Is there any point in me applying

Colleges and Universities A-Z Cornell University
1

Hi, I’m from the UK and planning to study Physics at Cornell. My grades and ECs are as follows:
A level : Further Maths (A) Maths (A) Chemistry (A) Physics (A) - Im not entirely sure how to translate this into a gpa, but they are the highest grades achievable, so it might possibly be a 3.5-4.0?

ACT : 34

SAT subject tests : 790 maths 2, 740 physics

ECs :
Maths Olympiad from grades 6-11
Duke of Edinburgh Award (Bronze and Silver)
School Prefect
Grade 7 drums, played in school band at concerts
Work as a badminton coach
Play badminton competitively, played in county and regionals.
Volunteer at a local Primary School as an assistant teacher
Maths and Chemistry mentor for grade 10 students

I have pretty weak ECs, I’m a male of Indian ethnicity, and we have a medium to low household income, so FA is a must. I’m probably going to go for ED to increase my chances and Cornell is my first choice. But even then, is there any way that I could compete with other applicants? Thanks

2

International students, especially those who apply ED, receive little to no financial aid. Financial situation aside, as long as you craft your application in a way that demonstrates great interest in your field as well as in Cornell, you definitely have a chance of getting accepted.

However, since it might not be very affordable for you, you might want to try elsewhere. Either way, good luck.

3

You’re definitely competitive. I’m a white male with similar ec’s and slightly higher test scores, and I was admitted RD to physics. You have a chance for sure, just don’t count on the FA to be enough since you are international. Have a cheaper alternative available

4

I would apply ED to another school.

Cornell is need-aware for international students, which means if you apply for FA, you are competing with other students for limited funds. This means you will be denied entry even if you are competitive. Your application is decent, but when compared to other international students’, it is subpar. In my opinion, you would be better off:

  1. Not applying for FA. This will increase your chances, but as a low-income student, you probably won’t be able to afford Cornell.

  2. Apply somewhere that is cheaper and/or need-blind (i.e. MIT)

5

Thanks for the advice. FA is for sure the main concern, I’ll look at some liberal arts colleges, they’re dish out quite a bit of money to internationals.