I know my chances are slim, but I want a realistic idea of what my chances would be if I applied ED to ILR
GPA: 3.74
SAT: 1950
ACT: 30
All of my classes are IB(7)
Clubs
FBLA(president)
Math Team
Masterminds(It’s like a competitive trivia club)
Student Senate
A community service club
I am a member of National Honor Society
I have also completed an internship at my city’s District Attorney’s office
Also, I also have a brother who is an undergrad at Cornell
I am also in state (which I have been told may help at the contract colleges)
If you can, try to raise up your GPA and ACT/SAT, that’d be great. It’s a little late to add more ECs, but maybe a job or community service can be done during the summer. However, if you have a great essay, then I think you have a fair shot!
Just sharing my stats, I had a 4.0 GPA, 31 ACT, and a legacy as well. I applied to ED ILR this year and got deferred. Not amazing, but admissions is really a crapshoot nonetheless. But don’t let that scare you away from applying. If you can prove your “fit” well, then you have a good chance. Best of luck! Hopefully we’ll both end up at ILR 
Admissions is a lottery. ED gives you a 30% chance, more or less. The faculty of each college read your essays. An essay that shows a deep understanding of the program you are applying to and how it fits your abilities and goals is very important.
Because admissions is a lottery, find 8 or 9 colleges you are truly excited about and do your homework to file strong applications.
I just got accepted to Cornell Hotel Admin (2019) and I can honestly say that the scores are not everything. I had a 27 ACT score, no SATs at all and I got in RD. I was also in IB so I’m happy to see a fellow student!
Cornell cares a lot about your EC’s and your essays. Just to be safe, I’d shoot for an improvement of your ACT to whatever higher you can get although it’s pretty good in my opinion. Also, I’d recommend you focusing on one test, either SAT or ACT and since it seems like you’ve done better in ACT - focus on that. They do not require SAT II’s anymore but I would also recommend taking a couple if you want (I didn’t take any, but I just want the best for you).
I would also recommend improving your EC’s BIG TIME. You need much more leadership activities with more involvement and a longer length of time that you participated in these activities. They want to see that you have seriously impacted your community in regards to your passion and intended major. So if you can, I’d really hope that you get those leadership positions like right now lol.
Your essays are also VERY important, they have to be creative, unique, personal, genuine and showing interest in your intended school and major. Don’t just write a regular first person essay (unless you are 100% sure it is a bombshell) - do something different…take the risk and explore different and new ways of writing essays. You can even write a story - literally.
Please work on improving your GPA. It’s alright, but not very competitive. You want at least a 3.8ish/3.9 by the time you are officially applying. Also work on making good connections with your teachers because they will be writing your letters of rec and that makes a HUGE deal. I’d also recommend, if you are doing any dual enrollment classes, make an amazing impression on your professor as a letter of rec from a university professor looks stellar (it did for me).
Do some EC’s outside of school… they want to see that you are not just doing activities in school because you know that you need it to get in, but try to do some that you really enjoy outside…and apply it to activities that you do inside of school - making the connection that you’ve grown somehow from it. They love that.
Honestly, Good luck! If you need any help, I’m a message away! Please do keep me updated if you get into Cornell next year - I’ll always have an open heart for a new friend at Cornell.
Thank you so much for the advice!
@snowbells I thought admissions come out on March 31st. How did you get your decision already? Just curious – did you also apply HEOP?
raise ur sat
@Snowbells are you a URM and/or athlete
@pr0spective I’m a bunch of months behind, lol - but yeah! They sent an email…and no, HEOP only applies to NY residents.
@verizonwireless I am a URM