How reachable is Cornell with this stats?

College Search & Selection
1

<p>DS is really interested in Cornell. His combined SAT score 2310, single SAT 2300, unweighted GPA 3.75, weighted GPA 4.43, PSAT 231 (in NJ). Several Honors and AP classes. Some ECs, not a lot. Is Cornell reachable for him?</p>

<p>Thanks</p>

2

<p>Yes. I think so. Is he going to try ED?</p>

3

<p>Not ED. Mainly because we want to see his options for scholarships/grants, etc.</p>

4

<p>If you’re interested in merit aid look at this thread: <a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/national-merit-scholarships/649276-nmf-scholarships-updated-compilation.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/national-merit-scholarships/649276-nmf-scholarships-updated-compilation.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

5

<p>very reachable</p>

6

<p>Cornell and other ivies don’t give merit scholarships. </p>

<p>All ivies give is “need-based” aid based on family income and assets - including non-custodial parents and all step-parents. </p>

<p>You mention on a previous post that you’re remarried. Your new H’s income will count. If the bio dad is alive, then his income (and his wife’s income) will count as well.</p>

<p>If you’re interested in merit scholarships, then he needs to apply to the schools that give them. If you want merit scholarships to reduce your expected family contribution (which sounds like what you’re interested in), the the merit scholarships have to be VERY big to exceed need so as to “cut into” family contribution.</p>

7

<p>Also consider schools that shower money on NMSF’s; for example, USC loves high test scores.</p>

8

<p>^^^</p>

<p>Yes…USC gives NMFs half tuition (about $20k), but again, that would get applied towards “need”. </p>

<p>Do you know what your likely EFC will be? </p>

<p>How much can your family contribute? That answer will likely determine where your son should apply.</p>

9

<p>Cornell has some fairly detailed and up-to-date admissions stats, if you haven’t seen them already.
[Cornell</a> Factbook - Undergraduate Admissions](<a href=“http://www.dpb.cornell.edu/F_Undergraduate_Admissions.htm]Cornell”>University Factbook - Institutional Research & Planning)</p>

10

<p>depending on how competitive your school is it’s pretty reachable…Cornell likes ECs a lot, but regardless the school is very much in play</p>

11

<p>unweighted GPA 3.75, weighted GPA 4.43</p>

<p>Do you know what his rank is?</p>

<p>What are his financial safety schools (schools that you know are affordable because of assured grants, assured scholarships, or family funds)?</p>

12

<p>I would apply to MIT, UPenn, CMU and UMich with those stats.</p>

13

<p>Thanks all for the inputs and the links. Good info.</p>

<p>The school doesn’t have a ranking system. </p>

<p>Greatschools.org gives the school a rating of 9 out of 10 and last year 30 out of 123 applicants from that school were admitted to Cornell.</p>

<p>I am looking for need based scholarships and I am afraid Cornell is not so great in that aspect. </p>

<p>Our EFC will be around $6000 and we can afford that. </p>

<p>Only one school on his list qualifies for NMSF scholarship.</p>

14

<p>I would apply to MIT, UPenn, CMU and UMich with those stats. </p>

<p>He is applying to UPenn and UMich.</p>

<p>btw, how do I enable HTML tags so I can quote text?</p>

15

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<p>Obviously don’t have the on different lines.</p>

<p>Have you looked to see what your CSS Profile family contribution will be?</p>

<p>Does your son have a non-custodial parent?</p>

<p>Which school on his list has a NMSF scholarship?</p>

16

<p>

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<p>Yes, and he has no spouse yet. His income is low as well and no assets. So, even if we considered his income, the EFC may not change much.</p>

<p>

Rice. I don’t know how much they offer, but that was the only college available on the list provide and he chose it as his first choice while filling in the info for NMF.</p>

<p>I’ve $20,000 saved for him in a 529 plan which I assume I could use towards the family contribution?</p>

17

<p>*Does your son have a non-custodial parent?</p>

<p>Yes, and he has no spouse yet. His income is low as well and no assets. So, even if we considered his income, the EFC may not change much.*</p>

<p>Will he fill out the NCP paperwork each year? If you’re not sure, you need to find out. A school that requires NCP info won’t process FA if the NCP won’t submit paperwork.</p>

<p>Rice. I don’t know how much they offer, but that was the only college available on the list provide and he chose it as his first choice while filling in the info for NMF.</p>

<p>Rice only gives NMFs $1k per year. </p>

<p>Your son can always change his #1 choice and apply to a school that will give him more merit.</p>

<p>Yes, you can use the 529 towards EFC.</p>

18

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<p>I missed this part earlier. Rutgers is his safety school which offers $23,000 Presidential scholarship per year for students who have at least 2250 combined SAT. Total cost is less than $25K per year for in-state students.</p>

19

<p>That’s great, but I don’t think that scholarship is ASSURED. The website says that it’s “competitive.” While your son has a good chance, it’s not assured.</p>

<p>*Selection Criteria</p>

<p>Merit scholarship awards are competitive and are allocated based on available funding. …</p>

<p>Rutgers scholarships are competitive awards. There is no set of “numbers” that will guarantee a scholarship or scholarship amount… </p>

<p>To be considered, students must have at least 2250 combined SAT or an ACT score of 35 and an A grade point average. *</p>

<p>A true safety is a school that you know for SURE that you’ll have costs covered. So, more likely a school that gives ASSURED scholarships would be your son’s safety.</p>

<p>BTW…do you know if your son’s dad will fill out the FA paperwork each year? The only reason I’m mentioning this is because some NCP’s won’t.</p>

20

<p>hmm… that’s interesting info.</p>

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<p>Yes, he would. Would there be a problem if he doesn’t though?</p>