<p>hello,
I am going to attend SUNY Geneseo next year as a business major but I hope to transfer into Cornell CALS Applied economics and management program as a sophomore or junior. My high school grades were ok (3.3) and so were my SAT scores (M:710 R:650 W: 670). Do I have any chances of transferring to this program? If so, what exactly should I do to maximize my chances (what courses should I take, extracurricular activities I should engage in).
Thanks</p>
<p>The best advice one can give is brutally honest advice, even if it’s sometimes difficult to swallow.</p>
<p>Of course you have a chance, and I strongly encourage you to apply. However, AEM has become very difficult (in fact nearly impossible) to transfer into. I think you have to be exceptional to be one of the select few allowed to transfer. Your SATs and current institution are two strikes against you already, but that doesn’t preclude you from having a chance.</p>
<p>My advice to you would be this:</p>
<p>1.) Get extremely good grades your freshman year. If you don’t have 3.7+, you honestly won’t have a chance.
2.) Take courses that show you can handle AEM work. You’re required to take 2 intro econ courses (Micro/Macro), plus one more (Intro statistics or business management) to even qualify, so I’d take those for sure, and do extremely well in them.
3.) Come up with compelling reasons why AEM (and CALS) are where you’re meant to be. You’ll need it for your essays.</p>
<p>If you do all of the above you’ll maximize your chances, but do not believe that doing so will guarantee admission or even give you a “good shot.” It will, however, give you “a shot.”</p>
<p>I agree with darkfire aside from his bit about how AEM is nearly impossible to transfer into and that your HS record / current school will play a large part in your decision. My friends and I (about 8 of us I believe this year alone) transferred here from Westchester Community College. I’d say most of the others had decent or strong HS records, whereas I had, well, a GED and a year of HS transcripts with F’s and D’s on them. We all transferred into either HumEc, CALS, or ILR. 2 of them are AEM majors (one was GT, though)</p>
<p>This year is what will make or break your chances. You need to put serious effort into demonstrating your commitment and interest to what the AEM program is all about. I myself am a Human Development major, so I can’t offer much specific advice, but I would say take a variety of AEM type classes, get involved in business type clubs, and do other business-ish stuff. The 3.7+ is definitely a strong suggestion. If you can’t get your grades up from HS, then why should Cornell think you will be able to do well here? I’d even say aim for a 3.8 if you can.</p>
<p>Finally, as darkfire said, you need to come up with a “compelling reason why AEM (and CALS) are where you’re meant to be. You will need it for your essays.”</p>
<p>Thank you for responding.
I understand that my chances of transferring to AEM are slim.
I am planning to study either business or economics. If I double major in math and economics in Geneseo, will it put me on the right track for transferring to Cornell’s college of arts and sciences, as a sophmore or junior, majoring in economics? What specific courses should I take?</p>