RD chances

Colleges & Universities A-Z Cornell University
1

<p>I am a rising senior intending to apply R.D. to Cornell CAS
Race: Whiter than white</p>

<p>Income: Greater than 250k</p>

<p>Class Rank: Top 10% (Only gives decile), probably would be valedictorian or at least top 5</p>

<p>High school: Sends a couple kids to top schools but most are athletes, only had 2 academic ivies this year.</p>

<p>Weighted GPA: 4.0
Weighted GPA: 4.50 (5 for honors or AP)
California Resident</p>

<p>SAT Reasoning Scores:
First Sitting (2240) Cr: 740, Math: 800, Writing: 700
Second Sitting (2330) Cr: 800, Math: 790, Writing: 740</p>

<p>SAT II Scores: Math 2: 800, Chemistry: 800, US History: 800</p>

<p>CAS</p>

<p>Course Load:
Freshman:
English (A/A)
World Cultures/Geography (A/A)
Honors Geometry (A/A)
Drama (A/A)
Integrated Science 1-2 (A/A)
Spanish 1-2 (A/A)
P.E. (A/A)</p>

<p>Sophomore:
Honors Advanced Algebra (A/A)
English (A/A)
P.E. (A/A)
Honors Chemistry (A/A)
Honors World History (A/A)
Honors Integrated Science (A/A)
Spanish ¾ (A/A)
Precalc (A/A)</p>

<p>Junior:
Honors Physics (A/A+)
AP Comp (A/A)
Spanish 5-6 (A/A)
AP Calc BC (A/A)
AP Chem (A/A)
APUSH (A/A)</p>

<p>Project Senior:
AP Bio
AP Lit
Honors Spanish 7-8
Multivariable Calc-Pass fail online :(
General Physics with calc supplement (Local Community college, my HS doesn’t have AP physics)
AP Euro</p>

<p>Activities and Awards:
Leadership-Staff Relations Committee – 2 years
Babysitting- 5 years
Varsity Cross Country- 2 years
Track- 1 year
Poetry Out Loud- 3 years
Gallo Research Institute Internship- 6 weeks over the summer
ATDP Summer Math Classes -2 Years
9 week intensive Organic Chemistry Class (18 units) at Stanford University (It’s the real Stanford undergraduate organic chemistry class through the HSSC, its broken up into 3 sections and I am probably going to get 1B+ and 2 A-‘s or 3A-‘s)</p>

<p>National Merit Semifinalist/Finalist
Sportsmanship/Leadership award, 2 consecutive years for cross country
Most Improved Runner- Cross Country
Most Inspirational Boys Runner- Cross Country
AP Scholar with Honors
Poetry Out Loud Award, 2 years in a row</p>

<p>Rec/Essays:
My rec from my physics teacher should be really good, and my rec from my APUSH teacher should be pretty good, as should my councilor rec. My essays will be good, but nothing special as I am pretty terrible at writing.</p>

<p>I know my extracurricular are weak but please try to give me more detailed information than reach or high match if you can (although those are still appreciated), I am trying to decide where to apply early decision and the more accurate information you give me the better decision I can make, thanks.</p>

2

<p>carlucill,</p>

<p>I will address your ED chances first. I think you would have a very good shot to be admitted ED. Maybe 60%. You have a very strong academic resume and have very good test scores. My son was admitted ED to the COE with a somewhat similar profile as yours, and will be starting at Cornell in August. You have slightly higher test scores. I would say that his class rigor was a little bit stronger than yours, and his EC’s were stronger. While I am not sure I would say your EC’s are weak, I would say that they certainly don’t stand out. That being said, the most important factor is your academic achievement. Hopefully you will find out shortly, July 5th, that you got 5’s and 4’s on your 4 AP tests. That would certainly help. </p>

<p>I think your RD chances would be less certain. Maybe a 50/50 call.</p>

<p>You also say that your essay’s will be good but nothing special as you are terrible at writing. Your achievements would say otherwise. You have gotten A’s in all your English/Writing courses including AP Comp, and you got 700 and 740 respectively on your SAT Writing tests. With time and focus you can make them great, not just good. They very well might be the difference. I would encourage you to focus on them. </p>

<p>You are obviously a very intelligent and hard working young person. If Cornell is the place you want to be, go ED. If another school is your first choice go ED there. Wherever you go you will succeed.</p>

<p>I hope this is somewhat helpful. At least as helpful as random advice from a nameless, faceless person over the internet can be. :)</p>

<p>Best of luck.</p>

3

<p>Your academics are great, the EC’s are good, but nothing totally unique and I don’t see any volunteering… if I assume rec’s and essay are just mildly good, I would say RD isn’t a sure thing.</p>

<p>Cornell (ED): High match/low reach
Cornell (RD): Reach</p>

<p>HOWEVER- if you prove that you are dedicated to your EC’s (play up the Poetry Out Loud thing, and maybe cross country), and passion for Cornell and a chosen field, your chances may increase. And if your essay is really good, it’s a totally different story.</p>

<p>Good luck!</p>

4

<p>To answer some of your questions, i am very passionate and involved in cross country and have won coaches awards and plaques. My physics teacher loves my and my rec should be really good, my history teacher rec should be pretty good. My main “story” is about how i had an extremely hard time in middleschool, got C’s in classes, fought with my parents, was depressed, got moved back into a more basic math track, and then how I did everything in my power to move beyond that, which turns into a story about cross country and my strong academic performance, as well as hopefully my determination, drive and passion. I also forgot to add that I won the junior award for best student in the sciences, which combined with my good grades in Organic Chemistry this summer should demonstrate my commitment to academics and desire to pursue the sciences.</p>

5

<p>Ok, the commitment to cross-country will certainly help you out. A lot of kids will have awards/classes to demonstrate commitment to academics, but I can see that tying in with your research institute internship. The essay sounds a little complex and generic, but the quality of writing is just as important as the topic so… I don’t know. (if you need some suggestions/commentary on your essay, I wouldn’t mind reading it… just a thought)</p>

<p>Cornell: reach/low reach :)</p>

6

<p>I think you have a much better chance ED - RD your ECs aren’t spectacular and nothing really jumps out at me in the application to make you better than all of the other 30000+ kids in the RD pool.</p>

<p>I’d say a decent to good chance ED (70-80%) but it’s really a crapshoot RD.</p>

<p>It’s also highly dependent (at least in my opinion) on what major you apply to and whether or not you fit that major well.</p>