<p>So, the new SAT scores are out and I'd like to know where I stand at what is most likely my ED school, Cornell ILR.
GPA-
Projected 97/98ish on a 100 pt scale over 3 years. Amazing 4.3 at frosh year school in a diff state.
Will not be ranked.
Took one AP (US History) junior year and will take AP English, AP Gov, and AP Econ next year. These are the only non-math and science (or music theory and art, but whatever) APs offered at my school. It isn't too late to switch into AP bio or physics, but I don't think I'll do well in either (not well enough to get a respectable AP score or grade) and it seems that taking non-AP physics seems like a good fit for me. Definitely not doing AP Calc...lol, I'm not a mathie.</p>
<p>SAT-
1st Time:
690 CR
650 Math
700 Writing
2nd Time:
720 CR
670 Math
780 Writing (WHY OH WHY can't cornell look at writing?)
Got a letter from National Merit about the College Reporting Service and identified Cornell ILR as one of my schools.</p>
<p>I live in Pennsylvania and go to a small public high school in a college town that sends many, many grads to top schools, especially compared to others in the area. Silver Medal USNWR High School. Although I'm not that crazy about the school itself, the kids are phenomenal.</p>
<p>Anyway, the plan is PROBABLY law school, but I'm not sure (nobody really is) and Cornell ILR seems like GREAT prep for that or grad school/business school or even entering the work force. I'd love to go to a top 10 school like Cornell and Ithaca is close by and is a great town. My essays should be decent, as I feel I'm a great fit for ILR. Even though I'm working a crazy ridiculous amount of time at an after-school and soon to be summer job, I have decent extra currics including a multiple time tourney champion in Debate, nearly 1000 service hours over my HS career, and a close relationship with the head of the county REDACTED (to avoid flame wars) Party from my hundreds of hours spent canvassing and making phone calls during the campaign season. Top canvasser for Senator REDACTED REDACTED's (lol) Presidential campaign and local races in the area. I should have great recs from the counselor, teachers, and employer and my aunt, who is an HR exec, said she'd write me a letter (although IDK how much that would help coming from family, it's something).
I'm visiting Cornell and doing the ILR info session in two weeks when I go to visit.
I want to make sure ILR's financial aid is the same as the university as a whole (especially with the great new initiatives they've announced recently), but ED seems like a sure thing at this point. I've found my perfect fit, now what are my chances of getting in? Thanks in advance.</p>
<p>I am not an ILR student, but My D is ('10). I think what R…B said above is true. A Cornell graduate friend of mine ( an adult w/ college age or older kids) said ILR used to really deemphasize the pre-law ILR student when he attended. They seem to accept now that a certain percentage of students are pre-law and that is ok. But I would not emphasize it in the application. My D is taking the LSAT in two weeks and has always planned on attending law school. That is not what she emphasized. She is also totally into everything else ILR is about. She will be interning at the ILO (International Labor Org.) in Geneva Switzerland.</p>
<p>Oh, prelaw prep never was the prevailing factor in why ILR attracted me and I was never planning to even mention it beyond a passing mention in my app, but now I think I’ll just leave it out (I’m not even positive I’m prelaw anyway). I just used it as one example of how ILR is uniquely qualified to prepare one for the future beyond undergrad. I have a genuine interest in labor history/law (my friends have finally held an intervention about my gabbing on about the EFCA) and human relations and that is what I hope to convey in the Why ILR? essay. Actually, I was attracted to the major before I even knew Cornell offered it (Penn State is the other school that has an ILR type major for undergrads and that’s how I discovered it). I was naturally attracted to a major in the social sciences like sociology or political science, but ILR seems to take a social sciences/liberal arts major and put it into application with a focus and certain…specificity. I like that. What else should I make sure to emphasize in the essay beyond an extended, more specific version of that? Based on what you and others have said, the essay seems to be the big way they measure a student’s fit.</p>
<p>I’m glad you are doing the ILR admission session. I think that is what helped my kid the most in getting her admission into the program. Might have been luck. but there were only 3 kids on her tour and it gave her alot of personal contact with the ILR admission counselor. It also gave her the opportunity to be in contact with the admission officer after she toured, as she genuinely did have one or 2 follow up questions. </p>
<p>I don’t know if I can explain this properly- but I think on the tour, it is important to emphasis your interest in an ILR program with your desire to be at Cornell as secondary.
I’m sure Cornell is familiar with the Penn State program and they will realize that it is much cheaper for you to go to Penn State- SO: you need to draw out from ILR admission why Cornell is better. It’s important to come across as thoughtful and deliberate and emphasis that you want to study Labor Relations: and then secondarily why Cornell is the best place to study labor relations. Maybe you should study the programs at both Penn State and Cornell and have some questions. This way you will definitely come across as someone who truly wants to study labor relations and you have given much thought into this area of study. </p>
<p>Writing an essay about your friends “Intervention” on your gabbing about EFCA might be an interesting read for the admisssion committee.
I think with ILR and some of the other specialty programs at Cornell- the passion needs to show through.<br>
Good luck.</p>
<p>Okay, so I’m realizing that I used the verb “advise” in my title where the noun “advice” should be. And the College Board thinks I deserve a 780 in writing. Ha!
EDIT: Oh, and I did it TWICE!</p>