Cornell is my dream...but what are my chances?

Colleges and Universities A-Z Cornell University
1

<p>In the simplest terms, Cornell is my dream school. The one I fell in love upon first sight, and the one for which my hopes of admission have only grown since the possibility of attending first popped into my mind. I realize that Cornell is a complete and utter reach for me, and that more likely than not I will be rejected. I figure it's worth a try though...</p>

<p>College of Choice: Arts & Sciences</p>

<p>Stats:</p>

<ul>
<li>I currently have an unweighted GPA of 3.8-3.9.</li>
<li>I am currently placed 70/670 in my class (this will go up by the end of the year)</li>
<li>My SAT's, which are pathetically mediocre (I WILL BE RETAKING THEM.):</li>
</ul>

<p>*Critical Reading = 660, Math = 570, Writing = 640
*Total of 1870/2400</p>

<ul>
<li>SAT II's</li>
</ul>

<p>*Literature: 630</p>

<ul>
<li>ACT:</li>
</ul>

<p>*Composite: 28
*English: 30<br>
*Math: 25<br>
*Reading: 30<br>
*Science: 25</p>

<p>Course Rigor:</p>

<p>By the end of my high school career, I will have completed 6 AP/College-level classes and 6 Honors classes.</p>

<p>Just for the heck of it, here's my senior schedule:</p>

<p>-AP English
-AP Economics
-AP Biology
-Pre-Calc.
-French
-Syracuse Univ. Project Advance: Psychology
-Child Psych. II</p>

<p>EC's:</p>

<p>*As for other activities, I have been a Girl Scout since Kindergarten, and am in the process of obtaining the Gold Leadership Award, the highest honor available in scouting. </p>

<p>*I am very active in my school's French Club, and I plan on running for president for this upcoming year (only seniors are considered for the posistion of President).</p>

<p>*I am also planning on becoming the Secretary for my school's National Honor Society.</p>

<p>*As for community service, I currently have approximately 150 hours and I am currently doing part-time volunteering at a local clinic for girls suffering from eating disorders. </p>

<p>*I spent a week and a half this past summer in Belle Chasse, LA helping to rebuild the home of a Katrina victim.</p>

<p>*I also attended the National Student Leadership Conference with a concentration in National Security and the Intelligence Community.</p>

<p>*I am studying the Arabic language outside of school through an adult education program.</p>

<p>**
I will be applying ED, in hopes of improving my chances and showing my eagerness to be a part of Cornellian community.**</p>

<p>Now, what are my chances? Any tips for improving these chances? Certain things to highlight or place more emphasis on based on my information</p>

2

<p>sub-par SATs (especially if you're not an underrepresented minority)</p>

<p>average ECs...</p>

<p>not a good chance but worth the try :)</p>

3

<p>Thanks, I guess.</p>

<p>I'm aware it would be realistically impossible to get in, but I'm ever the eternal optimist. :]</p>

4

<p>Michaela, try to find something you're really good at and take that SAT 2. For example, I took US history (770) because I'd just finished an AP US course a month before the test and Math 2 (800) because I'd just finished pre-cal and AP stats. It worked for me, at least.
You say you'll have taken 6 APs total, and as you're taking only 3 next year I assume you just finished 3. Are there any tests that correspond to those that you could take? (It sounds like you're good at French)
As for your SAT reasoning, look over your old test booklet and find what it is you're messing up on.
Your class rank is so close to the top decile; just sabotage 3 classmates. (kidding. kind of.) </p>

<p>Good luck, and hope to see you at the "Big Red" next year.</p>

5

<p>Get your SAT up and you have a chance, for sure. But you really need to get it to at least a 2100 for CAS.</p>

6

<p>as of now, an extreme reach. aim for a 2100+ and be in the top 10% of your class.</p>