Chances into the School of Engineering

Colleges and Universities A-Z Cornell University
1

<p>Hello!
I'm applying ED to Cornell's School of Engineering. Would you guys mind giving me some feedback as to my chances of getting in?</p>

<p>I attend a high school which doesn't offer class rank, however, I know that I'm in the top 10%, with both my GPA (unweighted) and QPA (weighted). My guidance counselor thinks that I'm closer to to 5% mark though. </p>

<p>My GPA is 3.681 out of 4
My QPA is 16.429 out of 20</p>

<p>I take all Honors / AP classes except in english and spanish. No honors are offered in our school in 9th, 2 honors in 10th, 3 honors in 11th, and 4 APs in 12th (3 AP maths and AP chem). I know that different schools vary, so to give you an idea, this is a pretty difficult course load. Our school is strange with AP... most of them are only offered senior. Before that, it's basically just called "Honors".</p>

<p>Unfortunately, I've always been a pretty bad standardized test taker so although my class grades are relatively high, my SATs are:</p>

<p>SAT I : 1260 (580 V, 680 M)
SAT II: Chem 560
SAT II: Math I 740
*When I visited Cornell, they claimed they looked at Math IC and IIC the same, so since my IC was a tad higher, I'm sending it</p>

<p>The only reason I do so poorly on those tests is because I'm a very diliberate worker. So I rarely come close to finishing the sections. In fact, the math parts are the only ones I've ever finished... hah. As for the SAT II Chem score, none of my school guidance counselors had advised me to take it in 10th (after I finished chem I), so I scrambled to review everything from that year on the Oct test this year (12th grade).</p>

<p>But besides that, which I know is my weakest area, I have VERY strong ECs. I'm an Eagle Scout, the captain of my school's swim team this year (10, 11, 12), a volleyball player (11, 12), an active member of our school's Math team (10, 11, 12), a Link Crew leader (11 - we helped transition the 9th graders into the the high school mid year; before that, 9th graders were subjected to the junior high buildings.... long story), an assistant photographer for our school newspaper, and the founder of a new "puzzle" club this year.</p>

<p>Additionally, I have all the basic academic honors, I'm part of the National Spanish Honors Society, the National Honors Society, I was recognized in 9th grade for a citizenship reward (one of two recipients in my class), and I attended American Legion Boys' State this summer (one of three in my class).</p>

<p>And if it counts for anything, in these high school years I've involved myself with about 30-ish hours of community service (aside from Boy Scouts) and I've had 300+ hours of paid work experience as a lifeguard and swim instructor.</p>

<p>Umm... besides that stuff on my transcript, I feel my essays are pretty solid. I've had them read over dozens of times by anyone willing to read them and I've had positive feedback on each. They all tell a lot about my character, in particular that I'm very determined, independent, and do my research (on their school).</p>

<p>My teacher recs are coming from two teachers that I know pretty well. One is a god of writing who has become famous for getting students from my school into Ivies... lol.</p>

<p>Sorry for being long winded here, but there's my complete transcript. Are my chances okay... or have my SATs pulled me down to borderline?</p>

2

<p>Oh also, I've visited 17..... yes.... 17 colleges around the New England area, and Cornell was BY FAR my favorite. I spoke with both the main admissions officer for a while (who got my name). I also had a nice long chat with the Engineering admissions officer, who also asked for my name. I explained to her my "SAT situation", but all she said was that Cornell knows that some people just can't take them well. Could this help me?</p>

<p>Also I revisited again, despite the 10 hr drive, to sit in on some classes. If any of you Cornellian students had/have Professor Chirik at 10am Thursdays, I was that senior on Oct 13 that left class before he started discussing your tests. Apparently news had carried quickly that day. One of my friends that attends Cornell gave me a tour a hour afterwards and said he had heard about the event.</p>

<p>Even on that rainey day, I loved the campus and the students for the second time had been very respectable and helpful.</p>

