sexuality Studies](<a href=“http://www.arts.cornell.edu/fgss/]Cornell”>Feminist, Gender & Sexuality Studies Program | Feminist, Gender and Sexuality Studies)
This makes your essay more than just a plea.
Good Luck</p>

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<p>Thanks for the feedback, Screamindv and I V! So I guess I should focus on my sats and essays… Cornell is my first choice school but I guess I’ll have to apply RD so I can improve my stats.</p>

<p>Any other takers?</p>

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<p>I would retake the SAT I in October (gets it in before the ED deadline), hope for an improvement, and go ED (assuming you can afford it given you financial situation and Cornell’s financial aid commitments–which do favor ppl like us with a low income, although I don’t know your full situation). The advantage you’ll get from applying early decision (a less competitive applicant pool and higher acceptance rate) can be a HUGE help. You’re a low-income URM, so with higher SATs I’d say you have an above average chance in the ED pool.</p>

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<p>Actually, the thing that worries me most is the 750 on the Spanish SAT. Could you retake that? You’re Hispanic and thus they’d expect a 780+</p>

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<p>thanks malan89 and Lobzz. I’m debating on whether taking the sat I or II. I had screwed up my IIs cuz I made a stupid mistake and took them all in one day. I ended up burning out by the third. sigh. which should I go for I, or II? would one be slightly looked over the other?</p>

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<p>try taking them both… but if you realllllllllllly need to choose one, make it I.</p>

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<p>Did you take three SAT IIs for Harvard/Princeton/Georgetown?</p>

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<p>Thanks Lobzz. I know that the ED round obviously has a higher acceptance rate (and I should apply since its my first choice), but do you guys think if I raised my SAT scores (both I and II) I’d have somewhat of a better chance if I applied in the RD round?</p>

<p>Korg, yeah I took the 3 (now it’s 2) for Princeton. It’d be nice to see if I can get in, but I know that’d take a huge miracle.</p>

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<p>No, no. Apply ED.</p>

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<p>Where else are you thinking of applying ED?</p>

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<p>My heart’s in Cornell, so nowhere else. But if you meant RD, I was thinking of applying to Colgate, Wellesley and a few other schools.</p>

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<p>I meant ED. “Or maybe RD” threw me off.</p>

<p>All I can say is good luck.</p>

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<p>Hmm…I’m not sure if you mean that in a heartfelt and literal sense, or in a good-luck-trying-to-get-in one
It’s cool either way, though. Thanks for the feedback.</p>

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<p>It was literal. Maybe not heartfelt… I don’t know you like that.</p>

<p>I do like your chances as a Hispanic, though. That will definitely play to your advantage. Best thing to do is to produce a knock-out application (with a killer essay) and see how it goes.</p>

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<p>If you take the SAT Is in October and the SAT IIs again in Nov (I don’t really think your IIs are a HUGE hurt to your app–they’re not “bad”), I’m pretty sure they’ll let you send in the scores on the IIs past the ED deadline (though I would call the admissions office just to make sure). If you’re deadset on Cornell and you’ve evaluated your finances and their finaid, then go for ED. Again, it’s a HUGE help.</p>

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<p>Thanks again, malan and Korg. I’ll be sure to get in touch with the admissions office asap regarding the sats. You guys have helped a lot.</p>