Chances for Cornell

Colleges and Universities A-Z Cornell University
1

<p>Hey guys, I'm new to CC, so I thought I would start off by posting this thread...</p>

<p>I was hoping you guys could give some input on my college app stuff:</p>

<p>Ethnicity: White Male
School: Public School in Cleveland, OH suburbs
GPA: 4.6w, 3.93u
Rank: 7/350 (2%)
The reason I'm so far back in rank is because the people in front of me don't take electives that bring down their gpa's</p>

<p>SAT: 680M, 670V, 800W (12 essay)- 2150
ACT: 32</p>

<p>AP: Statistics 4 (This is the only one I could take junior year)
Senior Year:
AP Government
AP Chemistry
AP Calculus BC
AP Physics
AP English
AP Spanish</p>

<p>Awards
-Principal’s List
-National Honor Society
-Greater Cleveland High School Hockey League All Academic Team
-Mayfield High School Scholar Athlete
-Leo & Lucille Schwartz Torah Reader Award
-Most Improved Player-Varsity Ice Hockey
-Varsity Letters
Ice Hockey
Cross Country
-Academic Booster Club Award
-Model UN Superior and Excellent Delegate Awards</p>

<p>Extracirricular Activities
-Music
Piano-Independent Study for 10 years
Saxophone-Playing for 10yrs; Play in School Wind Ensemble (1st chair)
Tuba- Play in Marching Band since 9th Grade
-Men’s Varsity Cross Country
3 yrs-Captain
-Men’s Varsity Ice Hockey
4 yrs-Captain
-Men’s Varsity Track & Field
4 yrs-Captain
-P.R.I.D.E. (People Recognizing International Diversity Enthusiastically)
4 yrs-Club President
-The Pride of Mayfield Marching Band
4 yrs
-World Affairs Club (Model UN)
3 yrs
-Maurice Saltzman Youth Panel (SYP)
Community Service Panel that met several times during the to discuss how to appropriate $50,000 to local charities
-Ambassadors for Unity (AFU)
Community Organization that did many service projects in Cleveland as well as a trip to Israel to do community work in a low socioeconomical environment</p>

<p>Community Service
-Since 7th grade I have taught students hebrew every week at Sunday school, I have taught in grades 3-6 (100hrs/yr)
-Various smaller things with the clubs, especially PRIDE, for which I coordinate most things
-By the time I graduate, I will have logged somewhere between 500-600 hours</p>

<p>Work Experience
-Funded this summer by Cleveland Clinic (3rd ranked hospital in USNews, so its like the Yale of Hospitals) to conduct my own epidemiological research on Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy in the Congestive Heart Failure Center, the Clinic published this report
-Worked two summers at a Sports Camp
-I co-founded my own business called KH Video Productions, we have been working for 5 yrs now and do event videography for weddings, bar mitzvahs, and local businesses
-Spanish Tutor over the summer</p>

<p>Teacher Recs: I spent all of junior year building good reports w/ the two teachers I am getting recs from so they should be good
Counselor Rec: She likes me, so I believe it will help me
Essays: My "Why penn essay" is good, I think its something original but who can tell these days; One about working at the Cleveland Clinic, and one about spending a month in Israel w/ a family that couldn't speak english and how we formed a bond that "transcended the barriers of the spoken word". My english teacher says my strength is writing.</p>

<p>Hook: Unfortunately none, I'm just a kid trying to get to college</p>

<p>Schools:
UPenn- I LOVE PENN (Reach)
Princeton- To see what kind of aid they toss my way (Reach)
Brown- PLME program (Reach)
Cornell- I like the campus and their Biology cirriculum (Reach)
Northwestern- Had to do a top tier Midwest school (Reach)
WashU- " "
UMich- The public Ivy in my opinion, and it's only 3 hrs from my house (Match)
Ohio State- I needed an in state school, and Case is too close (Match)
Penn State- Both my parents went there, nuf said (Match)</p>

