Cornelius Scholarship with Mediocre Grades?

Colleges and Universities A-Z Vanderbilt University
1

<p>I have been recently informed of the Cornelius Scholarship-to my understanding a merit scholarship that covers full tuition and is given to about 1% of the incoming class at Vanderbilt. I am 16 now and a junior. I will put "potential" next to things that are likely b/c of my work and the other stuff has happened. First of all, when is it awarded, and if I am able to do those potential things, will I be able to submit them to Vanderbilt so that they are counted towards consideration for admission and the Cornelius Scholarship? Secondly, I think that most people who get the Cornelius Scholarship are valedictorians or in the top 1% of their graduating class, but has anyone with mediocre grades (A's and B's throughout high school) been awarded this very prestigious honor? If so, what are my chances (I know that even asking with my kind of grades may be foolish but I just want to see my chances) of getting the Cornelius Scholarship next spring if I get the approximately 5 awards I mentioned and improve my grades to all A's next fall in 6 AP classes and two dually enrolled community college classes? Also, I know that I have a streak of somewhat annoying posts, but I promise this is the last one, so please don't bash me for my posts but just give reasoned opinions about what I have asked in this thread? I'd REALLY appreciate it.</p>

<p>Subjective:</p>

<p>Ethnicity: South Asian American (Pakistani)</p>

<p>Age: 17</p>

<p>Schools: Large Public in IN (9)
Small Private in TN (10-11)
Medium Public in TN (12)</p>

<p>Family: MD (Dad), Master's (Mom), 2 younger siblings, 180K income (for financial aid)</p>

<p>Recs (Potential- I've talked to the teachers about what they will write): AP Euro History Teacher, AP Bio Teacher, Community College Professor (Very Good-They talked about mow I found motivation and became a role model.)</p>

<p>Essays (Potential) : One on being an agnostic Pakistani Democrat in Tennessee, One on how I went through three years of high school without a passion and then found a love for math and science which inspired me to learn about them in very great detail and partake in the national competitions that I will. </p>

<p>Intended Major: Physics or Chemistry (Solid)</p>

<p>Objective:</p>

<p>Grades (9-11): 50% A- 50% B Range in All Honors Classes at Standard Pace and 2 AP Classes: AP Chemistry and AP Calculus BC</p>

<p>Senior Course Load and Grades (Potential): All A's (97% or better) in AP Biology, AP European History, AP English Literature, AP US Government, AP Macroeconomics, and AP Psychology at School and A's in Organic Chemistry with Lab and Calculus 3 at a local community college</p>

<p>GPA/Class Rank (Potential): 4.05 Ranked in Top 25% in 300 Students</p>

<p>SAT: 2400 ACT: 36 SAT Chemistry: 800 SAT Math II: 800</p>

<p>AP Exam Scores (Self-Studying for all besides Chem and Calc BC) (Potential):</p>

<p>5's in AP Chemistry, AP Calculus BC, AP Physics C-Mechanics, AP Physics C-Electricity and Magnetism, AP Computer Science A, AP English Language, AP US History, AP World History</p>

<p>Extra-Cirricular Activities:</p>

<p>Speech and Debate (10-12): State 2nd Place (10), 350 Tournament Points</p>

<p>Piano (9, 11-12): Gold Star Rating in Region (9), Did Well in Regional Festival (12-Potential)</p>

<p>Mock Trial (11): Lawyer- 2nd Place in Region</p>

<p>Young Democrats (10-11): VP (11)</p>

<p>NHS and Mu Alpha Theta Member (10-12)</p>

<p>Community Service (10-12): 200 Hours in Mosque and Science Center; Mathcounts Coach (12-Potential)</p>

<p>Math Club (9, 12): President (12-Potential)</p>

<p>Student Newspaper Member (12-Potential)</p>

<p>Cross Country JV (12-Potential)</p>

<p>Research (12-Potential): Work in Chemistry Lab with Community College Professor</p>

<p>Other Awards/Distinctions: Regional Math Test Top 5 (9, 10), National Merit Commended Scholar (12), National AP Scholar (12-Potential), Published Article in Local Chemistry Journal (12-Potential), State Math Problem Solving Test Top 10 (12-Potential)</p>

<p>Awards to be sent after initial submission of application (all potential): </p>

<p>Intel STS Semi-Finalist in Chemistry (Sent in Late January)</p>

<p>USA Physics Olympiad Semi-Finalist and AMC 12 Top 1% (Mid-February)</p>

<p>USA Chem Olympiad Top in Region and USA Biology Olympiad Semi-Finalist (Early March)</p>

2

<p>You’re not gonna get the CV scholarship with a 3.5, and even if you do get some awards in those competitions (highly unlikely cause other kids have been training/working toward them for years) many are given after applications are turned in.</p>

3

<p>@Alwaysleash, I have been studying for them since high school began, but was not able to take them because of some weird school policies, I will have a 4.05 GPA (not a 3.5?), and are we not allowed to submit “significant developments” after submitting the original applications?</p>

