<p>I want to find out whether it is worth it to apply to Cornell University- it is my top choice, but I wanted to get some other perspectives from the CC crowd.</p>
<p>Entering senior, white middle class female
GPA: 3.83 unweighted, 4.2 weighted
Class Rank: Top 10%- relatively average and diverse public school in a wealthy county- sends lots of kids to Berkeley, Tufts, top UCs, top liberal arts colleges. Hasn't sent a kid to an ivy in about four years :(
SAT Scores: 2090 super score and I am going to retake in October. My reading and writing scores are stellar, upper 700s for both, however, my math score is dragging me down. I plan to study over the summer to raise my score 100-150 points.
Subject Tests: I took World History and Lit in June, so I have yet to get my scores back. Predicting 700s in both, at the worst high 600s.</p>
<p>Honors/AP Courses:</p>
<p>Freshman Year: Three Honors- Honors English, Honors Geometry, Honors Biology</p>
<p>Sophomore Year: Two Honors: Honors World History, Honors English (Honors chem or algebra II wouldn't fit into my schedule, so hopefully I can explain this in my app)</p>
<p>Junior Year: Only two APs because those were the only ones my school offered to juniors. I took AP Environmental Science and AP English Language and Comp, plus Honors Spanish 3. I would have taken AP U.S. history because history is where I excel, but my school decided not to offer it until next year. I was really mad, but I am still going to take APUSH my senior year.</p>
<p>Senior Year Complete Schedule:</p>
<p>AP Statistics
AP U.S. History
AP English Language and Literature
AP Spanish Language
Physiology</p>
<p>Conclusion: My high school lacks a diverse selection of AP classes. I am hoping the admissions committee will overlook this.</p>
<p>I have not received AP scores yet, but I am definitely getting a 5 in English and either a 4 or a 5 in APES.</p>
<p>Extracurriculars:
-I am working with a Domestic Violence Prevention Center in my town and have designed a curriculum with a few other girls to educate teens on dating violence. We are the founding members of a youth committee and we have made our presence available county-wide by speaking at schools as well as a county-wide conference. I have put an immense amount of work into this project and I have made a big impact on my school as well as my county, along with the other five members of the group. I will likely get an opportunity to present about the issue to the District Attorney and law enforcement officers at a county meeting this summer.
-I also travel around to other schools in my area as a peer educator lecturing and educating the youth on body image and eating disorders
-Mock Trial; Four Years- 2 years as a prosecution attorney
-Volunteering with developmentally disabled adults 100 hours, and 100 hours volunteering at an arts program for homeless children
-Creative Writing: I do a lot of creative writing in my spare time and have won two silver key scholastic art and writing awards for my work. I want to try to get one of my pieces published in a literary magazine soon, but I'm certainly not counting on it.
-Berkeley Class: This summer I will be taking an Anthropology class at UC Berkeley. </p>
<p>Less Important Extracurriculars: (May or may not mention)
-California Scholarship Federation Lifetime Member
-Summer Camp counselor
-Two years of varsity softball- quit my junior year, so not sure if that's worth mentioning </p>
<p>Awards:
School Department Awards- not as important as state awards, but worth mentioning nonetheless- freshman Honors English Award, sophomore Honors World History Award, and Sophomore On-Level Chemistry Award
Regional/State Awards: Two Western Division Scholastic Art and Writing Awards</p>
<p>Recommendation Letters:1) I am going to ask my APES teacher who has taught at my school for a decade and is also my homeroom teacher. She LOVES me and knows me very well- we got very close this year when a classmate died, and she helped me when I was going through a difficult time at school. She always makes sure to check up on me and support me in my endeavors.<br>
2) I am deciding between my AP English teacher and sophomore Honors WH teacher for the second one- World History teacher knows me very well, always referred to me as "one of his best students," and gave me the department award. I also babysit for his three kids who also love me. He would write me a fantastic letter. As for my AP English teacher, I've heard he gives amazing recommendation letters, but he does not think as much of me as my other teachers who I mentioned. I know that junior year teachers have more credibility, but I think I would get a better one from my sophomore History teacher.</p>
<p>Essays: Writing is my "forte" so I am excited to write these over the summer. Should turn out beautiful if I work extremely hard on them.</p>
<p>I already know my chances are extremely slim, like they are for most people. I plan to apply for English Lit. or Creative Writing- do you think that would increase my chances since the admissions committee will see that is obviously where I excel? Thanks so much. I will chance anyone who replies. </p>
</p>