Hi!!
I absolutely love Cornell and am considering applying ED this upcoming year. I wasn’t sure which college to apply to because I am so torn on what I want to study. Here are my arguments for applying to each:
CAS: I was interested in applying to anthropology with a track in social justice with a global health minor
HE: Health Policy Management
I have worked on health care policy on both a state and national level for public health (don’t want to be more specific for sake of privacy 
) so my fit for human ecology fit works really well. But I also am VERY interested in studying anthro and all the courses are so interesting.
Here’s the bad part:
My GPA is 3.55 and ACT 33. So my stats aren’t the best. However, I am hoping my extra-curricular/LORs will make up for it.
Which college do you recommend I apply to? Would I have a higher acceptance rate at one or the other?
I go to a competitive, well-known public high school in Ohio.
In your case HE makes sense. You could pursue your major there while choosing interesting anthropology electives at CAS.
Do I have a chance of getting in with my low gpa?
It’s very easy to take courses outside your major at Cornell, and is encouraged.
I think you are a better fit for Hum Ec based on what you described as well.
It’s a reach for sure with your GPA and test scores. Be sure to have match and safety schools on your list.
If you decide to go that route, suggest be sure you interview with Hum Ec department when you do an on-campus visit. That will give you a chance to share your passions, reasons for wanting to go there, directly with a relevant person.
Fit is very important there, IMO.
How does that work? I did not know that was possible. Would you mind giving me more information?
I agree. Human Ecology. Arts & Sciences would be almost an impossible admit with your GPA. But you can take whatever courses you want in CAS.
They won’t. ECs and LORs never offset a low GPA. That’s because there are so many applicants with great ECs and LORs who ALSO have a 4.0 GPA and 33 ACT. But you will be evaluated holistically. Fit is a huge part of getting accepted to Human Ecology. You must demonstrate that you are exactly the type of student who will take advantage of everything HE has to offer.
Do you have any suggestions on how to best demonstrate that “fit” with HE?
Either how others have done in the past or in my case?
Thanks so much!
Have you visited yet? Go there. Attend the HE info session. If you can, go again and attend again. Read the website and all its literature thoroughly. You should be able to demonstrate how your background and goals fit after you understand the program thoroughly.