Is Cornell Out of Reach For Me?

Colleges and Universities A-Z Cornell University
1

I have a poor GPA, but my testing scores are decent and I’m participating in multiple clubs. Could I still get in with an underwhelming GPA?

Raw Numbers
UW GPA: 3.3, W GPA: 3.7
(I have an upward trend from around a 3.2W GPA freshman year to a 4.5W GPA senior year)
SAT: 1560
SAT2: Math Level 2: 800, Physics: 800
AP Courses
English Lang: 4
English Lit: taking this year
US Gov: taking this year
Statistics: taking this year
Calculus BC: taking this year
Physics C: taking this year

Extra Curriculars
Violin (10 years, planning on sending a recording)
Debate Club (12)
Writing Club (11-12, one of the first members since its founding)
Math Team (12, have been a high scorer against other schools’ teams)
Tufts Global Leadership (10, only open to sophomores at our school)

Writing
Essay: I have been told its really good by a multitude of people, and while it focuses on my time playing the violin, it also indirectly explains my GPA.
Letters of Rec:
I have one from my AP English Language teacher from junior year who I have had freshman year and junior year for English. I am 100% confident she will write an excellent letter. I have my junior year math teacher writing my other letter of rec, and I am also confident she will write me a good letter.

2

bump

3

Ivy League schools don’t typically accept low GPA students unless you are a desired minority, then you might have a shot given your great SAT scores.

4

What was your unweighted GPA change from Freshman to Senior year and have you taken the most difficult classes offered since at least the beginning of Junior year?

5

Upward trend to being a straight A student with those test scores will get you in the conversation.
That said, how do you know senior year gpa if you are now applying to college ?

Also at Cornell in particular, much will depend on the particular college you apply to and what they
seek beyond test scores and gpa. Some schools dont care about major, but this large uni has separate admissions for each college within the uni.

6

My senior year GPA is around a 4.6ish weighted, and I want to apply to arts and science

7

@SchoolShooter Despite your screen name being intimidating and inappropriate (let’s hope you mean basketball), you do have a decent chance of making an impression with your current course rigor and upward trend. Your SAT is excellent and that alone will help erase a couple of GPA points. Good luck.