<p>GPA is 3.0 unweighted and 3.4 weighted ( low grades freshman and sophomore year)
my SAT score is around 1700
SAT II- 730 on biology and 630 on U.S. history
School does not rank
I have taken all honors or AP classes except for my math classes.
APs taken (my school doesn't have a huge selection)
Biology
U.S. history
Stats
Lang
My grades have been on an upward trend and I have always had a fairly full schedule each year.
My common app essay is on the issue of personal concern topic and I discussed the treatment of wildlife.
I have done quite a bit of volunteer work- SPCA since 2010 and wildlife rescue for a brief time. I have been a part of Link Crew (freshman transition program) for two years but apart from that I haven't done any other clubs :(
I am looking to apply to Cornell ED for CALS as a Marine Bio major. My father got his B.S. there and now works there. My grandfather went there for his B.S. masters and Ph.D and was eventually a professor and my grandmother went there for her masters. One of my cousins also went there I'm not sure if that counts? Both my parents work there and I had an internship/apprenticeship at a psychology lab there over the summer.
I know between my grades and SAT score it is pretty much impossible but could I possibly have a chance with ED and the legacy? I have also heard that CALS is easier to get into than the other colleges, is this true? Because my dad has worked there for so long I would receive free tuition could this be a negative factor in the admissions process?
Apart from Cornell I am also looking at:
Stony Brook University
Kalamazoo
Boston University
Colby College
Boston College
University of Virginia
University of Miami
University of Chicago ( I know my chances there are nonexistent, my parents want me to apply because my brother went there for undergrad)
University of Michigan
Roger Williams University
Brandeis
Wake Forest
Davidson
Any chance at any of these?
Thank you!</p>
<p>An upward trend? That might help for a few schools. But I can tell you this much: you have no more chance at Cornell than you have at UChicago, and both are reaches for virtually everyone. They are comparable in many ways, including the kind of admissions files they get.</p>
<p>Stony Brook: High match
Kalamazoo: Match
BU: Reach
Colby: Reach
BC: Reach
UVA: Reach
UMI: Reach
Roger Williams: Low match
Brandeis: Reach
Wake Forest: Reach
Davidson: Reach</p>
<p>How much of a hook is being the child of faculty member at Cornell? I have no idea.
I agree with the above chances- you should find some real safeties.</p>