<p>Dear CC members,
I am a senior in high school in California. I am a 1.5 generation Chinese immigrant and I just completed my 5th year in the U.S. My parents are encouraging/demanding me to apply to Cornell early because it's my top choice (tied with Stanford) because the chance of me getting in increases, but I really want to see if I can get into Stanford because I think it could work. Financial aid could be a problem but I should be okay. </p>
<p>Stats:
GPA: non weighted 3.86
SAT Super score: 2160
SAT II Math 2c: 720
SAT II Bio: 710
SAT II Chem: 710
SAT II Chinese (for fun): 800
AP English lang&comp: 5
AP Biology: 5
Class Rank: Just out of 10% but definitely like 11% or 12%</p>
<p>Extracurriculars
Played flute for 5 years, President of school environmental club, Officer in student government, Leadership member in a partnered project from Stanford, Was in band for two years, NHS, Peer tutor since freshman year</p>
<p>I worked two summer jobs at some point (not counting baby-sitting)</p>
<p>Also, I did have to learn English pretty much from scratch. I had the vocabulary level of your average 1st grader when I came and learned to listen and speak in 7th grade and was in all mainstream program by 8th grade.</p>
<p>So...how are my chances of getting into Stanford? Or should I just go with my parents' Cornell idea?</p>
<p>Thank you.</p>
<p>P.S: I will also apply to Chicago, Northwestern, UC San Diego, probably UCLA, and USC.</p>
<p>Both schools seem unlikely. If you choose one at all, choose Cornell. It may be a good idea to mention your unique language situation in one of your essays.</p>
<p>Are they out of reach because of scores, grades, or extracurriculars?
Because I don’t think score is the only factor here. I know it’s weak, but a 2160 from a ESL student seems decent.</p>
<p>There will be ESL international students who will have superior stats, so I’m actually not sure how much that will help you. I don’t mean to be a downer. I do still think you have a modest chance at Cornell ED. It’s just that not being in the top 10% will hurt you a bit.</p>
<p>Your biggest weakness is rank/grades. These schools take very few who were not top 10%, and the vast majority of those who are under top 10% are athletes, URMs and wealthy legacies. Your scores wouldn’t keep you out, but added to a low rank pretty much eliminates an ivy/ peer.</p>
<p>I don’t know much about Stanford, but I think Cornell is still a reachable.
Your scores really reflect your eagerness to succeed here in United States. You still have time, so retake SAT can be an option. Just focus on the weakness part. </p>
<p>As an immigrant from Hong Kong, I am still working on my writing skill and augmenting my word bank. I am sure you are aware that Hong Kong students begin learning English since kindergarten. However, since Hong Kong’s primary dialect is Cantonese, the general public has little chance to speak English. I was impressed with your scores. Your tenacious hard work should be commended. </p>
<p>Beside scores, you should really put time into your college essays. This is the only way the college can evaluate you as an individual beside the comparison of scores. </p>
<p>Your ECs aren’t as impressive as other candidates. But you have to convince the admission staff that you are the right candidate. These days applicants are overdoing ECs, so essay is the key to the entrance.</p>
<p>“Financial aid could be a problem but I should be okay.”</p>
<p>This is the single most important factor for you to resolve with your parents. If they have not already done so, sit down with them and have them run the EFC calculators at [FinAid</a>! Financial Aid, College Scholarships and Student Loans](<a href=“http://www.finaid.org%5DFinAid”>http://www.finaid.org) and at [College</a> Calculators - savings calculators - college costs, loans](<a href=“College Board - SAT, AP, College Search and Admission Tools”>Calculate Your Cost – BigFuture | College Board) Talk with them about how your family will meet the EFC. Find out how much more your family can come up with (if they can). If your family cannot meet that EFC, find out what actually is affordable in your case. This is the number that you must know.</p>
<p>You also need to know whether or not your family believes it is OK for you to take on college debt. If debt is OK, then how much? Most parents here at CC would recommend that you keep your debt below the limit of the Stafford loans.</p>
<p>What about working during summer vacations and during the school year? How much money does your family expect you to make for your own expenses?</p>
<p>Each college/university determines for itself what your need is, and whether or not your need will be met. There is every chance that even though an college/university publicizes that it will meet “full need”, the EFC that it will assign your family will be more than what your family considers affordable. Even if it does meet your family EFC, the package that is constructed may be comprised primarily of loans, rather than scholarships.</p>
<p>If financial aid is at all an issue, you should not apply ED. You need to be able to compare all of the aid packages next spring before making your final decision.</p>