Chances for Cornell?

Colleges and Universities A-Z Cornell University
1

<p>Hey,</p>

<p>I'm finishing out my sophomore year and starting to seriously consider colleges... I definitely like the idea of being near my family in upstate NY, and I wanted to know if I am on track for Cornell. (And I understand that, as a sophomore, it is still rather early to tell). Thanks!</p>

<p>I guess to start out, I began high school at a private school in the South Carolina. I was top 10% while I was there. I transferred towards the beginning of sophomore year to a very competitive high school in the Boston, MA metro area. It is in the top 100 public schools in the US. The school district, I believe, is in the top 10. I would guess that I am in the top 15% here.</p>

<p>SAT I - 2350 (Perfect score on writing section). </p>

<p>SAT II - Haven't taken them yet.</p>

<p>PSAT - Around 1900. 93 percentile. </p>

<p>High school does not rank. Most likely somewhere in the top 15%.</p>

<p>3.8 Unweighted GPA</p>

<p>I was recently featured in Ornithos, my school's annual composition journal. It's a selective program that exhibits literary and artistic achievements. I got in for a poem that I wrote.</p>

<p>I won two awards at the South Carolina Junior Classical League (SCJCL) annual Latin convention. I placed first in Roman History and third in Roman Society. I also have received honors (cum laude, magna cum laude) on each of the 3 National Latin Exams that I have taken.</p>

<hr>

<p>Contributor to the school newspaper. Position should improve next year.
Jazz Band (Guitar)
1 season JV football.
2 seasons varsity cross-country.
Founder and president of Guitar Club.
450 community service hours (estimate).
15 credits from local colleges for various summer classes.</p>

<p>I worked as an intern at a commercial photography studio for one summer.
I will work as an intern for the Massachusetts Republican Party this summer.</p>

<p>Participation in various clubs, including:
Guitar Club
Key Club
Film Club
Ornithos
Latin Club / JCL
Math Club
Ultimate Frisbee Club
Quiz Bowl</p>

<p>Other Interests:</p>

<p>Music. I am most fluent in guitar and bass, but I also play a great number of other instruments. I have been playing almost my whole life, but I got serious about 5 years ago. I play a variety of styles, and actively play in two bands (rock and rockabilly). I have played live on TV three times, including an NPR/ETV special documenting old-time music venues in South Carolina. I write my own music occasionally, and I play out of a genuine love for music. </p>

<p>Sailing. I have always loved being on the water, and I have recently begun sailing lessons. I will be working on this more over the summer at the MIT sailing club.</p>

<hr>

<p>Classes - Note that AP is not offered for some classes (specifically English).</p>

<p>Freshman Year:</p>

<p>English 9
Latin II
Honors Biology
World Cultures
Geometry
PE</p>

<p>Sophomore Year:</p>

<p>Honors English 10
Latin III
Honors Chemistry
Modern World History
Music Technology
Algebra II
Health</p>

<p>Junior Year:</p>

<p>Honors English 11
Latin IV
Honors US History
AP Biology (Taken as a follow up for freshman Bio)
Statistics
Jazz Band
Journalism</p>

<p>That's all I can think of at the moment... I have a feeling that I'm forgetting something but this is just a rough statement of where I am. Can anybody tell me if I am on the right track? If not, how could I improve (other than grades)?</p>

<p>Thanks so much for taking the time to read this!</p>

2

<p>you are on the right track…</p>

3

<p>Thank you! Very good to know. </p>

<p>Some of the numbers are estimates, due to incomplete/forgotten information, but for the most part they are based on reasonable guesses…</p>

<p>Thanks!</p>

4

<p>2350 on the SAT and 1900 on the PSAT? that’s crazy : /</p>

5

<p>The school that I went to in my freshman year did not prepare me well for the PSAT… Over the past year I have learned a lot more and have (in my own time) focused on some of the SAT’s content…</p>

<p>I probably should have explained that the SAT score I put down was an approximation (I have yet to take it)… I have taken many practice tests so I have a rough idea of where I stand.</p>