<p>I don't want you guys to think I'm trying too hard or that I'm window dressing my application with a lot of EC's but I can honestly say I devote my life to snd my activities. I have a lot of passions, and I like to spend my free time doing them.</p>

<p>So I would really like to hear your thoughts: Cornell students, Cornell applicants, or any other procrastinators-Thanks in advance</p>

2

<p>I think you have a pretty good chance, great job and best of luck!</p>

3

<p>thanks figgy</p>

4

<p>Your GPA and activities seem to be great but I think your SATs are slightly below Cornell's average--regardless, I think you have a chance.</p>

5

<p>I agree, you have great EC's. You stand a good chance! good luck.</p>

6

<p>thanks guys, I was planning just on the ACT because my SATs aren't strong</p>

7

<p>I had a strange experience with this, but I am pretty sure you have to send in SAT 2s which are accompanied with the SAT score so :&lt;/p>

<p>Someone confirm</p>

8

<p>I do know that, but my scores are not good on my sat II's</p>

9

<p>o i c...retake?</p>

10

<p>I made a personal decision that I would never take another College board administered test every again. With 700 Math II and 600 Lit. I'll take my chances. I know those are weak, but I just can not take another SAT type test.</p>

11

<p>Here's a great business venture: Develop an alternative testing company that can compete with the College Board. Maybe then they won't monopolize specialized high school standardized testing.</p>

12

<p>Obviously, you should change this essay. Otherwise everything looks good. A bit weak in the scores though, but Cornell looks at the whole applicant.

[quote]
Essays: My "Why penn essay" is good, I think its something original but who can tell these days

[/quote]
</p>

13

<p>Hey you are a very solid applicant, but try not to leave out any negative aspects. Lots of people do this when posting up a "chances" thread...which doesn't help much. Have you checked out Penn State's Schreyers Honors College? It's pretty easy to get in, but they have the WORST essay prompts. Good luck!</p>

14

<p>"I made a personal decision that I would never take another College board administered test every again."
Aren't you going to take the AP tests during your senior year? :rolleyes:</p>

15

<p>You will really regret it if that is the reason you don't get in. I took 3 SATs, 3 ACTs, and 4 SAT 2s along with hundreds of hours of classes and studying. This is ur future ur talking about, take control and don't be lazy :) </p>

<p>The math is fine...it's the lit that could be higher. But they are right about Cornell looking at the "whole person" so it wont "kill" you.</p>

<p>"one about spending a month in Israel w/ a family that couldn't speak english and how we formed a bond that "transcended the barriers of the spoken word". My english teacher says my strength is writing."<br>
That would make a spectacular essay</p>

16

<p>About the AP's, I'm a bit reluctant to take them since I do poorly on standardized tests. I would like to be economical seeing as I probably won't score many 5's and Penn (if by some outside chance I happen to get in) isn't too generous with credits. Also, I'm not really interested in graduating college early, so placement in high level classes just doesn't interest me. I'm pre-med so I want to make the transition to college as easy as possible.</p>

17

<p>I was looking at the requirements for Cornell's different colleges and the way it's worded made it sound as though you need to submit SAT I or ACT and 2 SAT subject tests... if you submit ACT scores do you still need the subject tests or was it just worded badly?</p>

18

<p>You do have to submit two SAT II test no matter which primary test you submit</p>

19

<p>You will need to check the exact requirements for each school/college for Cornell. They are different. All require SATI or ACT with writing as well as SATIIs which varies depending on the school you're interested in. I know it's hard but don't get so hung up on every single test score. You are a strong candidate with lots of excellent qualities going for you which cannot be measured by a four hour exam. Admission officers know that. So just go for it and try to enjoy your senior year in HS : ) Remember not all people with perfect scores get in!</p>

20

<p>thanks fedmom1080, but its hard not to be hung up on the test scores</p>