Cornell Engineering RD Chances

Colleges & Universities A-Z Cornell University
1

<p>Background
Location: New York State
School: Suburban and pretty decent public school
Background: the typical female Asian immigrant (moved to US a decade ago), permanent resident</p>

<p>Stats & Scores</p>

<p>GPA & Rank: 4.0 UW, 4.8 W for junior year, 1st in class of 250
SAT I: 2310 - 800V 780M 730W in 2 sittings (retake helped to raise composite by 10 pts, whoopee...)
SAT II: 790 Physics, 800 Math II, 800 US History
APs: 5 European (10th Grade), 3 French Lang (nevermind...), 5 BC Calc (AB Class in school), 5 Physics B, 5 Physics C:Mech (self-study), 5 US His, 5 Psych (self-study), 5 Environmental Sci (self-study), 5 Human Geo (self-study)
Next Year's AP Classes: Physics C:E&M (self-study), English Lit, Chem, Bio, French Lit, Economics, US Gov't, Statistics, and maybe Computer Sci AB
Other Classes: Have been in a math program @ local uni for "gifted" MS/HS math students since 7th grade, so racked up a sizable amount of college credits. Quit it this senior year to pursue Calculus at a quicker pace. Took and earned A for Calc 2 at local SUNY. </p>

<p>EC's and Awards</p>

<p>**Volunteering<a href="10-12">/b</a>
175+ hrs w/local volunteer program in 2005, still doing a lot this year
"Volunteer of the Year" Award
President's Volunteer Service Award - Silver (175 ~ 249 hrs)
Advisory Board (11-12)</p>

<p>**Music<a href="9-12">/b</a>
Concertmistress of Chamber group (11-12)
Concertmistress of HS orchestra next year
President of Orchestra Board
A+ Solo Evaluation in Violin level 5/6 with different organizations (9-11)
All-County Music Festivals (9-12)
Conference All-State Orchestr</p>

<p>Science & Math
Science Olympiad (9 (MS Team), 10-12)
- Regional medals, and States 2nd place in Physics Lab
Lab Assistant w/Physics Dept next year
Bausch&Lomb Award (highest sci award in school)
AIME Qualifier, highest AMC score in school</p>

<p>Other Important Stuff
Editor-in-Chief - School Newspaper (9-Contributor, 10-Editor, 11-EiC, 12-EiC), plan to convert into bi-weekly next year
Steering Committee - Youth Court (11-12)
Treasurer - French Club (9-12), Co-President next year (what irony, with an AP 3)
Treasurer - FBLA, Bookstore Manager next year
President - NHS
Super Teen Award - NextStep Magazine
Varsity Tennis Team (9-12)
[National AP Scholar w/current AP scores]</p>

<p>I'm planning to apply RD to Cornell's College of Engineering, for a <em>possible</em> major of computer sci/engineering (I'm pretty sure I'm going into engineering). I heard admissions to this college is very tough (especially for the self-selective female pool) - I would like to get a good idea of where I stand. Thanks so much!!! :)</p>

2

<p>good chance if you ask me</p>

3

<p>Great, what are we supposed to say, "You'll get in for sure, yippie." While you boast some impressive statistics and grades, I think your ECs and awards are pretty stereotypical. I don't see anything individual that really stands out. I hope you at least enjoyed high school because it just looks like you're a kid trying to get into college. In my opinion (and you can take it or ignore it), these are the applicants who have the worst success. There is a fine line between passionate about what you do and passionate about getting into college. I can't say that you won't get in, you certainly go above and beyond the academic standards of most any institution, but try to put yourself in the shoes of an admissions officer. Is your application one that would excite and interest an adcom, or is it one they would glaze over with the same tired routine of perfect math/science student. If you can truthfully answer this question, you'll have some insight to your chances at Cornell, and any other college that you wish to pursue. Good luck, and I hope everything works out the way you wish.</p>

4

<p>halopeno: while my ECs do seem like a laundry list to you, I can assure you that it's already bittersweet for me to do what I love for one last year (SO in particular, been on the team since 7th grade.) I believe that this is where the essay comes handy. Thanks though.</p>

5

<p>Just make sure that when you do describe your passions in your essays, you make it personal. I've read some essays on this site and they tend to lack personality and genuine character. Make sure that if you write about SO or music, or whatever, it is an essay that could only have been written by someone involved in those activities. If it sounds like I could have written it (being not a member of SO), then it isn't personal enough.</p>

6

<p>Apply ED and you are in!</p>