<p>White Male
GPA - 3.93 weighted
Class Rank - 40 out of 331 (approx. top 12%)
SAT - 1950
ACT - 29
SATIIs - 570 and 590 (I know, those hurt, retaking in Nov)
Classes - All honors since sophomore year (forced to take a couple level 2 classes at my first school freshman year), and took AP English last year and got a 4 on the exam. I am taking AP Government and Politics, AP Statistics, and AP Economics this year.
Activities:
- Concert Band for three years (1st seat for one), Upper level Symphony Band (I auditioned to get in) - Alto Sax
- Jazz Band for 3 years - Alto Sax
- Varsity Ski Team - Freshman year before I switched schools
- Ski team for a mountain in Vermont through VARA for 3 years
- History National Honors Society for 2 years
- Worked at a beach club all summer - 40 hrs/week
- Work at lawn company throughout year when needed
- Sufficient Community Service including soup kitchens, fundraiser for my music program, and volunteering through rec department.
Other: Strong common app essay. Also, cannot remember if Cornell is need-blind, but I am not applying for need based financial aid. Also applying through their dual apply thing...applying to Arts & Sciences and Agriculture school as secondary (really want liberal arts initially, but my dad owns a lawn company and I figure it would be interesting to learn about the subject so I am applying to that school to just to see what happens). </p>
<p>Right now I am considering this a "reach" school if I had to group it into a category. GPA and rank could rise by end of 1st semester because I think I am doing quite well right now, but I do not want to jinx anything. But just let me know what you think - Thanks!</p>
<p>I think you have a pretty small chance of getting in. Arts and Sciences is perhaps the most competitive school in Cornell, particularly for RD. Your test scores are fairly weak for Cornell and your rank isn’t too high, unless your school is extremely competitive. Your EC’s aren’t too great either, but not bad.</p>
<p>From Naviance it says my test scores are in the middle 50th percentile, albeit not by way too much. I know rank kinda hurts, but I have been told that 12% vs 10% wouldnt make or break me, so that was a little bit of a relief. I know schools are looking for fantastical leadership positions, which is a little discouraging for me. I like the activities I am involved in, I just do not want to lead the groups. I swear, with college getting more and more competitive, god only knows what it will be like when my kids are applying to college! It is going to be near impossible if current trends continue!</p>
<p>… average CR + M looks to be around 1410. If you are evenly distributed among the three areas on your SAT, your CR + M is around 1300?.. i don’t think the rest of your application is strong enough to compensate for this.</p>
<p>I think you’ve called it right, Cornell will be a reach for you. But if it’s your dream, all it costs is the application fees plus a few hours of your time.</p>
<p>I have already applied, and just have to send in the supplement. I figure, why not, since they have taken quite a few kids from my school, so there is a small glint of hope! Thanks for the constructive help, sometimes people come on here and just flat out say blanket statements like “you have no chance”. I appreciate it!</p>
<p>If you want another glint – If Cornell takes a lot from your school regularly, then you’re probably right, top 12% won’t be much of a negative. And, you’re also right, it can’t hurt to send in the supplement.</p>
<p>There is always a chance. But the chance is low, based on the information provided. If not applying, then the chance is 0. So, it does not hurt to send in the application. Cornell is need-blind for all applicants, including international. But who knows, if too many applicants need financial aids and Cornell runs into financial problems, applicants without need will benefit. In an information session at Johns Hopkins this summer, the admission representative said they are need-blind; however, they ran into financial aids budget problems last year and had to do something.</p>