Need to have another conversation with her in September. Earlier conversation was very wishy-washy. (It’s a reach… which we obviously know… but really didn’t want to say how much of a reach).
On pure stats and rigor, I would call it an extreme reach. AG is test blind, so it’s really just GPA and rigor. And being objective, my son’s GPA and rigor are good, but they aren’t really T20 good. (His counselor does think he matches well to many T50 schools).
But I do know from experience, Cornell admissions is VERY program-specific.
One program may have a 4% admissions and another program may have 20%…
Where I have no clue, is where Environment and Sustainability falls in that spectrum.
I think he has a solid shot at BU if he applies ED (and a low but possible shot ED). I would submit the SAT score- it’s not stellar but it removes the mystery, and at least both sections are over 700 (vs like a 790 and a 640). definitely shows he’s competent and capable.
Unless he is really in love with Cornell, much more than Brandeis or BU, I would leave it for RD. It’s too much of a reach and I don’t think his chances there are great.
That’s my thought process as well.
Cornell would be ED or nothing. They only consider legacy status during ED, so his chances of admission would be much lower RD. So if he loves Cornell and his counselor thinks he would have a not-impossible chance, he might ED there. Otherwise, he would ED either at BU, GW, or Brandeis (maybe Rochester).