Cornell University ED--Our Chances Please?

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

I’ve applied to Cornell’s Colleges of Arts and Sciences as a chemistry major.

Objective:

SAT I (breakdown): 700 (CR) 800 (Math) 730 (Writing)
ACT: 33 (Comp.) 30 (English) 30 (English + Writing) 36 (Math) 33 (Reading) 31 (Science)
SAT II: 800 (Math II) 800 (Physics)
Unweighted GPA (out of 4.0): 3.98
Rank (percentile if rank is unavailable): NA
AP (place score in parenthesis): AP Language (4) AP Calculus BC (5) AP Calculus AB (5) AP Statistics (5) AP World History (4) AP Macroeconomics (4) AP Biology (4) AP Chemistry (5) AP Physics C Mech (5) AP Physics C E&M (5)
IB (place score in parenthesis): NA
Senior Year Course Load: AP Literature, TA at AP Statistics, AP Psychology, AP Chinese, Wind Ensemble, Team Sports, Advanced General Chemistry (College Level), and Organic Chemistry (College Level)
Major Awards (USAMO, Intel etc.): National AP Scholar

Subjective:

Extracurriculars (place leadership in parenthesis): SYS Community Service for 4 years, FRC Robotics team for 4 years, High school music band for 4 years, Team Captain of my high school’s math team, Member of National Flute Association for 2 years, High school musical for 2 years, Research Assistant in computer science for Siemens Research Competition, Volunteering at UW Health Center, and Research Assistant in Biology for Intel Competition.
Job/Work Experience: Employed at an Italian Restaurant as an assistant chef.
Volunteer/Community service: SYS Community Service for 4 years and UW Health Center on my senior year.
Summer Activities: Research Assistant in Computer Science
Essays: The Common APP essay is 8/10 and Supplemental is 8/10
Teacher Recommendation: Both recommendations are 9/10
Counselor Rec: 10/10
Additional Rec:NA
Interview: NA

Other:

State (if domestic applicant): Wisconsin
Country (if international applicant): USA
School Type: Publinc
Ethnicity: Korean-American
Gender: Male
Income Bracket: Over $100,000
Hooks (URM, first generation college, etc.): NA

Reflection

Strengths: Rigorous Academic Curriculums, decent test scores, and strong essays that truly reflect my interest.
Weaknesses: Leadership, not extremely high test scores, and awards.

General Comments:

2

It seems like a reach. You definitely have a chance to get in, but I think it hurts that there is a bit of a disconnect in your total application. For example, you took the Physics SAT II instead of the Chemistry SAT II, and you were a research assistant in Computer Science and Biology instead of in Chemistry. The 31 in Science on the ACT also doesn’t seem to fit the other high achievements in science.

3

I would say very good and above average, but that still is a low chance. You are just about the top 25% in the SAT so that is a good place to be.

But being an Asian male desiring to study chemistry is a bad demographic at Cornell.

Pick additional schools where being a high stat Asian male is a benefit.

4

I thought Cornell only looks at their applicant’s composite ACT Score, unlike SAT where Cornell only looks at the Critical Reading and Math Scores. I just sent my SAT Physics II subject test score instead of my SAT Chemistry subject test score because physics is higher and because AP Chemistry exam looks more valuable than SAT Chemistry Test. And I’m still looking for any research opportunity in chemistry, but I think taking Organic Chemistry and Advanced General Chemistry at university is still better than doing a research in Chemistry.

What I really want to get from this thread is whether applying Early Decision will help me because when I looked at the Stats of ED accepted students, they looked similar to mine.

5

Are you applying for financial aid? You absolutely must if you apply ED because that is your out if you decide not to go.

6

@Mminjjae Not sure what these people are saying. You have a very high chance of getting in early decision (in fact i would be surprised if you didn’t get in…) Good luck!

7

look at the variable answers above, I would objectively evaluate the data of the school of students admitted and compare yourself to those students. If you do that and live up to that 800 SAT math score I’m sure you’ll discover your chances to be good.

8

I think your chances are decent because of your ecs like the siemens and your gpa is very good given your rigorous course load