Should I give up? Or do I still have a chance?

Colleges and Universities A-Z Cornell University
1

<p>I'm currently a high school junior in Panama. Cornell has been my dream since 9th grade. Due to stupid decisions, making the wrong choices, joining academically bad influences, and lack of commitment to school, I did bad on freshman and sophomore (let me make a parenthesis to explain a little bit about the grading system here. It grades from 1.0-5.0 with 3.0 being the minimum grade to pass the subject) Freshman and sophomore I ended with a 4.0 which leaves me in rank 40 of 80. ECs were good I guess.</p>

<p>When sophomore year ended, I was awfully disappointed. I felt lost and forgot about my dreams and aspirations (including my aspiration to Cornell)</p>

<p>Over my vacations, I did a recap about what were my true aspirations, my goals in life, the real reason I wanted to apply to Cornell, the reason why I want to seek the best education in order to help my country. I stopped getting along with the people that didn't benefit me. I grew over those vacation, and believe it or not, I have a different perspective on life in general. I can say I kinda had a revelation lol.</p>

<p>Junior year started a few weeks ago, and I'm doing great. I plan on taking 2 of the 2 honor courses the school offers, and 2 of the 2 AP. The ultimate question is: If I really commit myself over these 2 last years, making stellar achievements in grades, SAT and EC's will I still have a chance to apply to Cornell? I plan to push myself to the limits. To commit myself to studying and EC's like never before. I plan to do anything that's on my reach in order to make up for those 2 first years. I'll work really hard on the application, and I was planning to write an essay based on the personal growth I had.</p>

<p>Some facts that maybe you would like to know:
I'm Hispanic (not white, kinda cream/olive)
School is a K-12 private school, top 3 in the country
I graduate school on December 2012
I plan to apply via Early Decision, with financial aid
I plan to apply to College of Engineering</p>

<p>If you need any extra information about anything that may help you answer this question, please let me know. If I didn't made sense in any part, I'm really sorry but it's 1:30 A.M. and I'm really tired. I've been thinking lately about this, up to the point that it won't let me sleep. </p>

<p>Thanks in advance</p>

2

<p>Mira amigo, lo siento pero nunca iras a Cornell. Mejor ve a la Autonoma de Mexico.</p>

3

<p>You should go for it but you’d really have to get some really unique ec’s and great grades. Also, write your essay about how you completely turned your life around and how you’d like to help panama after you get a good education. It sounded great to me and you’re really passionate about this change you had so colleges will recognize this and your essay would give you a huge boost.</p>

4

<p>As Kanye West said “shoot for the stars. So if you fall, you land on the clouds”. It is worth the effort. Even if you don’t get in to Cornell, you can still end up somewhere great.</p>

5

<p>ED plus Hispanic is a huge advantage. :D</p>

<p>Additionally, with what you said here, you have great material for an essay. The essay will be sincere and unique and definitely has the capacity to explain those deficiencies in your resume.</p>

<p>Remember, applying/getting rejected and not applying have the same effect, so go for it. Make Cornell your reach and make sure to apply to a few safeties. GOOD LUCK!</p>

6

<p>Apply. Don’t make your essay sound apologetic, it comes off as desperate. Talk about what the above posters suggested, and make it personal. But just don’t make it come off as apologetic.</p>

7

<p>Apply. Don’t make your essay sound apologetic, it comes off as desperate. Talk about what the above posters suggested, and make it personal. But just don’t make it come off as apologetic.</p>

8

<p>1) you’re an international applicant so will be pooled together with the extremely tough pool. You’re not a URM</p>

<p>2) your 3.2 GPA almost certainly kills any chance for an international applicant needing fin aid. Please expand your choices to other colleges.</p>

9

<p>It’s not looking good but anything’s possible. I feel like scoring 2300+ on the SAT or 34+ ACT would almost be a necessity for serious consideration given your GPA. (Getting straight A’s from now on goes without saying.) </p>

<p>Also, much will depend on your ability to articulate why you want to attend Cornell, and more importantly, on your ability to show the adcom why Cornell should give a crap about you when there are thousands of kids with the whole package. A dream of attending Cornell isn’t enough. I’m not trying to discourage you but this is something you need to consider.</p>

10

<p>Impossible to say without SATs.</p>

<p>Though I’d never discourage anyone from applying to Cornell, I think you have a below average possibility.</p>

<p>If Cornell is a true dream, your best avenue may be to have excellent Jr and Sr. years, start out elsewhere (do well), then apply to Cornell as a transfer student.</p>

<p>Good luck in any event.</p>

11

<p>“Though I’d never discourage anyone from applying to Cornell”</p>

<p>Zephyr: I’ve done tons of college nights and info fairs for my alma mater, another Ivy with even smaller admit rate that Cornell. The approach I take is twofold:1) I thank them sincerely for considering undergoing the tough application process and for considering my college but then 2) I also say that to be a viable candidate, one should be one of the handful of top scholars known by the HS faculty and principal. (by implication, if one isn’t one of these kids, then I consider them not viable).</p>

<p>I purposely don’t discourage people but neither do I effusely encourage them. I encourage kids and parents to look at the real numbers. If a candidate is truly an outlier, I won’t hesitate to say so.</p>