Early Decision chances at Cornell University, with a question about letters of rec

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

I will list my info below, but I have a more important question. How helpful is a letter of rec from an alum at Cornell? I know for Yale and other Ivies that it is very helpful, even if the person isn’t as familiar with you as a teacher would be. I know someone who played football for Cornell, was in the Navy ROTC and is still connected with staff there. Should I ask for a letter from him?

Anyway, here is my info:

Intended major: Physics, College of Arts and Sciences

Scores:
GPA (unweighted): 3.97
ACT: 34
New SAT: 1540
SAT Subject Tests: Math II: 760. Chemistry: 740. US History: 680
AP Tests: Lang: 5 Chem: 4 Gov: 3 Euro: 4 US History: 4

Activities:
NHS Vice President: Large amounts of weekly work, management, and helping lead chapter meetings of 100+ students
DECA: Marketing Communications, top score in districts in test and roleplay
Brass Choir: I play the euphonium in a 12 member brass ensemble. 1st division ratings at district and state level
Wind Symphony: First chair euphonium, audition only
Marching Band: 3 years of participation
Trumpet and Euphonium: 5 years of trumpet, 3 of euphonium

Sports:
Cross Country: Team captain, varsity runner. Appointed captain my junior year, managed off season training for team
of 65 people. Considering running at an IM or varsity level in college.
Track: Pole Vault

Academic Awards:
AP Scholar with distinction.
NHS
National Spanish Exam silver medalist
Academic Honor Roll
National Merit semi-finalist
Scholar Athlete

Research:
Two weeks of research done at a large, local state school. Focused on particle physics, specifically cosmic rays.
Position required an application to a national research program, work is published.

Senior schedule:
AP Calculus BC (1) Tutorial Semester 2 (.5)
AP Literature and Composition (1) Wind Symphony (1)
Forensic Sciences (.5) AP Physics C: Mechanics (1)
AP Microeconomics (.5) AP Spanish Language (1)
Tutorial Semester 1 (.5)

2

i’m not qualified enough to speak about your chances, but i can answer your question about the rec letter!

i think you should ask people who can write you a strong rec letter. so if the person who has connections with cornell can write you a strong rec letter, go for it! but if you think he’ll have to sit for a while to come up with things to say about you or you think he doesn’t know you very well, i would advise against it. good luck fellow senior :slight_smile:

3

Your resume is very impressive, but most ivies have applicants with very impressive resumes, sometimes it comes down to numbers and essentially a coin flip. That being said, Cornell is one of the “easier” Ivies so I think you are good. Chance me back?

4

It really depends on your relationship with the recommender…if you actually know them then it would be good. However, if they can’t speak to you abilities in a way that would provide additional insight then you are better off getting someone else you know better.

5

Thanks!

6

@dnstudent26 Thank you, that was my big question.