Hypothetical Chance a Junior?

Colleges and Universities A-Z Cornell University
1

<p>Hi CC. I'd just like to start by saying that I love the CC community, and you guys have given me much insight to many different college programs, and college life in general. I am currently a HS Junior (Class of '14) of Asian (particularly Middle-Eastern) descent, and I want to know what you guys think of my chances at getting into Cornell's College of Engineering. I am also including my projections for next year, so please take a look!</p>

<p>GPA [unweighted]: 3.97 (1 B out of 31 Classes)
Class Rank: 2/190 (Top 1%)
Projected SAT: ~2230; 800M, 770+W, 660+CR [probably not taking ACT]
Projected SATIIs: MathII(770+), Physics(770+), Chem.(770+), Bio(770+)
Volunteer Hours: ~100-120</p>

<p>9th grade classes:
1.IT Honors - A
2.English Honors - A
3.Biology Honors - A
4.Entrepreneurship - A
5.Late World History Honors - A
6.Health/P.E. - A
7.Jazz Band - A
8.Algebra 2 - A</p>

<p>10th grade:
1.AP Chemistry - A
2.AP Physics B - A
3.Pre-AP English - A
4.Health/P.E. - A
5.World Geography - A
6.Jazz Band - A
7./8.Advanced Math Honors (Double-Block PreCalc class) - A</p>

<p>11th grade [Governor's School]:
1a.Intro to Orgo./Biochem. (1 semester) - B
1b.Human Anatomy & Physiology (1 semester) - A
2.Mentorship - A
3.Principles of Technology & Engineering - A
4.US History - A
5.AP English Lang. & Comp. - A
6.AP Calculus BC - A
7/8.Teacher's Aid - Not a class; volunteer hours</p>

<p>Projected 12th grade [Governor's School]:
1.AP Physics C
2a.Calc. III (1 semester) - A
2b.Either Linear Algebra or DiffEQ (1 semester) - A
3.DE English - A
4.Mentorship - A
5.Principles of Technology & Engineering - A
6.AP Statistics - A
7.AP Computer Science A - A
8.US Government - A</p>

<p>AP Exams: Biology (5), Chem.(5), PhysicsB(5)
Projected AP Exams: Calc.BC(5 w/ 5 AB subscore), English Lang. & Comp.(4+), PhysicsC (4+ Mechanics, 4+ E&M), Stat.(5), CompSciA(4+)</p>

<p>EC's [projections included]:
-Marching band (4 years) - Section Leader
-Scholastic Bowl (3 years) - Captain
-Swim (1 year)
-Musical (1/2 years)
-SCA (4 years) - VP
-VEX Robotics (2 years) - Captain
-NHS (2 years)
-Summer Research Internship program (2 years)</p>

<p>I have also heard that Cornell offers a research scholarship known as the Hunter R. Rawlings III Cornell Presidential Research Scholars program, so do you think I would be eligible for that thanks to my summer research internship program?</p>

<p>Thanks in advanced guys!</p>

2

<p>shameless self-bump? Here’s an abridged version for those who went “tl;dr”:</p>

<p>GPA [unweighted]: 3.97 (1 B out of 31 Classes)
Class Rank: 2/190 (Top 1%)
Projected SAT: ~2230; 800M, 770+W, 660+CR [probably not taking ACT]
Projected SATIIs: MathII(770+), Physics(770+), Chem.(770+), Bio(770+)
Volunteer Hours: ~100-120</p>

<p>AP Exams: Biology (5), Chem.(5), PhysicsB(5)
Projected AP Exams: Calc.BC(5 w/ 5 AB subscore), English Lang. & Comp.(4+), PhysicsC (4+ Mechanics, 4+ E&M), Stat.(5), CompSciA(4+)</p>

<p>EC’s [projections included]:
-Marching band (4 years) - Section Leader
-Scholastic Bowl (3 years) - Captain
-Swim (1 year)
-Musical (1/2 years)
-SCA (4 years) - VP
-VEX Robotics (2 years) - Captain
-NHS (2 years)
-Summer Research Internship program (2 years)</p>

3

<p>You are set with your academic part of your application. Your ec’s look good too. Honestly, I feel like the most important part about getting into Cornell is the essays and how you present yourself on your application. Teacher recs are HUGE, with the counselor rec also. I would make sure to incorporate your summer internship a lot throughout your app. Be sure to include how you’re captain/leader of those clubs in any writing portion provided and also use them to support your major choice and into how you would benefit Cornell. The goal is to find a way to stand out! Good luck!</p>

4

<p>Thanks! Did you get a Cornell acceptance yet? How many essays are there on the Application? I think I might want to write something about how I can research for the University and increase its research reputation.</p>

5

<p>Also, do you think that I would make it in ED? What is the deal with ED, by the way? I understand that it is binding, but to what extent? For example, let’s say that my expected family contribution doesn’t accurately reflect what my family can afford? Can I decline the Cornell acceptance? Also, is it true that ED applicants generally get worse aid than RD applicants? What about for those who applied ED but were deferred to RD?</p>

6

<p>Hey Faysal,</p>

<p>I had similar qualms when deciding whether to apply ED to cornell last year (I’m currently a freshman in CoE). Here’s the deal according to Cornell’s FA office: binding means binding. if you get in, you have to go…no questions asked. If you feel that the expected family contribution doesn’t lineup with what your family can afford, you can try to appeal your decision, but don’t expect much. Only in very rare circumstances (like, death of primary earner of the family) can you wiggle your way out of your ED agreement. I decided to hold off on ED to apply RD and I recieved a 10k grant…which I highly doubt would have been offered to me ED. Although Cornell claims they don’t differentiate between the two, the fact of the matter is that ED is binding, so they can rob you as much as they can.</p>

<p>With respect to the chance thread. Listen, stats don’t mean anything. In my year, the 2390, 4.0, Math-team captain, Intel SF, valedictorian was rejected from Cornell (though he did get into Yale :P). Make sure you convey in your essays your interest in the school. Make it seem as though no other university can hope to match what Cornell has to offer. This means RESEARCH. Look up specific programs that the school has, and align what you did over the summer with these programs. During the interview, tell them its your #1 choice school. Visit the campus, and let the alumni interviewer know that you visited. There are SO. MANY. qualified applicants that apply to Cornell. So goddamn many of them. Make sure you humanize yourself somewhat. If you convey your passion for engineering and Cornell without losing yourself in the process, you’ll get in.</p>

<p>One more thing, don’t write about how you can increase Cornell’s research reputation…since as an undergraduate that’s not going to happen. Anyone who will REALLY increase Cornell’s research reputation will be at least a MS/PhD candidate, or more likely a tenured professor. Instead, talk about how cornell’s research facilities/programs (center for advanced computing, etc) would be such a tremendous asset for your own research.</p>

7

<p>Wow, very informative! Thanks! How are you enjoying Cornell? Which “flavor,” so to speak, of engineering are you planning on further studying? Civil, Industrial, Systems, Chemical, Biomedical, Mechanical, Electrical, etc.? Also, how are the classes (the rooms) generally placed? Are they relatively close to each other? By the way, I really liked your advice for the essays! It makes a lot of sense to me, especially about the research thing. Thanks again!</p>

8

<p>McBumptyDumpty</p>

9

<p>Bump! Anyone else?</p>