<p>“2300 plus SAT, perfect GPA, 800 Math Level 2 SAT and now failing test scores in CoE.”</p>
<p>Standard within CoE. Stop thinking your daughter is anything special and has any credentials over anyone at Cornell since nobody does. Everyone here is pretty damn smart. I’m just going to be blunt; although later classes are curved higher, they are also classes in which everyone in them enjoys the topic and is really good in that area. If she doesn’t get her sh** together (and many others… 40% of college freshman due to curving==your daughter), she’ll find herself chasing to keep up. There is a reason why the classes are curved higher and I assure you that it isn’t to keep people’s GPAs up.</p>
<p>Stop hiding your daughter’s weaknesses behind these superficial credentials and IQ tests since they truly mean nothing here. Your daughter goes to an engineering program that is just slightly below only MIT and Stanford. Many people turn down both of those schools for CoE (I turned down MIT for a more diverse and isolated Cornell); I don’t know what she was expecting. However, the good side of this is that she will have Cornell’s name to back her up. With a bad GPA (if she actually gets one), she may not get an amazing first job, but the only thing that future employers will see is CORNELL and EXPERIENCE, not GPA.</p>
<p>She needs to sign up for as many AEWs as she can next semester. Yes, they take up a lot of space, but that’s what your daughter needs academically. Furthermore, she needs to attend office hours EVERY WEEK. If it to just talk to the TA/professor about theory of the material, formulas, or exact problems, TALKING with someone who you KNOW will call you out if you are wrong really gets you to know what you truly know. </p>
<p>Lastly, you need to take a laid back approach when talking to her. The last response I would want from a parent from a situation like this is “We need to find out what you need to change.” (I’m not saying you did this). Instead, just continue reitterating that it is a very strong program that leaves people very vulnerable to failing and that she has to realize that it is completely normal. Don’t make suggestions right away and DO NOT SAY YOU NEED TO SEE WHAT YOU NEED TO DO TO GET YOUR “SH**” TOGETHER. Just say you will not be disappointed despite whatever result she gets since you know she is learning a lot and trying hard. </p>
<p>If you have suggestions, wait until a later conversation. Nobody wants to hear how they fu**ed up right after failing a prelim. Just trying to give you a student’s perspective.</p>
<p>Note: the math prelim is notoriously difficult. Everyone thinks they failed. However, that is not the general sentiment of physics.</p>