to apply or not to apply?

Colleges and Universities A-Z Cornell University
1

<p>Hey guys</p>

<p>I'm wondering if I should apply to Cornell...
I'm applying to one other ivy league (Columbia), but recently I got my ACT/SAT results back and my counselor/family have been suggesting that I apply to an additional ivy league (other than HYP)
I'd really love it if you can chance me and see if it's worth the $ to apply. I'm considering the College of Arts and Sciences. Here are my stats.</p>

<hr>

<p>Female, East Asian
Location: Southern California
College Class Year: 2013
High School: Public, sends many grads to top schools
Will apply for financial aid: Yes, 2008 income is approx 58K</p>

<p>GPA: (UW) 3.80, (W) 4.10
Class Rank: top 10% out of about 700 in the class</p>

<p>SAT I Math: 750
SAT I Critical Reading: 710
SAT I Writing: 800
(One sitting score: 2200, superscore: 2260)
AP exams: Calculus AB(4), Chemistry (4), Biology (5), Euro (5), English Language (5)
ACT: 33 w/11 on Writing</p>

<p>SAT II Literature: 660 (I know..sigh)
SAT II Math Level 2 (IIC): 800
SAT II Biology - M: 680
SAT II Korean with Listening: 800</p>

<p>Extracurriculars:
-Symphony Orchestra(4yrs)
-Key club (4yrs)
-JROTC (3yrs...quit senior year)
-National Honor Society (3yrs)
-Journalism (2 yrs)
-Spring musical pit orchestra (3 yrs)</p>

<p>Paid jobs:
-Noonnoppi Learning Center tutor (2yrs)
-Private cello lessons (1yr, quit)
-Los Angeles Times freelancer (1yr)</p>

<p>Leadership positions:
-Whole bunch of commander positions from JROTC
-Key Club (Vice President, Publicist, Bulletin Editor)
-Symphony Orchestra secretary for 2 yrs
-Senior staff writer in journalism
-National Honor Society secretary
-Publicist in several smaller clubs</p>

<p>Volunteer/Service Work:
-Teacher at saturday school for disabled adults, ~300 hours (3 yrs)
-Teacher's aide (summer + senior year) totals to about 200ish hours
-Many hours/events for Key Club</p>

<p>Honors and Awards:
-National Merit Semifinalist
-AP Scholar with distinction
-Zinc h.com 20K Scholarship Semifinalist
-National Scholastic Press Association member
-Freshman AFJROTC cadet of the year
-American Legion medals & bunch of ROTC awards/ribbons
-PTSA literature contest winner at council/state district levels
-Rotary Club essay contest winner</p>

<p>took college level courses over summer at local community college (chemistry & psychology)</p>

<p>Recs are pretty good, and my essays are pretty good IMO (gonna be an English major so they have to be...lol)</p>

<hr>

<p>also, does Cornell give pretty good financial aid? I can only go to a private college if I get good financial aid... except I'm sort of in the process of becoming a Permanent Resident (getting SSN# in a couple mths but not an actual green card) so that might be a barrier.
thanks in advance!</p>

2

<p>I think you definitely should give Cornell a shot, your stats are good and you have a solid chance at getting in. If you did receive admission, I think the majority of your tuition would be covered because Cornell gives great financial aid if your parents make less than 60,000.</p>

3

<p>bump~ anyone else?</p>

4

<p>What if your parents make under 40,000 and you're from a large family? Does it depend on how good your grades are too?</p>

<p>Looks good, definitely worth applying, just make sure you spend time crafting a good essay (especially as an English major). I got into CALS with worse stats, but of course it's different than CAS. Good luck</p>

5

<p>You are considered AN INTERNATIONAL to ALL THE SCHOOLS YOU ARE APPLYING regardless if you have a SSN # or not. I have SSN#, EAD/Labor Card,...ect (But not the actual Green Card). According to my lawyer, I'm considered "Adjustment of Status" on the visa part. With that said, I still have to apply as an International to every school.</p>

<p>Being an international needing Financial Aid will HURT your chances. Especially when you can't receive Pell Grant (Federal Aid). The endowment for International Students is very little, therefore you won't be receiving a lot money. Furthermore, a lot schools require Internationals to fill a "Financial Certification", (You must provide evidence of your ability to meet your tuition and living expenses). If they find you can't afford the tuition, with or without the little money they give, they will not accept you at all. This definitely applies to Penn, and probably Columbia and most of the other schools that you are applying to.</p>

6

<p>I'd say take a look at harvard or stanford, i believe they give full rides to those accepted who make very little money.</p>

7

<p>Beans: I'm from a family of 4 but my family makes just about 50k, at least for 2008 - I just found out a couple days ago. My older sister is attending UCLA right now (and paying the full 20K+ tuition, because she doesn't qualify for FAFSA), so hopefully Cornell will take that into account.</p>

<p>wis3ly: doesn't the "Financial Certification" only apply to schools that are not need-blind? I have looked at the financial aid policies of Ivy Leagues and top-ranked liberal arts schools, and they specifically say that if an applicant does NOT have a green card but resides INSIDE of the US, they count as a domestic applicant.
And yes, that Financial Certification was the reason why I had to get rid of Occidental College, Pepperdine Uni and Pomona College from my list. As far as my research goes (and I've researched quite extensively) I can't find a Financial Certification required for Ivy Leagues...</p>

8

<p>Cornell gives you pretty much no aid if you're international</p>

9

<p>Please be sure to read Cornell's financial aid website Cornell</a> university - Financial Aid.....especially the policy regarding those who are in the process of obtaining permanent residency: Eligible</a> Citizenship Status</p>

10

<p>To clarify, U.S. Citizens and permanent residents, Canadian citizens and Mexico citizens are need-blind for financial aid. </p>

<p>Applicants from anywhere else are considered need-aware.</p>

11

<p>ah... I see.</p>

<p>well I think I'll still take the chance, anyway.</p>

<p>Thank you!!!</p>

12

<p>Hey, wow, I'm seriously surprised you're not looking at other schools. I'm not expert, but based on what I've seen I think you are very competitive for admission. And I'm kinda jealous too, hahaha. But you have a seriously nice resume there, so hopefully everything works out for you.</p>

<p>Agh, I just realized that I was in the pit orchestra for our school's spring musical too, but I forgot to put that on my application! >_< Why didn't I think of that...? Now I have two extracurriculars I forgot about, lol.</p>

<p>But anyway, definitely go for it, and good luck!</p>