<p>Creacher – as you know, I’m a big supporter of yours. I’m sorry your scores didn’t improve.</p>
<p>Short answer – I pretty much agree with Mikeyc</p>
<p>Longer answer – It is much to your credit that you are being realistic about your chances of acceptance to Cornell. Every student needs an honest self appraisal, and to develop a realistic list.</p>
<p>One of the reasons the SAT is used is that colleges view it as an indication of whether the student is capable of doing the work at the school at the present time. (Please note this is completely different from the question of whether the student has the native intellegence, many very bright people do not have the skills necessary for any number of reasons).</p>
<p>For example, I believe that an MIT admissions officer stated that they feel any student who scores 700 on each section is capable of doing the work. Harvard has stated something similar at info sessions. In point of fact, if pressed, the ad officers will concede that someone with SATs over 600-650 on each section an probably do the work (and many ‘hooked’ candidates fall below the 700 threshhold). Cornell is most likely comparable, or in any event not significantly less rigorous than these institutions.</p>
<p>Unfortunately, your scores are significantly below this standard. So, the first question I think you need to ask is whether you could do the work at Cornell if you were to be admitted. I think you need to talk to your GC about this, but unless there is some specific reason why your standardized scores are not representative, you may decide that the answer is no, in which case you do not want to apply to Cornell.</p>
<p>If there is some reason why your scores don’t represent your ability to do the work at Cornell , I don’t know whether your background and foreign birth is enough, which is one reason I recommend speaking to a GC, then this is a matter for your GC, and possibly other professional to bring to Cornell’s attention. (I’m thinking of some kind of cognitive matter or a learning disability that manifests itself on standardized tests – though there may be others that I’m not thinking about). </p>
<p>So, here’s the bottom line – there are two downsides to your applying to Cornell. </p>
<p>The first – time to fill out the application and cost of applying. This is minor If Cornell is your dream, I would say apply, even if your realistic chance of acceptance is slim.</p>
<p>The second – do you think you can succeed at Cornell. Unless you can answer this question yes, I don’t think you should apply.</p>
<p>Good luck with whatever you decide.</p>