6

<p>Oh! And I should mention that I took the PSAT in my freshman year… another cause for that insane score difference.</p>

7

<p>Maybe take more AP classes if you can… and make sure your essays are very solid</p>

8

<p>Essays will be good… that’s a particular strength of mine… </p>

<p>I plan to take more AP’s senior year, for whatever that’s worth… Unfortunately, my school does not offer AP’s in all of my classes.</p>

9

<p>yeah, the only thing on there that is not definitely good for getting in is the class schedule, just from how classes are looked at at my school, journalism and jazz band are looked down on… are you taking calculus?</p>

<p>your scores are great, though, so what i’m saying might look like a weakness you can make up for with your senior schedule =D</p>

10

<p>your psat scores are fine, i got a 1550, no lie sophomore year. When i took them for real in junior year i got a 2000 and was recognized for national merit. On my real SATs i got a 2220. PSATs really don’t project how well you’re going to do. Your schedule and classes are pretty much on the right track, try for more AP classes. My school doesnt rank either. Good luck.</p>

<p>p.s. i got into CAS ED.</p>

11

<p>Ok… good advice.</p>

12

<p>You’re definately on the right track.</p>

<p>However, until that SAT score becomes a reality nothings for sure (eg. I got 2300’s+ on all my practice tests, got a 2020 the first time I took it; I ended up with a 2350 eventually but you get what I mean).</p>

<p>Also, and I know this is impossible because you’re so young, but around junior year once you find out what you’re really interested in try and focus as much as you can in one specific area rather than floating around in a bunch of different things. That being said, because of your age there is NOTHING wrong with that right now, and honestly other than the sake of college there’s nothing wrong with doing that senior year. Haha actually let me rephrase that, its more like, try and string together your activities to give colleges a clearer picture of what you want to do.</p>

<p>Make sure to keep your GPA up as well. You’re fine where you are now but make sure not to slack off. </p>

<p>Overall, keep it up and you’ll be going wherever you want to go in a few years =]</p>

13

<p>Hey, just responding to a bunch of points:</p>

<p>RE: your school not offering a lot of AP classes - try to do some self-studying, and see if you can’t take an English, Latin, US History, and Stat exam at the end of your junior year. </p>

<p>Your courseload is okay, as long as honors is indeed the highest level classes your school offers. If honors is <em>not</em> the highest level offered, you should consider a more difficult schedule. Colleges won’t penalize you if your school just doesn’t have the class, but they do want to see you taking the most challenging classes that your school <em>does</em> offer.</p>

<p>You should take calculus by at least senior year, in any case, and probably at least one physics course as well. I wouldn’t worry too much about the journalism, music technology, and jazz band classes being considered “weak,” because they go along well with your demonstrated interest in music and writing (just be sure to emphasize that interest in your application.)</p>

<p>As for awards/extracurriculars - kudos on the Ornithos, varsity x-country, community service, club president, and internships. Maybe send in a sample of your poetry when you apply. A letter of recommendation from an internship would be great to have as well.</p>

<p>Don’t waste any thought on the NLE - my school’s Latin teachers all consider that test to be a joke, even for first-year Latin students; the AP is a much better indicator.</p>

<p>Let’s see, anything else…if you’re not already, try to use Barron’s as your test prep book - Kaplan and Princeton Review are a bit too easy. Try to check, somehow, about that top 15% thing - a 3.8 GPA seems a bit low for the top 15% at a competitive school. Oh yeah, and keep in mind that colleges measure you against your classmates. So, if you go to a really strong school, that means that colleges hold you to a higher standard.</p>

<p>Um, yeah, that’s all I can think of for now. Good luck! You seem to be on a good path (with maybe some minor tweaks).</p>

<p>ps - As a reference - I got into CALS RD from a highly competitive high school.</p>

14

<p>"Overall, keep it up and you’ll be going wherever you want to go in a few years =] "</p>

<p>only if youre filthy rich.
you may get in wherever you want, but paying for it is a whole different story… </p>

<p>i sound really bitter. i’m not really that bitter. but i get a little sad when i think about how happy i was about certain acceptances when i see now that it was all just kind of silly</p>