hiya everybody—let me just get to the point
soooo— I’m a junior and have a 4.0 gpa. I’m not taking any AP’s because I can’t. There’s a bunch of entry level classes you HAVE to take (you can’t get past them no matter how smart you are) and my school only offers 2 APs (AP Bio and AP Chem) and I’m taking them both next and also Calculus (it used to be AP but they changed it) I’m secretary of my class (3 years running), on student council, cross country (my sophomore year we went to state and I was one of the runners so technically I’m a varsity athelete), WYSE (didn’t advance tho), scholar bowl (jv captain, then moved up to varsity when we go tournaments but only on junoir varsity because we have seven seniors), pep club, spanish club (co-pres), and I volunteer at the daycare I grew up going to because I genuinely enjoy it. I waitressed full time in the summer and held the job for six months but then I had to quit because I was casted in the school musical as the female lead. I’ve taken voice lessons for about 4-5 years now. I want to major in nutrition and food science (so go into cornell’s School of Human Ecology). In my essay (even though I’m a junior) I was planning on talking about how my grandmother, who couldn’t harm a fly, was diagnosed with extrememly serious Alzheimers and became extremely violent and threatened another woman with a knife when she was moved into her nursing home. that was my freshman and I was in the musical that year also (rapunzel in Into the Woods, it’s a featured part) and had to wake up very early and miss school, drive 5 hours to her funeral, drive back and barely make it in time for opening night (our female understudy was kicked off). It was a really really really hard time. I live in a rural area andddddd I’m planning on a 32 ACT and then reataking it and getting a 34.
also— i was planning on talking about how there are links between Alzheimers and poor nutrition which is what inspired me to major in nutrition in the first place
I think you have great stats and ECs and are definitely a competitive applicant. Ivy schools do take into account your AP selection and the rigor of your courseload in comparison to other students at your school so you don’t need to worry too much. 34 ACT would be very good as well.
I think one suggestion I would make for you is possibly try to somehow conduct research into Nutrition and Alzheimer’s and their correlation? Or find a professor that you could intern under to study it? That would really help your essay come to life imo, and bolster your ECs as well.
Obviously, Ivy Leagues are basically a reach for pretty much everyone, but I think you have as good a chance as anyone and would not be surprised if you got in! Good luck!
you should look at this year’s essay prompt for the specific college you’re interested in. For example the engineering prompt asked how you would use the cornell experience to make an effect on the world. So the essay might not be “look at how awesome I am” or “what a hardship i’ve gone through”… but it could be your experiences have pushed you towards learning about something… that you’re so passionate about you want to make a difference in it. Like someone else said… look at the research the school is doing, find professor’s who’s classes speak to your passion… and if Cornell is the one school you want above all… then consider Early Decision… Good luck in whatever you do!