Chances of getting into UT Austin or Cornell?

Colleges and Universities A-Z The University of Texas at Austin
1

<p>Junior in TX
I'm not in the top ten, but I'm the top quarter (22% (Based on unweighted GPA at my school)):
I got a 3.85 GPA (out of 4)
SAT: I got a pretty bad grade on my first attempt (1800), but I'm retaking it and hoping to get a 2020+ (I took a practice one few days ago and I got a 2100) I know it's still pretty low, but I can't really improve that much. Scores will probably be b/w 2000-2100.
SAT II: Next year: Biology and Math</p>

<p>Extracurriculars:
- Varsity Ice Hockey all 4 years (assistant captain this year, maybe captain next year)
- Summer Ice Hockey League for 2 years
- Prep Hockey League during Freshman year
- Houston Travel League during Sophomore year. (We traveled to Dallas and Austin throughout the year)
- National Honors Society (Volunteering)
- Interact Club (Volunteering) (4 years)
- Clements Earth (Promoting Recycling / Recycling in school) (2 years)
- French Club (3 years) I'm Treasurer this year, President next year.
- YES program (Volunteer Program)
- I've completed 100+ community service hours
- This summer, I'll be volunteering every weekday at the Memorial Hermann Hospital for 3 months. (I want to major in some pre-Med course, and I'll get 135 community service hours from that)</p>

<p>Awards:
- 1st Place Winner at the Texas Sate Competition in Houston (for French poetry) (2008)
- Academic Excellence every single year of high school. (2007-2011)
- ISHL Skills Competition, won 1st place, fastest high school skater in Houston. (2010)</p>

<p>Curriculum:
At my competitive high school, there are only advanced and honors/AP courses. Advanced are "easier".
I took 1 honors freshmen year, 2 sophomore, 3 junior, and I'll be taking 5 senior year.</p>

<p>AP Exams: This year I'll be taking US History AP, and French AP.
Next year, I'll be taking Bio, Gov't, Human Geo and Calc AB, Environmental Science and Psychology.</p>

<p>Other:
I'm a minority, I have lived in 6 different countries throughout my life: India, Canada, UK, Algeria, Singapore, and the U.S. (I'll definitely stress that in my essay and talk about being open-minded and cultural), and I won the State Prize for French Poetry during my sophomore year. (If that counts in any way)</p>

<p>For Cornell, the biggest thing I'd like to know is that: What school should I apply to? I want to major in Biology or something like that because I want to go to Med School. I know my chances are kinda low, so which school will increase my chances?</p>

<p>Thanks</p>

2

<p>You definitely got your EC’s, background, awards, etc. working in your favor. Class rank and SAT, like you said, could use some help. I’d recommend the ACT; in my experience, most people find it much easier, myself included. No one can really predict whether you’ll get in or not, but consider the following:</p>

<p>My friend, #10/~800 in our class, with an SAT of 2000 flat was rejected to Cornell (Engineering). Of course, his application varied greatly from yours, just something to consider.</p>

<p>Another friend, about top 25% with an SAT of 2250 was rejected to UT. He did lack ECs and wasn’t an underrepresented minority. </p>

<p>In conclusion, no one here can tell you whether you’ll get in. However, I’m sure everyone will agree with me when I say you should focus on improving your SAT/Class Rank.</p>

3

<p>Your chances are definitely hurt by your class rank as far as UT is concerned. That one criteria is verrry important in their admissions as you already know. Hopefully you can improve it a bit before applying. You have great EC’s and it looks like you will have good topics to write about for your essays. Use that to your advantage.</p>

<p>Cornell: It really is tough to tell about these schools. I have a friend, 2200 SAT, top 1% of class, tons of EC’s who got waitlisted at Cornell while another friend with 2300 SAT top 2%, and many EC’s got accepted. They come from different demographics which is the only thing I could think of to explain it. You need something that makes you stand out compared to other applicants.</p>

<p>Regardless, keep on working hard. You know what you need to improve, and now all you have to do is put in the effort.</p>

4

<p>thanks, my rank won’t go that much up, because now, at this stage, it is impossible to jump from 22, to top 10. Maybe top 20 if i’m lucky. I am making straight A’s though.</p>

5

<p>I don’t know how tough your school is in relation to mine, but I jumped from Top 14.5% to 7.8%</p>

6

<p>705 students</p>

7

<p>you go to Clements? I’d tell you to move to a school where you would be top 10%</p>