Chances?

Colleges and Universities A-Z Cornell University
1

<p>Hello all. I am going to be a senior next year in high school. After a somewhat depressing meeting with my guidance counseler, I am wondering what are my chances at Cornell University (my first choice school). I realize that there are huge weaknesses in my record, but I hope my strengths can make up for it. </p>

<p>Race: Asian (Chinese)
Gender: Male
State: New York. </p>

<p>Total High School GPA: 3.49 (I know it's very weak)
Courses Taken- Mostly the highest, except Math</p>

<p>Courses Next Year
- Honors English- AP
- Honors Calc
- AP Bio
-AP Euro
- AP Stat</p>

<p>Standardized Test Scores
PSAT: 208 (77 Math) (69 CR) (62 Writing)
SAT: 2150 (740 Math) (700 CR) (710 Writing)<br>
SAT II Bio: 780
SAT II MathIC: 710
SAT II US History: 680
ACT: 31 </p>

<p>EC's </p>

<p>School Journalism:
-Editor- in- Chief of the Newspaper
-2.5 years reporter</p>

<p>Language:
8 years study of Cantonese at Chinese School </p>

<p>Scientific Research:
- 3rd Place in County Competition
- 5th Place in County Competition
- 2 Special Awards
- 100+ hours of Science Research with Scientist (last year)
- Working this summer with Scientists (Self- organized) </p>

<p>Music:
- 8 years of piano
- 5 years of mallet percussion (Self taught)
- Lvl 6 NYSSMA Piano (Highest)- A <-- State Music Exam
- Lvl 6 NYSSMA Marimba- A- <-- State Music Exam
- Lvl 8 ABRSM Piano (Highest)- Pass <-- International Music Exam
- Lvl 5 ABRSM Music Theory- Merit
- Tri M- music Honor society</p>

<ul>
<li>40+ hours band community service</li>
<li>100+ hours nature center community service</li>
</ul>

<p>Athletics:
- 2 seasons XC
- 3 seasons track</p>

<p>So there it is. Looking back, I probably should have concentrated a bit more on GPA and slowed down on the Extracurriculars. Well, it is too late now. :( I realize because of the GPA my chances are not that good. I am planning to major in Biology/ life sciences to continue my scientific research which is why I want to look at Cornell, it's supposed to have a very good research program. If Cornell doesn't seem realistic, what schools do you think are more reasonable? I was also looking at Johns Hopkins, but I dunno.
Thanks.
<em>edited</em></p>

2

<p>i dont see any weakness in you records
and your grades and records are far better than mine's
i say apply for cornell and MIT
Judging from your profile you are going to apply for college of engineering right?
I'll see you next year then
i'm Cornell's 2010 class</p>

3

<p>I think you have a decent shot, but like you said, your GPA is holding you back. You may end up as a guaranteed transfer, which isn't bad either. In all honesty, I don't think you have a shot at MIT. The applicants there have very high test scores and GPAs.</p>

4

<p>Thanks for all of the responses. I actually was thinking about going to Cornell's College of Agriculture and Life Sciences. Despite the fact that math is my strongest in my standardized tests, it is my weakest in school, so I dunno if the college of engineering is the right one for me. Also, all of my science research is in environmental and life sciences </p>

<p>I am still unsure because my dean says that Cornell is "very reach" for me.</p>

5

<p>I think you have a good shot. Your GPA is very low but the other aspects of your app look very good.</p>

6

<p>3% chance for cornell</p>