Yes, the Chance Me all over again: IB student

Colleges and Universities A-Z Cornell University
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<p>Gender: Male
Ethnicity: Asian (Indian)
Type: International Student</p>

<p>Predicted grades for IB:</p>

<p>HL Economics 7
HL Business Management 7
HL Math 6</p>

<p>SL English 5
SL French Ab. Initio 7
SL Chemistry 7
Bonus Points: 2/3
IB Total: 41/45</p>

<p>Not sure how the IB grades translate into GPA. School doesn't rank us, but I know I am in the top 5%.
Taking the highest course load possible.
Standardized Testing:</p>

<p>SAT I - Math 720, CR 670, Writing 620. Total: 2010 (1390)</p>

<p>I know it's disgusting, wayyy below anything Ivy Leagues look at. Might retake it in November or worst case, December.</p>

<p>SAT IIs taking Chemistry & Math II in October, aiming 800 at Math II and 700+ Chemistry.</p>

<p>Academic Awards:</p>

<p>-UK Senior Math Challenge Silver Medallist: Top 10% of the world.
-Kumon Math Program - Gold Medallist 4 years consecutive and member of the Advanced Student Honor Roll.
-Winner of the Principal's Award at school for achieveing Academic merits in 7 out of 8 subjects.
-Academic Excellence Award winner - 9th and 10th grade.</p>

<p>Extra-Curriculars:</p>

<p>-Model United Nations - 4 years.
Positions held: Assistant President - Special Conference Sub Committee 2, Chair - Security Council, Chair - General Assembly 1, Deputy Chair - General Assembly 6. Organized a conference with a team of 3 others for middle school kids: Coordinated it ourselves.
Awards won: "Best Delegate Award" won 3 times in 5 conferences.</p>

<p>-Debating Team - 4 years.
Captain for the past year, won "best speaker" award 7 times during the year.</p>

<p>-Student Council - 1 year.
Position held: Chief Treasurer and Leader of Fundraising Committee. Organized school prom and winter dance; Completed the budgeting for the entire council as well as balancing the accounts.</p>

<p>-Cricket - 8 years.
Vice-Captain of team for the past 4 years. Recently won "Most Improved Player" and nominated "best bowler" for the calender year having taken most wickets for the team.
Used to be a member of the country's national cricket team before starting IB (way too hectic).</p>

<p>-Mathematics Peer Tutor - 2 years.
Position Held: Senior Tutor; Helped other high school kids with math problems during lunchtime and after school on a voluntary basis</p>

<p>-UN Day: Indian Folk Dance Performer.
Never learnt dancing in my life, Spent the past 4 months training every weekend to perfect the steps.</p>

<p>-Weight Training Club - 1 year.
Woke up every morning at 6 and went to school at 6.30 to train, weight lifting - rigorous exercise.</p>

<p>-Frisbee Club - 1 year.
This was more of a fun thing, rather than being professional. Learnt a few new frisbee tricks and the art of playing ultimate frisbee.</p>

<p>Community Service:</p>

<p>-Institute of Mental Health - 2 years.
Position Held: Volunteer Leader; Coordinated activities and organized groups to volunteer at the institute of mental health; Organized fun badminton games with the patients and befriended them over the 2 years.</p>

<p>-Home for the Autistic back in India - Spent the summer volunteering there.
Taught autistic kids basic english letters and words, painted with them etc.</p>

<p>-PE Service Group - 1 year.</p>

<p>Work Experience/Internships:</p>

<p>-Interned 2 weeks at a consultancy firm in India which involved maintaining and auditing financial records of client firms.</p>

<p>-Worked on a part time basis (Every Saturday) for 2 months at an accounting firm.
Position held: Research Assistant. Tasks again involved balancing accounts and maintaining paperwork.</p>

<p>-Will be interning this December at a micro finance bank in India to learn more about development economics and self-financing. As a part of the internship, I will be visiting many villages with an experienced economist to monitor the income situation of the poor and the status of poverty-alleviating mechanisms in these rural areas.</p>

<p>I know most other Cornell applicants will have just as strong if not stronger applications. I also know my SAT score is a huge hole in my application. But with my IB grades, ECs and the work experience: would I stand a chance, is it worth considering applying to Cornell? I am looking at only Regular Decision.</p>

<p>Intended Major: Economics.</p>

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<p>Hey I did IB back then too. ECs are pretty good considering that you did a whole spectrum of work. You have similar stats as I did back then (I applied ED with a 41), however, your SAT I might hurt you. Try to score higher on SAT IIs, and maybe even pull up your predicted score by 1 or 2. Good luck!</p>

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<p>Hardly. It wouldn’t hurt to get them higher, though.</p>

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<p>bump bump 10char</p>

5

<p>You don’t need that much higher of SATs to get in. Spend that time you would have spent studying on solid, heart-felt essays. Good luck</p>

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<p>Get your SATs higher, and try to get the sat II scores you are aiming for.</p>

7

<p>Yeah just improve on your SAT’s a bit, they don’t even need to be that high tbh, and you’ll be a solid candidate.</p>

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<p>Yeah just improve on your SAT’s a bit, they don’t even need to be that high tbh, and you’ll be a solid candidate. </p>

<p>I’m not sure what mariam means by SAT’s “don’t need to be that high”, but I’m guessing they will need to be around 2270-2300 or higher and/or take the ACT and score a 35-- even with your top 5% rank, IB, and nice MUN and Debate participation and awards. You are an international student, applying to an Ivy league school. It is extremely selective and competitive. Good luck to you!</p>

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<p>“2270-2300” — really, that high? I know being an international student is a detriment, but really, that high? That sounds more like HYPM. Thanks for the feedback from all of you though. Do my chances even improve marginally considering I am sure about my major and my internships/ECs are focused towards it.</p>