CORNELL UNIVERSITY, BUSINESS MAJOR

Colleges & Universities A-Z Cornell University
1

Current Grade : 11th

Academics:

  • GPA: 3.53 (unweighted), 4.81 (weighted)
  • Top 20% of 200
  • SAT (2400 scale): 2240 super score - 800M, 680 CR, 760 W
  • SAT subject tests: 780 Math 2, 650 US History (going to retake)
  • AP scores: Human Geography (4), took Macroeconomics, Calculus AB, and US History as a junior, going to take Statistics, Calculus BC, Spanish Literature, and Microeconomics as a senior

Extracurricular Activities:

  • Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA)
    Vice-President (11th), President (12th): organized fundraising events, kept track of funds, and participated in competitions
  • Investment Business Club Boys
    Vice-President (11th), President (12th): taught club members about investments and economics, participated in competitions
  • Tri-M Music Honors Society
    President (11th and 12th): contributed service hours to school and planned concerts for
    Symphonic Band and Wind Ensemble
  • High School Symphonic Band, Wind Ensemble
    First chair oboe (11th and 12th), President (12th), Secretary (11th): practiced and performed repertoire for
    concerts, assemblies, and graduation
  • Boys Varsity Wrestling
    PIAA District I AA State Qualifiers, PIAA District I 5X Championship, PIAA District I B.A.L. 5X Championship
  • Asian Club
    Secretary (11th), President (12th): brought awareness to Asian American issues such as microaggressions, affirmative action, and media portrayal of different races
  • Lemon Club
    Raised money and awareness for Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation by running a stand at several school events
    during the school year
  • Math Club
    Participated in competitions such as American Math Competition (AMC)
  • Boys Junior Varsity Tennis

Awards and Honors:

  • Dokdo Youth Forum
    Essay competition based on conflict between Korea and Japan over Dokdo Islands. Focused on racial tensions and historical submissiveness.
  • Tri-M Music Honors Society National Honors Society
  • National Honors Society
  • Participant in Tests of Engineering Aptitude, Mathematics, and Science Competition (TEAMS)
  • MathCON Honorable Mention Awardee
  • Participant in Atlantic-Pacific Mathematics League
  • Participant in American Math Competition
  • Honor Roll

Volunteer experience:

  • Korean United Church Korean school
    Assistant teacher: co-taught a seventh grade class in Korean history, grammar, and language.
  • Not for Oneself Program
    Built homes for the homeless and served food in low-income neighborhoods of Philadelphia.

Summer programs/experiences

  • Johns Hopkins University, Center for Talented Youth (CTY)
    Took a college level biology course within 4 weeks.
  • Church mission trip to Hungary 2015 Summer
    Advanced level English teacher at a children’s English summer program in Sátoraljaújhely, Hungary designed to help bridge the social divide between native Hungarians and Gypsy communities
  • Summer internship with Senator Vincent Hughes
  • Camp Business at Drexel’s LeBow College of Business

Fluent in English, Korean / Proficient in Spanish

Letter of Recommendations

  • Math teacher: I had him 7th, 8th, 9th, and 12th grade so I think he will be able to talk about me progressing through middle school and high school. He’s also known for writing amazing recommendations. (10/10)
  • Music director: I’m very involved in the music program and I also play the oboe so that will be the focus of my essays and he knows me very well on a personal level non-academic related. (8/10)
    Counselor Recommendation
  • I have a well established relationship with my counselor, so it’ll be pretty darn good. (8/10)
    Essay
  • It will be amazing. (9/10)

Applied for Financial Aid?: Yes
State (if domestic applicant): Pennsylvania (PA)
School Type: small but very competitive school, best in the area and top 10 public school in the state
Ethnicity: Asian
Gender: Male
Income Bracket: $25,000 - $49,999

I know I have a lot of unnecessary details and awards but I thought it might be helpful to include lots of what I have done so you guys can get the full picture. I hope you guys will give me honest advice and “chance results”! Thanks.

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If you are aiming for Ivies, then your gpa is kinda low. You’ve done so many awsome stuff but gpa and rankings matter A LOT. Being in the top 20% even in a vert competitive school is kinda not Ivy.
But if you aren’t aiming for ivies, then you have a great chance for many other local Universities. I can infer that OOS is not an option for you based on your income.
Good Luck to you!

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Your GPA might not be very high but that should not deter you from applying. It is only a small part of the application that is looked at. I know this because I was in your shoes a year ago but I chose to apply even though my scores weren’t so hot. Kudos on your many awards and extracurricular activities!! You should really focus on those essay because that will be the deciding factor! Good Luck with your application to Cornell!! I hope you get in :slight_smile:

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Thank you so much for your advice! I was afraid that I am not academically “up there” in terms of Ivy League expectations… but your thoughts are much appreciated!

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Thank you! Did you end up getting in?

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@collegehelp87 I did and in fact I will be a rising sophomore this fall

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asian students: they’ll use the highest standard. engineering’s highly competitive & next’s business. that said:

  • extra activities: great job! u can check off this item
  • gpa: low
  • sat subject tests: u’ve got this 1 too!
  • sat: ok…i’d suggest u take act. there’re many students who scored ok on sat but did super well (34+) on act.
  • foreign language: ok…assuming u’ve completed up to spanish4. to check off this 1, @least spanish5 if not ap spanish.
  • ap: u’re behind on this. most top asian students have completed up to 8-9 APs by junior yr. but don’t try to catch up in your senior yr as u’ll need a lot of time & energy for your college applications.
    so, hate to say this but u’re not in the mix for cornell but don’t let me discouraging u fr applying. cornell’s a plan b for many top asian students, so every yr, cornell calls up a lot fr the waiting list. if u apply & make it to the waiting list, u might get lucky! the income part…are u the 1st in the family to go to college? the 1st in your family tree? a family of 4 living on 25k-50k? if u can write some “powerful” essays on these obstacles…they’ll help your applications a great deal & cornell loves to hear “underprivileged” stories. last but not least, u’ll get a free ride, so u should also try to apply to these top schools cmu, uva, michigan, illinois, chapel-hill…i can see that u’re right in the mix w/these schools. then if cornell’s still the school that u want, go to those schools, study real hard for a couple yrs, if u get say 3.7 gpa or so, then xfer to cornell…it’ll take u if your gpa’s that hi. good luck!
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@jsmith9 Thanks for taking the time to read my stats! I think my SAT is good enough for Cornell, since I’ll be applying general admissions and I also have written down that I am taking AP Spanish Literature next year (I took Spanish 5 this year as a junior). Also, our school has a cap on AP credits after 8 and I am considered to be challenging myself at my school. Our valedictorian this year got into Wharton and took only 8 AP classes as well. Of course he was well qualified in other aspects; however, 8 APs at my school is considered to be a lot. And I was born in Korea but came to the U.S. with my parents, both having no education prior in the U.S. My dad graduated from Temple University so I am the second one in my family to go to college in the U.S. I’m not an international student however.