Considering Cornell, chances...

Colleges and Universities A-Z Cornell University
1

<p>Chance me ED and RD for CAS, please.</p>

<p>White male in North Carolina
Extremely Competitive Public School</p>

<p>GPA: 3.91 UW, not sure about W
Rank: 17/341
APs: Computer Science AB (Jr, expected 4), English (Jr, expected 4), United States History (Jr, expected 5), Physics C (Sr), BC Calculus (Sr), Economics (Sr), English (Sr), German (Sr), Government and Politics (Sr), Psychology (Sr)</p>

<p>SAT (and now the bottom falls out): CR: 650 M: 640 W: 730
SATII: MathII and United States History (expecting 700 and 770+ respectively)</p>

<p>EC:
Chess Club (President)
Debate Club (Founder and President)
Civitan Service Club
Young Democrats (President)
NHS
Academic Team (Captain)</p>

<p>Income less than $40K a year</p>

<p>Attending the North Carolina Governor's School for Natural Science this summer...</p>

<p>I need to address a few things before you guys all rip me to shreds.</p>

<p>The ECs are lacking because I am the son of a single mom. Ergo, I put 20+ hours a week on the board at work consistently to, for lack of a better term, get by. We emigrated to the United States from Georgia in 1996 and because starting something from nothing isn't always easy, we've been living meagerly for these eleven years. I'm also fluent in three languages and proficient in two more...if that means anything.</p>

<p>Regarding the SAT scores: I wish I could in some way, shape, or form articulate an effective argument that would prove that I'm not a complete airhead to the admissions officers. Unfortunately, I worry they'll think just that as they see my abysmal scores. I cannot explain why I can't succeed on the SAT...it perplexes me on a day-to-day basis. The SAT is the first academically-related matter that I haven't been able to break through; it's torture. Comparatively, it seems as though people with my scores are auto-rejects at top schools like Duke and the Ivies. It's a shame how everything is about the numbers...</p>

<p>If the application permits, I plan on writing an essay about assimilation in this country after living in a culture so drastically different - nothing special.</p>

<p>Have at me.</p>

2

<p>You should attempt the ACT. It's not as tricky, IMO, and based more on what you know rather than "can you figure this out?"</p>

3

<p>I mistakingly already sent my SAT scores to Cornell...so they'd see these god-awful numbers regardless.</p>

4

<p>ah bummer. well, your subject test scores are good, so you may as well give the SAT a 2nd try. Most schools superscore for reporting purposes...makes em look good. ;)</p>

5

<p>Sigh..</p>

<p>I've already gotten the same thing twice... :(</p>

6

<p>i am in the same situation with test scores except for me, my SATs were a little worse...yet i did WAY WAY WAY better on the ACT....try the act. i promise it is better</p>

7

<p>So if I bombed the SAT but murdered the ACT, would that be okay for Cornell?</p>

<p>Gah...this isn't good. :(</p>

8

<p>hmm..another chance please!</p>

<p>My GPA is quite bad- 3.75 uw, 4.01 w.
But SATS are in the 2200 range, and good SAT Subject test.
Lot of extra curriculars in terms of volunteering.</p>

<p>Chances?</p>

9

<p>Thanks for jacking my thread...</p>

<p>I'm already in a sour mood.</p>

10

<p>Dukebound, I think you have a decent chance at Cornell and Duke so definitely apply, but make sure you also apply to match and safety schools. And your idea of writing about assimilation is a good one. Make sure the colleges know about your work responsibilites. I also think you have nothing to lose by taking the ACT.</p>

11

<p>Odyssey -
Aye, I see it that way too. I have a decent chance, but nothing more. However, if I could put a 2250 on the board, it'd be smooth sailing. :(</p>

<p>Man, I hate Standardized Testing so much.</p>

12

<p>I think you've done very well. Yah, go and try ACT. If you have done ACT and did pretty well, send the ACT. I apologize for any repetition; I haven't finished reading the whole posty~.</p>