Hello all!
Just getting ready to shoot off my apps to colleges, but feeling really nervous about my chances for Cornell CALS (RD), my number one. Without going to much into depth, my stats are as follows: ACT 30 (Writing 32) GPA: 95.2 UW 96.3 W Rank 10/133, involved in a whole bunch of really good ( perhaps even excellent) ECs from Boys State to Student Council VP to Tennis Captain, also really valuable internships at local Zoo ( have letter of rec from) and local large animal practice. I know my stats are a little low but I’m really hoping that due my interest in a certain field and Ag ties ( Agriculture science major) which CALS seems to really stress I will have a shot. Essays are nothing phenomenal, just re-emphasizing interest in Vet/ Ag field. No hooks to note, white male from low income family ( fee waivers etc). I am just really starting to stress about this, CALS is my number one but was discouraged from applying ED due to financial uncertainty. Has anybody heard from people who got in RD with similar stuff? Ugh…
8 APs as well
I am in a similar boat to you. If you’re in state I think you have a really good shot of getting in, but out of state is more competitive. Due to your low stats I think that it would be hard to get in RD if you’re out of state, but you never know!
I visited and I also know of one person with similar stats to you who got in.
@DryMango
Am in state! Woot woot! Maybe I will have a shot! Really wish I could’ve applied ED but it just wasn’t an option for my family…
I was told the exact same thing as you (I assume). “Don’t apply ED if you are requesting financial aid and might not get enough”. That doesn’t really make sense to me. Wouldn’t it be better to get in ED and then you have 5 extra months to work out your financial aid package? Oh well :((
Right!? Its really disappointing Im just hoping I get accepted RD. One of my other worries is that CALS will be less likely to accept me because Im applying to tons of other schools as well ( 7 others)
@realperson2990 I hate to sound negative, but if Cornell was your absolute number one you should have applied ED. Your chances would have almost tripled. They fill 45% of the freshman class from the 1,900+ ED applications they get. That doesn’t mean you won’t have a shot in RD but I think you got bad advice. Since you are lower income you probably would have received a generous grant to help pay for school. It still wouldn’t be cheap though. From what I have heard and read, you can get out of the binding ED if you can’t afford it. You right a letter stating as such. Simple as that. It happens more than you think.
Now having said that, when you apply RD, you will now be going up against 40,000 applicants instead of under 2,000. Make sure you have an awesome first semester of senior year, especially in your hardest classes, because they will see those grades for the RD application.
Your ECs are fine, but nothing special. Your ACT is on the low end of their profile but not impossible.
I think what will put you in the accepted column is demonstrated proof how working at a zoo put you on the path to Ag. And also why Cornell’s Ag department is the one for you. Mention specific labs, classroom names, even name drop professors if possible. Tell them what you are looking forward to the most when you arrive as a freshman. They have to “feel” that Cornell is by far your number one choice and you’re not picking it because it’s an Ivy (like so many applicants do).
Good luck.
Just a note to any future students who are looking at this, I was accepted into Cornell CALS.
@realperson2990, that is so great! Did you go? Do you love it?
@realperson2990, oh wait this was this year! Congrats.
Congrats! My son is first year at CALS. He’s from SoCal and he’s loving Cornell! School is challenging but he has made great friends and has a full social life. He’s majoring in Biometry and statistics. The dean of CALS said in her welcome speech that most classes at CALS do not grade on a curve
@CALSmom
Not on the Bell? Really?! That’s excellent, the curve worried me. Im pre-vet and would need every bit of GPA I can muster haha.
@CALSmom
If you don’t mind my asking, what were your sons stats? I’m trying to see how I would fit in academically.
30 ACT
4.4 weighted
6 APs
Rank 23/820
You’ll be fine! Just to give you some perspective, he took AP Calc AB and BC and scored a 5 on the AP exams. At Cornell he took Linear Algebra his fist semester and I do not recommend that lol! He said it was tough!! He is taking Calculus this semester and he said it’s a bit easier than linear algebra. He took stats last semester and this semester as well and he’s getting As in those subjects which is good because that’s his major. He has to take writing classes and so far he’s been doing well in those classes too. But he studies a lot as I know he’s well up past 1am most nights
Students at Cornell are super smart, but what I love is that they are very down to earth and it is a great collaborative environment.