Will a low SAT II score hurt my chances at Cornell?

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

<p>Here me out, I want to apply to Cornell, but I was sick the day I took my SAT IIs and couldn't concentrate on my SAT Math II. I plan to go to the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences where they recommend I take a science and math SAT II, but will not be penalized if I don't take it. (exact words at bottom of post) Now here's the problem, I already took it and its finalized as a 520, I'm wondering will it hurt me that I should apply elsewhere? Here are my stats:</p>

<p>I am a Asian Male senior as of next year, early decisioning</p>

<p>GPA:92-94 (unweighted, my school doesn't give out GPAs)
Class Rank:Unknown (if I were to guess, top 10-25%)
SAT-1760 (retaking, shooting for 2000+, but if you must know details)
CR:610
Math:550
Writing:600</p>

<p>SAT IIs:
U.S. History- 770
World History- 750
Math I-520</p>

<p>7 APs
World History-4
U.S. History-3
English Language-3
Biology (Senior year)
English Literature (Senior year)
U.S. Govt and Politics (senior Year)</p>

<p>Alumni:sister with Cum Laude honors in College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (molecular biology major)</p>

<p>EC and Volunteer:
Volunteer Work: Merrick Street Fair/Hurricane Katrina fundraising (selling shirts), Hurricane Katrina Walkathon,</p>

<p>Homeless Thanksgiving Charity (with my family going to Manhattan handing out food and clothing to homeless outside of soup kitchen/church), Scholarship Drive, Worked to donate playground to poor school district</p>

<p>Activities: History Club-Secretary officer positon,Track (9th and ½ of 10th grade), Key Club (9th + ½ 10th grade), Movie Club, National Spanish Honor Society</p>

<p>Summer Work: Toured China and planted trees/worked crops and community service for middle school and high school students near the Jiangxi province/ donated money to children families and schools</p>

<p>Employment:10th grade, Dishwasher, summer job</p>

<p>I'm not really asking for my chances at Cornell really, I'm asking considering my low SAT II score, what would my chances be at Cornell and would I be wasting my time. (sister gave me a rough estimate, but she didn't know about my low SAT Math I score, she said I had a 30% chance, she herself got in through guaranteed transfer from Cornell, this was factored in)</p>

<p>P.S. Here's the SAT II policy verbatim:
"The College of Agriculture and Life Sciences does not require SAT Subject Tests. We do recommend, however, that if you plan to submit these exams in support of your application, that you take an SAT Subject Test in a science and in Mathematics (any level).</p>

<p>Students who do not submit scores are not penalized in the admissions process." Also know that I cannot retake the Math I considering I am retaking my SAT Is in October and ED deadline is 11/01.</p>

<p>Thanks for your time.</p>

<p>Another Note: The Common application tells you to put down your SAT II scores, I could put down none, or only the Histories and not the math, although they would still see it in my score report, it's unlikely to work, but your thoughts?</p>

2

<p>I'll put it this way, your SAT II scores aren't the biggest issues right now, your SAT I score is. A 1760 is way too low for an Ivy League School, if you want Cornell retake both of those scores and bring them at least to a 2100, 2200 to be safe. You can still apply ED by then, but you'd have to do them by Nov. and SAT I in Oct. which if you haven't been studying for might be a bad idea according to a Cornell admissions officer who I've talked to.</p>

<p>Also, I'm a bit skeptical of you applying to Cornell CALS at least. You've done excellently on your History SAT IIs however your Math IC is dismal and CALS doesn't offer any History majors College of Arts & Sciences does, so it would be a imprudent idea to apply to a school that does not fits your application because CALS is very fit driven and based on your given info. it seems out of place to apply there. I have the same problem for my major, however my situation was different from yours and I found other alternatives to illustrate my passion for my major. </p>

<p>Lastly, you have to report all your scores. You can't pick and choose, because on your Official Score Report shows ALL SCORES and colleges will check to see if the scores you posted matched the one's on your application. If they don't, it will show a huge breech in morality and get you rejected from all schools because colleges do communicate with each other. Trust me, I've seen it in the past outstanding students who lie get REJECTED EVERYWHERE. Don't do it, just report all the schools. Colleges would rather have decent moral people than some 2400 SAT I scoring punk who lies on an application.</p>

<p>G/L, you have a lot to do if you want to apply ED.</p>

3

<p>Thanks for your help, but I looked at the statistics and the College of Arts and Sciences have the lowest acceptance rate out of all the colleges, that's why I was skeptical in applying there. Also I don't plan on a History major, I plan on being a science major. I know it seems unlikely considering my math skills, but I have improved since then and my SAT has gone up.</p>

<p>I wasn't sure, but did you mention that I'm able to take the SAT II( in November) again? Because their deadline is November 1st, and the SAT would be that date, it would take 3-4 weeks to ship it out. I'm sorry, I may just have misinterpreted your first paragraph because you said "retake both of those scores."</p>

4

<p>Yes, you can take the SAT I in Nov. and still make it for Early Decision. However, and I'm reemphasizing this again you have a lot to do if you want to make it by Early Decision. You have to retake those SAT scores and significantly improve them I mean like 2100 at least, 2200 to be in the comfort zone and SAT II Math IC and get it to at least 700. Last thing admission rates are absolutely misleading and CALS is about your FIT with your MAJOR. It only has sciences majors & AEM, and based on your give information science & math don't seem to be your forte. Thus, I suggest CAS because you seem very strong in the humanities and going into a humanity field would seem logical based on your scores + ECs. In the end its up to you, but I can tell you this much unless you can show fit with a science major e.g doing research, taking science APs and excelling (5s), etc. it will be an imprudent decision to apply there. </p>

<p>G/L</p>