3

<p>I think that your gpa and sat is a little low for ivy or a good school. It's good that the adcom might know you but it won't hurt to try. Your sat i math is pretty low though. and maybe ed will help!</p>

4

<p>I'm probably going to retake the SAT I on the Nov date. If I rushed the scores, would the admissions office see them in time before making a decision? Would I have to add a note to my application?</p>

5

<p>yeah they'll see it, just send the score to the college :D</p>

6

<p>Eh, I don't think they're too good, but best of luck.</p>

7

<p>If I were able to significantly increase my score on this Nov SAT, do you think I'd have a better shot?</p>

8

<p>You already know the answer to that question.</p>

9

<p>Your SATs are just too low....mid-50% range for Engineering is like 1330-1500. You will probably be rejected.</p>

10

<p>MysticalLeaf: I see that there are alot of negative comments. But if you truly want to go to this school. Then do apply. don't let some statistics get in the way of your dream school. The comments are based on the past statistics but you know that there are people with low stats that get into prestigious schools.. so don't give up :D study hard for nov and you could get in!</p>

11

<p>The comments are negative because they're honest. It's better to be realistic than to give people false hope.</p>

12

<p>Very true. Since when does honesty=optimism?</p>

13

<p>well... honesty is one thing, but the comments here are basically telling this person not to even bother applying... the majority with her stat may not get in but you never know. I'm not giving her false hope, I'm encouraging her to at least try. What's the worst thing that could happen if she applies? not getting in? if that's the worst thing that could happen, i say apply and if you don't get in, then at least you know you've tried.</p>

14

<p>"You may be disappointed if you fail, but you are doomed if you don't try." ~ Beverly Sills</p>

<p>Go for it!</p>

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<p>I didn't say not to bother applying...I just gave what I thought will be the most likely result. At any rate, by all means submit your application, enjoy senior year, and good luck!</p>

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<p>i wouldn't say those ECs are very strong...</p>

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<p>Well I knew I was very borderline, but apparently my SATs are just too low. I'm going to prep up big time for this final SAT, unfortunately I can't do anything about the SAT II: Chem. However, I'm still going to be optimistic about applying. I really do love every aspect of the school, which is always the best enviroment to learn in.</p>

<p>Thanks for the comments though, even if they were hard to swallow. At least I can prepare for the crushing effect of the trash compactor of reality. And thank you 'hopeful' for that small ray of hope.</p>

<p>I guess this would also be an ideal time to ask about my chances at other colleges I've now considered applying to. At the moment, I'm leaning towards Tufts. It's the only other school I've also visited twice. I took the general tour last year, and just returned from an overnight stay today. I have current freshmen friends there that had similar credentials. My ECs were better, however, they had much higher SATs. One advantage that I may have though is that the current head swim coach there is a former swimmer from my high school. In fact he even had the same coach. Both he (I met with him while I was there today) and my coach think this could easily get me in if I intended to swim. Is this true? And do you think it's an offer I need to consider?</p>

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<p>I got similar stats....except for SAT II's and math section.....btw I am an ESL...so.....I am pretty embarassing these dayz....cornell is my dream skul...if it is also urs....go for it...then u dont have anything to regret after wards</p>

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<p>Emphasis on SATs varies by school. There are some very good schools that don't value standardized testing scores too much. Obviously, these are the schools you want to look at. You can find out which schools these are by going to princetonreview.com. Search for a school, go to the admissions section under statistics, and scroll down until you see a chart called 'admission factors' (or something close to that). Each school rates the major components of an application (SATs, Transcript, ECs, Essay etc..) in terms of importance. The scale is as follows: Very Important, Important, Considered, Not Considered. </p>

<p>Almost all schools provide this information as part of the common data set. Your best bet is to apply to schools in which SATs are only "Considered" and ECs are "Very Important." </p>

<p>I'll see if i can find some for you when i get the time.</p>

20

<p>I think you'll get in.</p>