<p>Okay, so please, no discouraging comments, but do be realistic too. I really appreciate all of you who take the time to make thorough comments. So basically, I'm wondering if anyone can give me some reassurance in this situation I'm in?
I'm currently in the second semester of my sophomore year of high school. I slacked off my freshman year. I earned the occasional A, but most of my grades were in the lower to mid 80's, with some B+'s as well. I didn't care, and my priorities weren't straight. I didn't take any honors courses. (By the way, the way my school organizes classes is that you take 4 main courses- or more if smaller electives are present- per semester, then midway through the year, your schedule switches, and you get four new classes). The beginning part of my sophomore year wasn't much better. I earned two A's, and three B's. But then academic religion hit me. My ambition is higher than ever now, and with the midway of the year class switch, I came in to my new courses with a different attitude. I am now currently taking US History I, Honors Chemistry I, Honors French III, and Algebra II. Soon, I will have A's in all of them. My determination is higher than ever to achieve this and be on high honor roll this semester, and for the rest of my high school career. So far (not including this new second semester of sophomore year) my GPA is a 3.2. I've calculated that if I get a 96 weighted gpa this semester, it'll mesh to form a new cumulative weighted gpa of a 3.3- 3.4. Then comes junior year, where I have planned to take AP US History, Honors US History II, Honors Physics, AP Environmental Science, Honors Junior English, Honors French 4, Regular Astronomy, and Regular Precalculus. I've calculated that even if I get near- perfect scores in all of these courses, my high school gpa will only be a 3.6, or a 3.7 if I get like all 100's. That is the max, and that is just weighted gpa too. I feel so trapped, so powerless. I am going to study my butt off over the summer, and try to excel in all of these courses the best I can, but...is it good enough? I plan to get an SAT tutor over the summer, and as for my extracurriculars:
-I volunteer at my local public library
-I volunteer for my local river watershed association as a water quality tester (I'm trying to come across as an environmentalist, as I'm applying to CALS)
-I started a Reading Club
-I'm club organizer of Environmental Club
-I'm on Debate Team
-I'm a member of Women's History Club (Yes, and I'm a guy)
-I'm a second degree black belt in Tae-Kwon-Do
-I play men's volleyball (hopefully getting a leadership position this year)
Most of this stuff, like the clubs and volunteering, I started getting involved in this year, but I've been involved in Tae-Kwon-Do for 8 years, and I started volleyball last year as a freshman
-I am going to apply to the National Honor Society senior year, when I'm eligible, and will probably get a job sooner or later, and am starting my own environmental organization soon. I will host a hopefully- successful fundraiser and donate the proceeds to the river watershed association I volunteer for. I plan to maintain my involvement in all of these things for the remainder of my high school career.
Now my big question is: is it too late? I will do ANYTHING and EVERYTHING that you guys think I should do that is in my reach. By the way, I'm definitely applying to Cornell on Early Decision. What else can I do? Please help! Am I totally screwed?</p>
<p>Also, are there any major/ impressive environmental equivalents to something like the National Honor Society? Anything equivalent that I can attempt to join?</p>
<p>@vipstephen Here are my son’s stats, and he was waitlisted EA in 2011 and later turned down from CALS RD. However, he was offered a deferred Sophomore admission, which is something they are doing more frequently. This is the only way I know how to help you, because I know how it feels to have a son who wants Cornell so badly. </p>
<p>GPA: 3.91 UW Lots of AP classes, 3-5’s on all AP tests
Private all-boys school, medium difficulty
ACT 30
Out of this world EC’s and athletics</p>
<p>Blow your test scores out of the water and demonstrate in your essay how you have made a huge effort to bring your grades up. Could you afford to attend any summer sessions at Cornell? Show them interest! Also, don’t do MORE EC’s; dedicate yourself wholly to a few and take leadership positions. In the end, what they suggested to my son was that he go to Ithaca College for a year. (In the end, he went to his second choice school, loved it and turned down the sophomore Cornell offer.) I promise you, no one ever asks “Where did you start college and end college?” Best of luck!</p>
<p>@vipstephen I think your chances are quite good! First off, the admissions office NEEDS to see a linear growth trend in your grades/academia/etc. NOT a plateau. And it seems to me like your not-so-sensational freshman year gives you an excellent chance to show them your motivation and what you’re capable of. I was just accepted to Cornell and I didn’t see it coming at all as my GPA and SAT’s weren’t stellar but I am a passionate musician and music history researcher and that came through in my essays/supplementary materials/EC’s. My advice to you is to do what you love in high school and pick EC’s that reflect this (as you’ve probably heard several thousand times). Anyway, I would love to sit here and write about this all day as I went through the same thing as you and can attest to the stressful and daunting experience of college applications but I’m on my way out the door for work. Please feel free to PM me with any questions!! All the best!</p>
<p>Okay. Thank you so much for replying!!</p>