Female comp. sci major - chances at ED?

Colleges and Universities A-Z Cornell University
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<p>Since I've been surfing these threads forever, I figured I might as well ask whether or not it's plausible I have a chance at Cornell ED.</p>

<p>Ethnicity: white
Gender: female</p>

<p>My GPA is low - it's a 3.7 weighted. But--</p>

<p>SAT Verbal: 800
SAT Math: 700
SAT Writing: 740</p>

<p>ACT Composite: 32</p>

<p>AP US History: 3
AP Language & Comp.: 5
AP Comp. Sci: 5
AP European History: 4</p>

<p>I am also taking AP Statistics, AP Government, and AP Literature & Comp this year. </p>

<p>I'm the first girl to ever run the school's website in fifteen years of its existence (I code for it as well as update content - I am fluent in XHTML, CSS, PHP, Javascript, Java, etc). I also do many tech-related things around the school, such as fixing computers that break and installing software. I have won many national awards for skill in Latin, Yearbook, and writing as well. I was active on the school's water polo team and also have done karate for 11 years and have achieved the level of black belt. I've worked in a law firm as a legal aid, clerk and receptionist (over the summer) and have also been a lifeguard for a summer. I play piano competitionally and have for a decade. I founded two clubs at my school. The list goes on, yadda yadda.</p>

<p>I'm interested in Cornell because of their minor in game design; there are very few women in computer science, so I know that this will give me an 'edge' over other applicants, but I don't know how much of one. </p>

<p>My essay will be great, and my recommendations will be stellar. But I'm worried that my GPA will basically cut me off. Is that something that will keep me from having any hope at a shot here? </p>

<p>Oh, and forgot to mention, my father is an alumnus of Cornell and I will not be applying for financial aid.</p>

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<p>engineering school or arts?</p>

<p>Engineering would give you the female boost, although your math sat is your lowest</p>

<p>I don't know what your gpa means without any context(since you didn't mention what your schools weighting system is or how your gpa fairs in relation to others at your school/where that gpa from your school would usually put you in terms of colleges)</p>

<p>However other than that everything looks good. I got into engineering with a lowish gpa(for cornell) but high sats, good ecs, ed, and legacy(no female status though) was deffered ed and then admitted regular for reference.</p>

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<p>You have a 1500!
That's way too high to be applying to Cornell early.
You are without a doubt in!
I don't have official statistics but I wouldn't be surprised if less than 5% of the Cornell ED pool has above a 1500 SAT.</p>

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<p>Thanks so much for that tip, Prism. I may just go up for engineering now-- I know my math score is low, but maybe I can do some things to wiggle through admissions :)</p>

<p>Mondo-- also, thank you, I knew it was a good score but I honestly didn't think it was THAT good. o_o</p>

<p>My class rank is at about top 15%. My HS was named one of the top 50 high schools in the USA this past year, so it is very competitive and very difficult; there are usually about 20-ish kids who get in to top and Ivy League schools each year and at least 100 or so that get into UCI, UCLA, Berkeley, Stanford, etc, but in the past few years no one has applied to Cornell at my school.</p>

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<p>I went through the admissions process as a female engineer last year and from what I can see, extra curriculars and how you connect yourself to engineering in your essays matter more than an additional .1 or .2 in your gpa and a few points on the SATs. Cornell is intelligent and the admissions office is very well aware that people are not perfect, and therefore do not produce perfect numbers. Also, admissions offices in general know different high schools and I'm sure that if yours is one of the top 50 in the US, they would know about it and weight your gpa and class rank accordingly. In my opinion, you are a strong candidate for cornell engineering.</p>

<p>fyi and comparison, i got into engineering last year with a 4.049 out of 4.3 gpa, and 680/800/800 V/M/W SAT, 3 years of research, and 8 years of karate =]</p>

<p>Ah i just remembered, there should be a Women in Engineering day sometime this fall. I would go to that. It's somewhat boring, but it shows that you have interest. Cornell</a> Engineering : Women in Engineering Day 2008</p>

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<p>Thank you so much! I will be sure to attend if I possibly can.</p>

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<p>I think Mondo isn't exactly grounded in reality here. 75 percent of all entering engineering students have a Math SAT above 720. And more than 25 percent of all entering students have a Math SAT above 800. For admitted students, it is even higher -- probably only 25 percent of students have a Math SAT less than 750.</p>

<p>So for engineering, the great majority of ED applicants are going to have an SAT math score better than you. And if around 40% of all engineering students have greater than a 1500 SAT, that 5% number Mondo quotes for ED is way too low.</p>

<p>That said, I think you are a strong candidate because Cornell likes to look beyond the numbers, and your background and interests and legacy status are clearly suitable for Cornell. They also just want to be certain that you can do the work. So I would give you an 80% chance of acceptance ED, and then another 10% chance of being accepted RD.</p>

<p>You have a much better shot in engineering than Arts. A 3 in U.S. History? Did you not study at all?</p>

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<p>Sure, I studied, but US history isn't my strong suit and the teacher is considered a poor one. Most of my classmates didn't pass - our pass rate was something like 20% this year. So I wasn't upset with my score at all.</p>

<p>My philosophy with AP tests is also to just walk in and take them, which is probably a bad thing. ;)</p>

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<p>Did you take the SAT subject tests? I'd recommend taking/studying hard for a Math one, to show them you mean business in math.</p>

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<p>I am taking Math II, US History (to balance out that score), and Lit on October 20th.</p>

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<p>I suggest you look at the USC Vertibi Engineering school before applying ED to Cornell. The reason is USC Engineering has a spectacular Game Design major and various minors similar to Game Design. Although my son is not a game design major or minor at USC, he was describing this awesome professor who is well connected to the game industry and the work is really exciting. USC is one of the few programs in the U.S. with this major at the undergraduate level. You might also get a good scholarship as well. Apply early. Weather is a lot nicer in LA than Ithaca.</p>

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<p>Actually, I live about 20 miles south of USC. My uncle has been a professor there for about two decades and he and the Dean of Admissions are great friends-- yay nepotism. The thing is, I've spent my entire life in southern California. Sure, it's beautiful, but I want to spend the next four years of my life somewhere drastically different. :)</p>

<p>I was considering USC for grad school though, because of its connections to the video game industry.</p>

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<p>
[quote]
Weather is a lot nicer in LA than Ithaca.

[/quote]
</p>

<p>Depends on your definition of nice. If slightly cloudy with a chance of mudslides, fires, and a foreclosure is your cup of tea, sure.</p>

<p>All four seasons in Upstate New York are exhilarating.</p>