So my school does not offer AP classes until junior and senior year, and they did not allow me to take any AP’s last year, which already puts me at a huge disadvantage. In addition, I lost out at chances of taking honors classes because I messed up one test at the beginning of the year, and the teacher didn’t approve my request. I really love Cornell, and I have applied to CALS (I have an A-/A in Environmental) and I know it is impossible to get in. I feel that my high school has put me at a disadvantage, because we aren’t allowed to take classes for credit outside of school (I got an A in honors physics and I looked for AP courses outside of school, but was not allowed).
I’m a transfer applicant, but I hear you. My community college is absolute crap; even the valedictorians go to our NON-flagship state school. I did the best I could given the context of our terrible offerings – took all honors classes, etc., but I was forced to take ridiculous classes like “Principles of Retailing” and “Customer Service/Professionalism.” If it makes you feel any better, I did email admissions and they said that they evaluate you in the context of what is available to you at your school. But yeah, it’s intimidating when you read about other people’s research opportunities, classes, etc.
If you strike out as a freshman, you could always apply as a transfer. They’re pretty transfer-friendly. (Just go to a community college that has real classes, unlike the one I go to :-/)
Colleges view students in light of the opportunities they have had. Students are expected to take the most rigorous schedule that is available at their high school. Each school shares its profile with the college, and the college sees what is available at the school and compares the applicant to that standard.
It is the same concept as the activities list. If a student is working a part-time job and caring for a sibling to help out the family, and that is documented in the application, the college will not penalize the student for not joining a ton of afterschool clubs.
Every student has unique circumstances, and the college wants to see evidence that the student has made the most of his/her opportunities and shown drive and dedication within his or her circumstances.
Post #2 is correct; you can’t take courses that weren’t available to you. My school offered two AP courses; I took both plus an additional one online and was accepted. It isn’t “impossible to get in.” Cornell will evaluate you based on the opportunities available to you and whether you took advantage of them.
Agree with others that Cornell will evaluate students based on the opportunities available to their schools. Take the most rigorous courses offered at your school. Good grades, vigorous courses, good SAT/ACT, ECs and essays all factor in by admission.
Like your high school, my D’s high school offers APs only to juniors and seniors and generally speaking, two APs per year are allowed. My D took 1 AP in junior and 3 in senior (with school’s permission). A total of 4 APs. She got accepted to CAS. Two of her classmates got accepted to engineering.
Students from that high school have been accepted to Ivies and highly selective colleges every year.