**Decision: Accepted and Committed **
**Diversity Hosting, HEOP, Hunter R Rawlings Presidential Research Scholars **
College of Art, Architecture and Urban Planning for Architecture
Objective:
SAT I (breakdown):
600 Evidence-Based Reading and Writing
630 Math
1230 (Superscored)
ACT (breakdown):
Didnt take
SAT II:
720 Spanish / 500 World History
Unweighted GPA (out of 4.0): 4.0 (~95 on my school’s scale, also weighted)
Rank (percentile if rank is unavailable): 16/256
AP (place score in parenthesis): World History: (3) English Language and Composition: [Didnt take due to brain surgery] United States History: [Didn’t take due to brain surgery]
IB (place score in parenthesis): Not available to me
Senior Year Course Load:
Advanced Placement (AP) : World History, English Language and Composition, United States History, Calculus AB
English Literature and Composition //
York College (CollegeNOW): Caribbean History, Statistics, Multicultural Studies and Finance
edx online course with Harvard University/ HarvardX : The Architectural Imagination GSD1x
Major Awards (USAMO, Intel etc.): Its not a major nation-wide award or anything but…
2018 New York City Scholastics Gold Key Recipient for Architecture & Industrial Design
2016 Citywide Rising Star Award Presented by City of New York Department of Parks & Recreation
Subjective:
Extracurriculars (place leadership in parenthesis):
College Access Club (Ambassador)
Architectural Model Making Club (Senior Member) (Group Project Facilitator)
SkillsUSA (HS Chapter President)
National Honor Society (Volunteering Services Chair)
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Outreach Program (Society of Hispanic Engineers Junior Member)
The Cooper Union Saturday Program for Architecture, Portfolio Prep
Job/Work Experience:
ACEMentorship Program (Facade Specialists)
StructureTone Explorers Program Unpaid Internship (Budget Material Take-offs Team Leader)
Volunteer/Community service:
400+ Hours volunteering as a NYC GreenTeen,
Summer Activities:
The Cooper Union Introduction to Architecture for High School Students
NYU Cali Program
Pool designing/ construction for some clients.
Essays (rating 1-10, details): 8/9? I spoke about how I’ve been so motivated since day for my architectural endeavors. A lethal brain cyst grew in my brain mid-junior year and it halted my studies. The essay focuses on my resilience after two brain surgeries that could have been the end to my life. Coming back to mentorships / high school to work literally days after surgery and physical therapy. Also spoke about first-generation status and Hispanic pride.
Recommendations (rating 1-10, details):
Teacher Rec #1: AP English Language Teacher (8/9ish) I asked him to write my letter between Spring/Winter of junior year because I wanted him to start early so it was meaningful. I told him straight up if he doesn’t try his hardest I preferred no letter at all, he said he would gladly write a book and that I deserved that and more.
Teacher Rec #2: Architecture Class Teacher (8ish) He said he’s never met a student like me in his life of teaching, I was different and “Woke”. Super down-to-earth guy I spent countless hours talking about life and worldly issues with him. He’s a close friend I still speak to today
Counselor Rec: 9, She said I’m one of the kids she’s actually proud of having in her career. <3 I go to her all the time for guidance in general
Additional Rec: 9, My physics teacher for senior year. (Used to be my chemistry teacher). I failed his chemistry tests constantly yet while I was getting brain surgery I still applied to AP Physics and got rejected. Coming into regular physics I received constant 90s and my improvement motivated him to ask me if I would like a recommendation.
Interview: 10, a local architecture alum, we met in Panera Bread. I got there 5 minutes late but he was super chill about it. It was an instant click once we started talking about architecture, my work, his work. I heard usually interviews are supposed to last an hour. We sat there for almost 4 hours talking, chatting, laughing etc… He even offered me breakfest, and I have him on Instagram now.
Other
Applied for Financial Aid?: Yes (0 student and parent contribution)
Intended Major and College: Architecture, AAP
State (if domestic applicant): NY
Country (if international applicant): USA
School Type: Public
Ethnicity: Hispanic , Dominican Republic
Gender: Male
Income Bracket: 36,000 ish Family of 5
Hooks (URM, first generation college, etc.): First Generation College, URM
Reflection
Strengths: Networking and Communication with people, Portfolio was well rounded → Graphite, Charcoal, Color Pencil, Crayon, Marker, Mixed Media Collages, Pool Constructions, Quick Sketches, 4 Public Sculptures / exhibitions in NYC, Stage Set-up / Design for a fashion show for Special needs students in my HS
Weaknesses: Tests / Grades
Why you think you were accepted/deferred/rejected: My essays and supplements. I worked really hard every week in the fall/ spring researching the professors, clubs, students and curriculum related things I was interested in and how it went hand in hand with my professional goals. The things I would like to work / participate in.
Where else were you accepted/deferred/rejected:
WAITLISTED: Syracuse U, Pratt, Cal Poly
REJECTED: RISD, Carnegie Mellon U, Tulane, Wash U
ACCEPTED: The Cooper Union, Virginia Tech, Rice U, University of Southern Cali, RPI, NYIT, NJIT, IIT, Penn State, City College of NY, Drexel U, Temple U, Univ. at Buffalo
**Comments: DONT GIVE UP EVER, I almost gave up on trying when I constantly scored low on my SAT scores and it wasnt reaching my goals. Keep trying and focus on your strengths, it’s not just grades. There is hope. Dont worry about likely letters if you didnt recieve them, only a small percentage of the applicants get them. Just wait for the notification day and hope for the best
I hope this was helpful and insightful to future applicants for Cornell 
email me if you have questions: aml387@cornell.edu **