So what is all these talk about "FIT"

<p>How come everyone says... "well Cornell really values fit and that is the major factor in admissions." I don't understand.. is their a certain mold they look for in their students that would fall in this "fit." How do they determine how "fit" you are for Cornell? Someone please explain! Haha</p>

<p>Student A took mostly AP classes in the field of science (Physics, Bio, Chemistry). He did not take any AP or IB classes in the humanities and merely received Bs all throughout his non-science classes. His SAT IIs were in Biology and Mathematics II. He volunteered at a hospital, worked as an officer of American Cancer Society, and became president of Science Club. He applies under the major Anthropology hoping it will be easier for him to get in. He has no fit.</p>

<p>Student B has taken all of the humanities courses his school has to offer. He has gotten a 5 on his Philosophy exam, has interned at a philosophy research center, writes his essay on his passion for the humanities including philosophy, and received Bs in all of his math and science classes. He applies for under Philosophy. He is a better fit.</p>

<p>I think.</p>

<p>They can tell that you will excel in the areas of interest that you present to them. It’s not much about grades or volunteer work. It’s your passion for what you want to study and learn at Cornell.</p>

<p>Hmmm, I’ve always thought “fit” described the relationship between the student and the school. But what you guys sad makes sense. =]</p>

<p>i think its more of the fit between the student and their major</p>

<p>I think the fit is between what the student wants to do and what they can do and learn in the particular schoolto which they apply…
The dean of the school wrote my daughter to say, yeah nice grades and ECs but it was her expression of her connection to the mission of the college that got her in.
PS Her test scores were abysmal.</p>

<p>I’m exactly the situation A as mentioned above. I applied for philosophy, with an excruciatingly science intense courseload/resume. Granted, I do take all the histories and englishes AP as well, but I’m gonna be a science major. I did it for two reasons, the first becuase it was something I was really contemplating doing, until I realized there was very little to do with a philosophy BA, and 2, because Cornell probably gets abillion bio/chem majors.</p>

<p>I still got in, but who knows… I feel like fit is are you the type of student who would thrive at a certain institution. A hardcore liberal artist isn’t gonna fit in at MIT (most likely…) and a science geek with no interest in music isn’t gonna succeed at Juliard. Schools do have stereotypes that ring true in one way or another, and fitting that can help you look like a better candidate.</p>

<p>ImTheHost described it very well. It is how you passionate you are towards your major. It is how well you fit the descriptions of Conell’s mission statement. It is how your life experiences got you to where you are and how going to Cornell will serve you best. It is also what you can bring to campus and how you can contribute to the community and to society. It contributes to so many things. But keep in mind, Cornell is still highly selective.</p>

<p>Depends on what size jeans you wear.</p>

<p>you are “fit” if you take classes to support your interest, do volutneer work/EC to support interest, bs a good essay to support it.</p>

<p>it just means that cornell does not operate by making piles based solely on numbers. yes, the stats are important, but its not the whole deciding factor. applications are thoroughly read, a couple times even, to see if the student would really excel in the college/major intended. a more enthusiastic student with good ecs, essays, course load, but lower scores will get in instead of a nonchalant student with few ecs and interest in anything but with 2400/4.0 gpa</p>

<p>i think “fit” means both
the fit between you and your major
and between you and Cornell
and it manifests itself everywhere in your application
your courses/stats show your effort (and maybe talent?)
EC’s show interest and commitment
essays show passion and desire
and recs are other people’s opinions of you
“fit” is determined through all these no?</p>

<p>^agreed. Essays can show both passion for the intended subject of study as well as the school.</p>

<p>It should be noted that it’s not just about fit. </p>

<p>I had a friend who was rejected from Cornell but whose prior family members had gone there. He and his father went to talk to admissions and they were pretty emphatic that they did not think he could handle the rigors of Cornell academically, based on his stats. He went on to one of the best law schools in the country after college, so he was obviously very smart. Just perhaps his high school stats didn’t reflect that and they based his rejection on that.</p>

<p>So, just be careful in thinking you can coast through school and just take a bunch of related ECs and expect to get in. While you may have a better shot at getting into Cornell than other Ivies, 81% of applicants were still rejected</p>