URM at Cornell! Help PLEASE!

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

<p>I'm a junior. Black, male, first-gen status. I also reside in VA. I had some issues as a freshman so I'm a bit worried about the application process. So I need some expert advice on my chances.
Freshman Year: 2.75 GPA 3 Unweighted Honors Courses(Algebra I, Geometry,World History I)
Sophomore Year: 3.57 GPA 2 Unweighted Honors Courses(Algebra II,World History II)
Junior Year(Current): 3.5 Weighted GPA 3 Weighted AP Courses (AP English Language, AP Microeconomics, AP Macroeconomics) 2 Unweighted Honors Courses (Precalculus Honors, Physics Honors)
Senior Schedule: AP Calculus BC, AP Biology, AP Literature, AP Government, Spanish 4, Business Management, Business Law
Cumulative GPA:3.25 (Due to freshman year) My school does not rank.</p>

<p>EC's: National Business Honor Society, Future Business Leaders of America (Vice President), Science Honor Society, Freshman Basketball (Captain), JV Basketball (Co-Captain), Winter Varsity Track & Field, Spring Varsity Track & Field, DECA, Junior Math Team, Senior Math Team, AAU Basketball, Travel Soccer. Teach Kindergarten Sunday School every week. Volunteer at local library. I will probably gain more leadership positions as a Senior.
I have excellent recs from my Chemistry teacher who had a PhD and my counselor who will talk about my improvement. Essay will be amazing.</p>

<p>SAT's: 2020 Math:710, WR:700, CR:610. I still have to take Math Level 2, and another subject test.
Cornell is my DREAM school and if I'm applying early decision to be in their Applied Economics and Management Program.
Schools I plan on Applying to: Cornell, UVA, VTech, James Madison, William & Mary, George Mason, Boston U,</p>

2

<p>bump please!</p>

3

<p>Looks like a pretty strong application. A high gpa next semester will go a long way to helping you get into most of those schools, most of which I think are borderline between reach and match. Colleges will look at your whole transcript and appreciate your rising grades. Your ec's are decent and could use another leadership position like you mentioned, and SAT's will be in or possibly over the ranges at those schools. Also, as I'm sure you're aware, URM certainly doesn't hurt ; ) best of luck!</p>

4

<p>I would love to be optimistic, but I think you need to know that you will need a miracle to get into Cornell. On the positive side, you have your URM status, good extracurriculars, and good SATs. But the first thing an adcom looks at is your GPA. And your GPA is really low. An Ivy League GPA needs to be 3.7 and up, imo to have even a remote chance. Even a 4.0 doesn't give you a shoe-in chance at the ivy leagues. I think your GPA could keep you out of a lot of schools on your list, including Cornell.</p>

<p>Don't let this discourage you though. Keep working hard. The ivies are always hard to call, but statistics are statistics, and thats the only thing I can base your chance on.</p>