<p>Hey everyone,
Mine is a sticky situation. I have a poor GPA (3.1 UW/3.8 W at the moment) because I was severely depressed during freshman and sophomore year (very low-income, broken family). I've more or less shaken it and bounced back, and my junior year thus far I have had straight A's with 5 IB courses. This is pretty much unheard of at my school; if we were to rank for junior year alone, I'd be 1 or 2.</p>
<p>So, my GPA and class rank are curving waaaay up (if I keep on, I'll graduate 3.4 UW/4.1 W and within the top third of my class). With a combination of this, full IB curriculum and diploma (literally 7/7 IB classes next year), a 33 ACT/2200 SAT (trying for a 35 next time), two varsity sports (track takes up winter and spring), general community service/EC's, physics research at local uni, great essays, etc etc, do I have a shot at Cornell? I believe I'll be studying physics, if that makes a difference.</p>
<p>So, chance me, please? </p>
<p>I'm not trying to sound like a jerk, but I know I'm smart enough to go to the places I want. It's just all very daunting going in with those numbers; I don't want my past to define my future. Will an admissions officer understand my situation if I talk about it in my essay, or am I just doomed?</p>
<p>I would say that you have a chance, but over 90% of enrolled students were in the top 10% of their HS class. The right person has to read your application & be touched by your story…you are a longshot. Hope for the best but expect the worst.</p>
<p>Yeah, the class rank is an issue; I think I’ll crack the top 25% by the end of senior year. I just hope they don’t pull my app before reading it in a numbers screening or something. I’m glad you think I have a chance! If you don’t mind me asking, what about Carnegie Mellon, Johns Hopkins, Vassar, or Wesleyan?</p>
<p>Based on your post monsieurp, you WILL likely make it. I was in the same family situation too, and got in with similar stats (though my GPA and rank was at the top of my class). In any event, I think with a good essay explaining your situation and WHY Cornell is the match, you should make it.</p>
<p>Best of luck and feel free to ask me anything</p>
<p>Unique situations are hard to chance (ie. I don’t really do it). i will simply point out that Cornell gets more applicants than it can accept who had strong academics all 4 years in high school. Also, don’t underestimate the value of consistency. Getting top grades for 2 years is NOT as good as getting them for 4 years. Hopefully your turnaround is indeed permanent. If you don’t get into a top school right out of high school, you can always do a year at a “lower tier” school, perform well, and transfer to an elite school.</p>
<p>GPA/Class Rank are important factors in admission, which make your stats not “similar” to the OP’s , thus saying they will “likely” be accepted is unfounded.</p>
<p>Let me summarize your post (as I read it). Your grades were very low freshman and sophomore years for valid reasons, but Junior year grades and SAT/ACT scores are competitive for Cornell. So, what are your chances?</p>
<p>Unfortunately, no one here knows. Certainly, schools that have a holistic applications approach consider whether circumstances explain sub-par grades. However, it then becomes a matter of how a specific human being (the ad comm) views a specific fact pattern, and this is not predictable.</p>
<p>The most I can say is that given your situation – it’s worth submitting an application and seeing what happens. My advice to you (and to ANY student who applies to Cornell – make sure you also apply to a number of true match schools and safeties, just in case).</p>
<p>Free unsolicited advice. Even better than you writing an essay explaining your situation would be if your GC can describe this in his/her recommendation letter. In fact, explaining situations like this is one of the main purposes of the letter. A professional pointing out what you’ve overcome and that your Junior year is remarkable at your school will probably be worth more than an explanation from you.</p>
<p>Second, no matter what happens, your past shouldn’t define your future. I assume you will get into a school with a good Physics Department with your grades/scores as they stand. Do well, get into a good grad school (necessary for being a physicist) and all is great.</p>
<p>…please don’t believe posts such as these, just take a look at the “decisions” threads & you will see plenty of students with superior or similar stats as the OP who got rejected. NO ONE is a definite. When applying to colleges with admit rates in Cornell’s range, good advice is to hope for the best, but expect the worse.</p>