4

<p>Kids who get Cornelius Vanderbilt generally have HYP stats</p>

5

<p>@timetodecide12, I am aware that my grades are pretty low for this scholarship-a fact that I truly regret because it’s entirely my own fault for being lazy-but are there or have there been any exceptions? Could the fact that I attended 3 different schools be factored in? Also, please note that I am not at all trying to undermine the prestige of this scholarship and am well aware that I’m not the ideal applicant but I just want to know if maybe the fact that I went to 3 different high schools will count and maybe lessen the amount of potential that my mediocre 9-11 grades take away from my application.</p>

6

<p>It doesnt hurt to apply</p>

7

<p>You said 50% A’s, 50% B’s. That’s a 3.5 uw. </p>

<p>At this point, Vanderbilt itself is a bit of a reach, let alone the CV scholarship. Going to 3 high schools can’t make up for your grades.</p>

8

<p>@timetodecide12, I think that was the best response anyone has given me. It seems that my dream to go to a prestigious (top 10) medical school and graduate school will not be undermined by going to a public state university if I do very well there. I think I just need to focus on finishing this year strong and working hard throughout the summer and the next school year to do well grade-wise and do well in SOME of the competitions I want to participate in next year. IU Bloomington seems to be more lenient in giving full scholarships to people who are not in the top 5-10% of their class (like me) if they have very strong test scores (which I do). I think I’ll aim for there and apply to the other schools/scholarships I have mentioned to see how I do, but I’m not going to bank on getting a scholarship at a private university. Does this seem like the right way to proceed?</p>

9

<p>Sounds like a great idea. You can apply to reaches, of course, just make sure you have matches and safeties. Also, make sure to apply to some instate publics.</p>

<p>What was your PSAT score?</p>

10

<p>Hello, before I tell you, I must let you know, that I am telling the truth about my SAT/ACT scores. I worked my ass off for them. Then, I think you realize I am the weirdest applicant any top university/scholarship program will probably receive. Finally, my PSAT score was only good enough to get me to National Merit Commended Scholar-not even semi-finalist.</p>

11

<p>drmagic: I hate to say this, but your posts are unrealistic, out of touch, and frankly very atypical for the high achieving student/future Harvard MD/future all round champ that you keep writing of. Please get your goals in order, and quietly work towards them. It is of NO use to indulge in would-be, could-be type of fantasies here. Your current credentials suggest that a more modest self image and goals would suit you better. However, we all wish you the best.</p>

12

<p>@oliver007, you are totally right. It’s just a stressful time in my life and I guess I kind of wanted some input/support. I will not indulge in my fantasies and make my goals more realistic-like go to a top 100 USA college on a full scholarship, go to a top 20 med school, a top 20 grad school, and a top 15 hospital for medical training. I will make sure not to do any more rants until I’ve actually been accepted somewhere prestigious or gotten a good scholarship. Also, thanks for the luck.</p>

13

<p>Yeah it’s pretty unlikely to get CV without being top 5% in your class. The idea of the CV scholarship is to give kids who likely were accepted to HYPSM more incentive to choose Vanderbilt.</p>

<p>You may qualify for a lot of financial aid at Vandy though, which essentially makes the CV scholarship worthless anyway (the tuition part of the scholarship anyway).</p>

14

<p>You go to school in Tennessee. Vanderbilt has a scholarship called the Top Tenn for high-achieveing graduates from Tennessee schools. [Additional</a> Merit Scholarships | Scholarships | Vanderbilt University](<a href=“http://www.vanderbilt.edu/scholarships/additional.php]Additional”>Additional Merit Scholarships | Scholarships | Vanderbilt University)</p>

15

<p>BUMP…I read on their website that they offer 140 Cornelius Scholarships each year. Would I not have a decent (not high) chance of getting one if I really pulled up my grades next year in 8 AP classes and 2 online college-level classes, kept doing the extra-curricular activities I’m doing and got a couple leadership positions, researched for a few months at a local university and wrote an article, had 5’s on 4 AP’s (Chem, Calculus BC, World History, and English Language) when I applied, got outstanding recommendations from the college prof, counselor, AP Biology teacher, and AP English Literature teacher, wrote an essay about my unique religious denomination within Islam and one on how I found a love for math/science in my junior summer, and submitted the test scores I already have (2400 SAT, 36 ACT, and three 800’s on three SAT II’s: Math II, Chem, and Physics), and submitted the Intel STS SF, AMC 12 Top 1%, USA Physics Olympiad SF, and USA Bio Olympiad SF, and USA Chem Olympiad Top Region Score later on through late January and early March?</p>

16

<p>Be gone, ■■■■■.</p>

17

<p>@Commodore15, **** you. Others, please don’t call me a ■■■■■. Just give opinions about my chances.</p>

18

<p>Well your test scores certainly can’t hurt, and you have a good course load and good awards in science. Your GPA is a concern though, and the only way you can possibly save it is through strong essays.</p>

19

<p>@efeens44, would you suggest that I write essays that explain why I have a low GPA for my first three years and a sudden improvement in my senior year or write something about my personality which has changed which tacitly explains my grades?</p>

20

<p>It’s better to focus your main essays on your passions in life rather than using them to explain your grades. I think it would be better to use your short info section of the common application to explain why you have a low GPA for your first three years and then your improvement in senior year rather than using your main common app essay for that.</p>