<p>While it is difficult to live up to the near-rediculous demands of the HYPS admissions offices, it seems as if Cornell has a more reasonable process. Would it be safe to assume that Cornell has the most reasonable (not demanding perfection) admission of all the Ivies? </p>
<p>How would my chances look:
SAT I: about 2100-2200
GPA: A-
Jr. Year Courses: AP Chem, AP US History, Pre-Calc Honors, 2 AP Englishes
EC's: Founder/President Film Club, District and Regional Orcehstras-Principal double bassist, Editor school newspaper, Executive Comitte student activities, executive comittie freshman orientation, varisty baseball, a few other clubs/activities</p>
<p>^very brief detalis, yet to take APs/SAT II for jr year, but should be pretty good</p>
<p>its impossible to say anyperson is a shoe in or automatic denial but those stats give a good chance i.m.o. for Cornell. Just a bit of advice Cornell places a large emphasis on the supplement essays (the the director of admissions for the eng college own words) so id say those are good stats but only a component of the entire application. and gl with your apps</p>
<p>Cornell is a lottery just like any other schools. It is known for being the easiest Ivy to get into, but probably only because of its size. There are still 1600 SAT 4.0 GPA people who are rejected.</p>
<p>That said, you will have as good a shot as anyone more or less. But you'd have a shot at any of the Ivies with those stats (don't get me wrong, it would be a higher chance at Cornell or Brown than it would at Yale or Harvard, but those stats certainly wouldn't keep you out of HYP).</p>
<p>You have a good GPA/SAT scores, and now you should probably start to figure out what certain parts of your EC's that you want to focus on, what leadership roles you have taken, and how you will utilize the opporunities given to you at Cornell. Stats aren't everything when applying to the ivy schools. Definately start working on your Cornell essays early and be specific when writing them. As stated above, admissions puts a lot of weight on your essays. Cornell might be comparatively easier, but it still demands much from their applicants.</p>
<p>you should decide what you want to major in. you can always change your mind but have an idea of what you want to do. then focus on that major and try to gain experience/merit in the field you would like to study. say if you want to major in engineering, art honors probably would not be as important as say, gaining an internship at an engineering firm.</p>
<p>Its been my experience that Cornell is the most forgiving by a decent margin, but they all have institutional preferences. Penn is GPA rank focused, Dartmouth scores focused, Brown ECs/ hooks focused, etc. Cornell also is on the up-and-up so you never know how it will be next year.</p>
<p>agreed, high SATs wont make up for a gpa that is below Cornell's standard. Unless of course, you're an athlete, URM, or have done something truly exceptional. This is where Cornell tends to be the most reasonable ivy.</p>
<p>"you are not getting in with an A- gpa"
not true, there is so much more to an application than the numbers reveal. i got in ED to the eng college for admission into the class of 2010 with a 92.8 gpa</p>
<p>Unless you are all being sarcastic telling him he will never get in with an A-, I am very surprised. The SAT is great, and the GPA is FINE! Plenty of people have gotten in with sub A+ GPA's (sparty being one of them, I think), and even 88's. Probably more people off these forums who are not ridiculously obsessed with the admissions process have gotten in with low B GPA's, and maybe even C's (okay, so maybe not so many C's).
GPA is just one factor in the pool like SAT's. All schools calculate it differently, and maybe your GPA has been gained while taking very difficult courses. As long as your EC's are good, and you make them make you stand out in your essays, you will have a fair shot.
Don't be so discouraged so quickly. Cornell is as reasonable as you think it is.</p>
<p>ps: inclusion of your rank with the stating of your GPA will help us all view your number with more perspective.</p>
<p>that's ridiculous. How can you judge his GPA without knowing how his school grades. Suppose he goes to a school where you actually have to study a lot and be really smart to get an A+ GPA? Besides, at most schools a 4.0 is an indicator of good work ethic, but a 3.7 isn't far behind, you don't have to be particulaly bright to get either GPA, you just have to put the time in.</p>
<p>I hope you were kidding...a 3.7 is fine. I say he's in the running as much as anybody else for an acceptance. True he's not a standout, but most of the applicants aren't standouts.</p>
<p>i wasn't kidding, sure students have gotten in with sub A- grades, but not the majority. Though i cannot speak for the OP's high school record or anything, I will assume he/she comes from an average high school. I came from an average high school, and having looked at admissions decisions to Cornell over the past few years, nobody under a 96-97 GPA has been admitted (and 10-15 apply each year). From the average high school, a GPA like 92 (it's in the A- range) isn't likely to put somebody in top contention unless they are athletes, URM's, or have something truly unique to contribute to the university. </p>
<p>If the OP goes to an elite prep school, it will obviously change the story a bit. </p>
<p>I base my information and guestimation from information compiled from past applications from the area I come from. I don't think the OP faces certain rejection, but i also don't believe that he/she will have a cake time getting into Cornell either.</p>
<p>I am a white male non-legacy and got into engineering (ECE) w/ a 3.53 and 2210 (1490) SATs. I go to a large (2000+) public high school in the mid-Atlantic region that normally has maybe 1 or 2 people going to Cornell each year.</p>
<p>hm, after re-reading the posts, i wasnt even the one who said no chance. None the less, I still think the OP will have to write incredible essays and have great recs to have at least an average chance. Nobody is a shoe-in.</p>