Chances of Acceptance

I’m starting my senior year of high school in the fall, and my current plan is to apply early decision to Cornell. I want to major in psychology and pursue a law degree in graduate school. I’m a white female with a sister in nursing school, and both parents are college educated. My high school is notoriously rigorous academically but doesn’t offer class rank. My GPA is a 3.8 and my ACT is a 34. I have taken AP World History, AP US History, AP Psychology, and AP English Language and Composition. Next year, I am taking AP Spanish, AP Biology, AP Government, and AP English Literature. I’ve taken several other classes related to law and civics.

My extracurriculars include a year long internship at a law firm my senior year, team captain and advisor of the mock trial team (places well at districts, the competition only goes to state), volunteered at a homeless shelter consistently throughout high school, founding member of our HOSA chapter, member of FCCLA (9-12) and Active Minds (11-12), student ambassador, freshman mentor, and I have a part time job during the school year.

I’ve been on the honor roll every quarter of high school, and I have lettered in academics and mock trial. Also, I went on a cultural immersion trip to Central America, and lived with a family, so I speak a decent amount of Spanish.

I think you can get in. You have a spike, but you need a few things that make you interesting and or stand out from the crowd. It’s my alma mater so I’m particularly interested in helping those who love Cornell. Are you thinking of applying to Arts and Sciences or ILR? Your chances for admission may be better applying to ILR. Are you from NY?

I’m thinking Arts and Sciences, as I hope to focus on either human rights or criminal law. I’m from the Midwest. My city is notorious for human trafficking, and my mock trial mentor is a prosecutor that focuses on human rights violations/crimes involving released state prisoners. My internship is with a firm that focuses on family law. Would mentioning this help me stand out more?