Hi, I’ve been lurking on CC for awhile now but decided to join because I’ve been pondering about my chances of getting into Cornell and it’s killing me, because the more I look at it the more I think I don’t stand a chance at all. I hope y’all can help to chance me and tell me the parts I need to improve on (other than my school grades, I know they are very substandard :/)!!
Grade: Senior
Ethnicity: Asian
Country: Singapore (I’m an international)
Income Bracket: <50,000
SAT I: (my results aren’t out yet but here’s an estimate from my practice scores) >2200
SAT IIs: Chinese w/ Listening (800), Literature (650, but I’ll be retaking)
School Type: Public (>1200 students)
GPA/rank: My school doesn’t rank or go according to the GPA system. But my grades range from A to D (more detailed explanation of our grading system here http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Academic_grading_in_Singapore#Junior_college_level_.28GCE_A_and_AO_levels.29)
Course Load: Economics (macro + micro), Geography, English Literature, Math, Chinese, General Studies (something like English)
Awards: -
ECs:
- Art Club (member)
- Media Club (member)
- Planning committee for school festivals (member)
- Independent volunteer at an animal shelter
- Vacation job at a bookstore in town (35 hours a week during vacation months, since sophomore year)
- Peer-tutor for economics
- Self-studying Japanese and taking the JLPTs (I don’t know if this is considered)
Intended major: Economics
Will I be applying for financial aid: Yes, definitely.
Hooks: 1st Generation
Other schools I’ll be applying to: UCB, UCLA, Duke, NYU, Dartmouth, Harvard, Princeton, Yale, Stanford, Columbia, UPenn
I forgot to add, I’ll be applying ED!
Hi! Looking at your stats and achievements, I think you are aiming too high. I’m from “Bishan JC” and from what I’ve heard, less and less Singaporean students are admitted into the traditionally prestigious schools (Ivy+) each year. Several aspects of your application would probably put you out of the running e.g. finaid, lack of leadership positions, lack of specialisation, lack of awards. You will be competing with Olympiad medalists, star athletes, NGO founders, etc. Your Chinese SAT2 would not be useful also in your application because you are a native Chinese speaker I assume.
I would suggest that you take time to reconsider your choices and figure out what you want specifically from universities instead of aiming for the most prestigious schools. I applied last year to colleges with good international relations programmes like Tufts, Middlebury, Georgetown, Johns Hopkins and Columbia. I only got into Middlebury (fortunately) and George Washington, my safety school. It really showed how tough and random admissions are nowadays.
PM me for more advice!
@croesus thank you very much for replying! I’ll pm you in awhile, seems like I can’t do so on mobile!
Good luck!
I’m not sure on Cornell’s policy on international students, but it does have a higher acceptance rate in comparison to other Ivy Leagues, MIT, etc. That being said, it is still one of the harder schools to get admission into.
I was able to get into Cornell this year along with 4 other people, and I’ve done my fair share of research on the school lol. High SATs and grades are important, but extracurriculars and essays are really important as well. The essay I think especially. A good essay is the cornerstone of making it into a dream school.