What colleges can I consider with this?

Applying to College
1

<p>I'm the class of '13 and I am going to be a junior this September. I realize this is a little early to be asking what my chances are, but I also want advice on what to do, since this is a very nerve-wreaking time of high school.</p>

<p>For Freshman year, I've taken all honors classes. Honors English, Honors World Civil, Honors Geometry, Honors Biology, Honors French 3, and other electives, including after-school band. My GPA was 95.</p>

<p>For Sophomore year, I've also taken all honors classes. Honors English, Honors U.S. History I, Honors Algebra II, Honors Chemistry, Honors French 4, and other electives, including after-school band, and chorus. My GPA was 96.</p>

<p>I've been taking SAT prep courses, and my range is around 2000 to 2100. Critical Reading is my highest, and writing is around the same score. Math is my lowest, which, of course, I will try hard to improve.</p>

<p>For my junior year, I will be taking AP English and AP Chemistry, with Honors U.S. History II, Honors Pre-Calculus BC, Honors French 5, and also Organic Chemistry. And I will be continuing band and chorus after school.</p>

<p>I don't have many extracurricular activities; I joined the golf team during sophomore year, I am in the Science National Honors Society, the Invention Club, and I am currently volunteering at my local library, helping them restore letters that were found, dating back to the 1800's. </p>

<p>My lack of extracurricular activities worry me very much. I really would appreciate any guidance on how I should continue from here and what colleges I can consider with what I have. Also, my chances for Cornell if I applied with Early Decision.
--I am an Asian female, if this makes any difference.</p>

2

<p>With a significantly higher reading as oppossed to math score, I’d recommend taking the ACT also. I’d take both the ACT & SAT this fall so you have plenty of time to get your scores as high as you can. Attend Cornell’s information sessions (first you must chose which college (or two) of Cornell’s 7 you are interested in) this will help you tart thinking about your essays, which are very important at schools such as Cornell.</p>

3

<p>Thank you, I was thinking whether or not I should take the ACTs but I guess I should. I did look up Cornell’s seven colleges, and I would like to join either College of Arts and Science or College of Engineering. Even with my weak extra curricular activities, do I have a significant chance for Cornell?</p>

4

<p>These are two of the most difficult colleges for admission at Cornell. Even a 2100 is going to be below the 50th percetile for these 2 colleges. In addition it isn’t good to have a lower math score for these two colleges. If you are signifacantly stronger in reading perhaps you may want to rethink the engineering major? You have two years to get involved with some EC’s that you can display excellence & leadership in.</p>

5

<p>“I am currently volunteering at my local library, helping them restore letters that were found, dating back to the 1800’s.”</p>

<p>That is potentially an eye-catching EC depending on whether you are interested in history, what you are actually doing as part of this process, and whether you are able to take this interest to a higher level - through independent research, re-enactments, etc… If so, you can potentially stand out among a field of otherwise comparable students.</p>

6

<p>csdad - I know that reading is my stronger skill, but I don’t want to get into those areas. Although I might be lacking in math, I still am preparing for the SAT, so I’m hoping it will change. (Of course I will be working very hard for it, as well.) Science is something that I’m interested in, and chemical engineering really did capture my attention. However, since it is early, I might end up changing my mind. But for now, I will continue to work hard to improve my math score. Thank you for the advice :)</p>

<p>M’s Mom - Although I’m not interested in history itself, the process is very interesting, and getting to know the daily lives and the language they used is also a plus. I haven’t thought about it, but as you said, I think I will try to find a way to link this back to science, the field I’m interested in, and further get into the experience. Thank you for giving me this idea!</p>