What are my chances?

Colleges and Universities A-Z Cornell University
1

<p>Hi all, if any of you have the time I just wanted some input on what you think my chances of getting into Cornell would be? I'm a white, Jewish male at a competitive public high school in New Jersey. My mom got her MBA at Cornell if that counts for anything. I'd probably be looking at CAS. This is honestly a good amount of projected info since I'm only a high school junior, but I can deem it all pretty reasonable.</p>

<p>GPA: 3.7 not weighted (on a 4.0 scale), 4.5 weighted with AP classes</p>

<p>AP classes: English Language and Composition, Physics, and US History for my junior year, Computer Science, BC Calculus, Chemistry, and some kind of English next year. If official practice tests are any indication of what I will get on the real test, then I will probably result with a 4 in Physics and a 5 for both US History and English for junior year. Not sure what I'll get for my senior year AP's, but they don't matter when applying to colleges anyway (since I wouldn't have taken them yet). </p>

<p>Extracurricular Activities: </p>

<p>Member of Peer Leader Program
President of Key Club (community service club sponsored by Kiwanis Group)
Volunteer at Matheny Medical Center in Peapack, NJ
2-year starter and senior captain of varsity baseball
3-year starter for varsity football. Internship at Luminations Group (marketing)
NYU Computer Programming Summer Course
Math League (grades 9-10)<br>
Led my high school's Inter-generational Prom 2 years running</p>

<p>Awards/Accomplishments: </p>

<p>Jewish Sports Review All American Football Team
2nd Team All Division Defensive Line (junior year, hopefully better senior year)
8-time Scholar Athlete Award
3rd Place in the school's Battle of the Bands Competition (piano/keyboard player)
3-time (hopefully 4 next year) football conference champions
County baseball champions</p>

<p>There's no class rank at my school, but if I had to guess I'd probably be around #10 in a class openly admitted by the school district to be the smartest in school history. Lastly, I know a lot of these accomplishments aren't academic, yet I feel like they could hold some merit in showing that I'm a team player, and more well rounded than many applicants that apply.</p>

2

<p>From the information above you seem quite qualified. I would put you as a match/low reach. </p>

<p>What school are you looking for? What are your standardized test scores? </p>

<p>Best of luck on your application!</p>

3

<p>Oh right, never put my SAT scores! I haven’t taken any subject level tests yet, but my first time taking the SAT I got a 2190 (73 Reading, 71 Math, 75 Writing). I’m taking it again in March and hopefully it only goes up from there. For schools, I would probably say College of Arts and Sciences for either Economics or Computer Science – not sure about that part yet.</p>

4

<p>In that case I would say that you are pretty solid!</p>

5

<p>Slow down there, Cornell doesn’t look at the writing section of the SAT, so you actually have a 1440/1600, which is just about average (<a href=“http://irp.dpb.cornell.edu/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/Profile2013-Freshmen.pdf[/url]”>http://irp.dpb.cornell.edu/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/Profile2013-Freshmen.pdf&lt;/a&gt;), and while your GPA isn’t bad, there are people with higher GPAs and higher SAT scores that have been rejected. The ECs are solid, but so are the ECs of everyone that applies to the ivies. I’m gonna go ahead and say the guy above me jumped the gun on the match low reach, and place you firmly into the reach category.</p>

6

<p>I figured “match” may have been a bit optimistic. Hopefully I can get my test scores even higher (taking a class for the March SAT now) and write a killer essay! And who knows what other EC opportunities I’ll pursue down the road.</p>

7

<p>Cornell is not a match. No ivy is a match. It’s definitely going to be a reach – regardless of who you are.</p>

<p>Based on your academic stats, I’d have to say that you have about an average chance of acceptance right now. If your scores go up and your extracurricular improve, which could certainly happen and probably will, then you’ll be slightly above average. Your academics and extracurricular are good but not impressive, though legacy status will give you a leg up. </p>

<p>It could happen! But right now, you would not stand out in the applicant pool. Be true to yourself in your essays and you may be pleasantly surprised next year. Good luck.</p>