Legacy Applicant Cornell University

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

<p>Hi, I am a high school junior that is planning on applying to Cornell next fall. I am taking the ACT this month and shooting for a 34 (have been scoring 32-34 on all of my practice tests thus far) and have a 94 point something (not exactly sure) overall. I have taken one subject test (World History) and I got a 750 on it. My AP World History grade was a 5. This year, I am taking 3 AP classes. Of course, I still have time to bring up my grades, and my grades have been much better this year so far. My GPA has already increased. I'd still like to know what you think of my chances so far.</p>

<p>I know that my grades might be lower than the typical Cornell applicant, but I have tons of extracurriculars AND legacy (both of my parents went to Cornell, as well as my grandpa for grad school and also 7 aunts and uncles).
I'm not sure how much legacy helps... please let me know!</p>

<p>My extracurriculars:
SPORTS
-Varsity winter and spring track & field: 2 years (continuing this next year as well)
-4x400 Conference Champion
-JV Volleyball: one year
-Varsity volleyball: 2 years, selected as captain for next fall when I continue for my third year on the team
-Club/Travel Volleyball team: 2 years</p>

<p>I also played jv lacrosse freshman year, but not sure if I am going to mention that in my app since I stopped playing...</p>

<p>MUSIC
-Tri-M Music Honor Society
-Chamber Choir (the top chorus at my school, you have to audition to get in, few spots. we were selected to sing in a prestigious program at Carnegie Hall in NYC this year)
-Piano since second grade
-NYSSMA participant (basically a music program where you go to perform a piece and it gets graded by local musicians, very competitive)
-Applying to be on the executive board (similar to being a president of another club) of Tri-M Music Honor Society for senior year, so we'll have to see</p>

<p>SPANISH
-National Spanish Honor Society (branch of World Language Honor Society)
-active participant in Spanish Club since freshman year
-Spanish tutor for younger students at my school and at our town's middle school
-applying to be on the executive board of NSHS next year, again, we will have to see if that works out
-National Spanish Exam Medalist (since eighth grade, have earned a medal each year for 3 years now and i am planning on taking the exam again this year and next year as well)
-LILT Spanish competition Honorable Mention award in two categories: original poetry and original essay</p>

<p>PHOTOGRAPHY
-Best in Town photography contest finalist
-featured on a British photographer's blog and interviewed
-work has been featured on The Photographer's Directory website
(both websites seen by thousands)
-photography blog featuring all of my work, as well as a Flickr account
**I will probably attach my portfolio as a supplement to my app
-planning to intern in New York City this year for a photography studio</p>

<p>SERVICE
-track team raised lots of $ to buy new track gear for victims of Hurricane Sandy
-breast cancer walk participant for six years, have raised thousands of dollars for the cause
-Vacation Bible School participant at my church, where I am a counselor for kids that are at camp to learn about god</p>

<p>Also, I tutor sophomores in world history and babysit.</p>

<p>Anyway, please tell me what you think of my chances, and if you have any ideas about how I could further enhance my application. I really appreciate your time!</p>

2

<p>You should be fine. Keep up the good work and make sure you score well on the standarized tests.</p>

3

<p>Thank you! :)</p>

4

<p>Just remember to ED or else the legacy bonus won’t count.</p>

5

<p>I was planning on applying ED, but isn’t the pool a bit more competitive? That’s the problem. Wouldn’t it stand out that I have lower grades than the rest of the applicants even though I have legacy?</p>

6

<p>Are you applying ED? If so, I think you’ll get in, esp. if you get a 34 and 750+ on your next SAT Subject Tests</p>

7

<p>I think I am going to. My parents are really pushing for it, and I’m in love with the university. Still deciding which school I am going to apply to- I’m interested in CALS and the ILR. Thanks!</p>

8

<p>ED is less competitive, there’s studies that show that applying ED gives you an artificial boost of like 100 points on your SAT score.</p>

<p>And that’s before adding in legacy bonus, which only counts if you apply ED from what I understand.</p>

9

<p>I believe we are in the same boat (in terms of legacies). From what I’ve heard, there is a very substantial legacy bonus so I would definitely apply ED to take advantage of that!</p>

10

<p>Oh, wow, okay. I didn’t know that. Thanks. Does legacy really help that much though? How much would you say that it helps?</p>

<p>Sorry, I’m the oldest child in my family and I’m new to the whole college process. Thanks for all of your help!</p>

11

<p>Pleaseandthanks- Great, thanks!</p>

12

<p>Cornell+legacy: match if ED. </p>

<p>Write good essays. Your scores and academics are right in range, so make yourself shine with other intangibles.</p>

<p>Predictions?<a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/1587931-can-anyone-play-game-predictions-my-list-test-your-prediction-skills.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/1587931-can-anyone-play-game-predictions-my-list-test-your-prediction-skills.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

13

<p>Say I only got a 32 or 33 on the ACT. Would that seriously hurt my chances?</p>

14

<p>No you’d get in because you were legacy.</p>

<p>Might even be able to get in with a 29-30 tbh.</p>

15

<p>kphoto—I don’t anyone here can definitively tell you how much of an advantage legacy status confers. All that is certain is that the legacy ‘advantage’ disappears after the ED round, so it would be best to apply ED.</p>

<p>You look like a well-rounded applicant. I cannot address the strength of your GPA as that can only be judged in the context of your HS profile. </p>

<p>You asked if you should leave Lax off your application. I wouldn’t, as long as you have space. The Common App activity section limits you to ten entries. It appears you dropped Lax and picked up spring track, which is completely acceptable. It is not as though you are just sitting home and not doing something!</p>

<p>I would strive for the highest ACT score you can achieve. If you score a 32 but have been scoring higher on practice exams, take the test again as you have time. Good luck!</p>

16

<p>If your GPA is 3.5-3.7- low reach
If your GPA is 3.7+ match-high match</p>

<p>Good luck :D</p>

<p>chance back plz
<a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/1587830-usc-dornsife-irgb-first-choice-chances.html#post16672007[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/1587830-usc-dornsife-irgb-first-choice-chances.html#post16672007&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

17

<p>Great- thank you all for your very helpful advice! Does anyone know the individual school(s) at Cornell that has/have the highest acceptance rate(s)?</p>