Hi, I’m a freshman and I’m hoping to apply to Cornell in 2021. As of now, I have a 3.9 unweighted gpa, took a form of the pre-act and got in the 96th percentile and up, I am taking 3 advanced classes now, and my school in South Dakota only offers 3. Plan on taking all possible AP classes when I get to Sophomore year. I am on the Tennis Team, Golf Team, and debate team. I am the founder of my county’s High School Democrats, and of my state’s Young Progressives, attorney in the Teen Court system, President of my 4-H club, Vice-President of my class’ Student Council, and member of my school’s Future Business Leaders of America. I would like to know where I stand right now.
Honestly, there’s no good answer. You’ve only just started HS, thinking about college now is not going to help you. When it comes to how Cornell views your HS experience, you just need to work hard and participate in what you’re passionate about.
To me, it just seems like you’re overwhelming yourself too early on, and just trying to rack up achievements. Cornell might not look too positively on that.
“To me, it just seems like you’re overwhelming yourself too early on, and just trying to rack up achievements.”
To be honest I had exactly the same thought when reading your post. I think that you should calm down a bit. Try to continue to do well in your classes, but take classes that make sense for you and participate in ECs that you find interesting. You don’t have to take all AP classes. Take AP classes only when you are ready to do so and in subjects that you are good at and find interesting. Be aware that an AP class is going to be a lot more work than a regular class.
You also should understand that there are thousands of universities in the US, and hundreds that are very good universities for academically strong students. You will find an appropriate fit when the time comes. Whether or not it will be Cornell none of us can guess at this point.