mahaco

Could you guys chance me for Cornell ED? Haven't fully decided if I'm going to do ED yet but I have to make the decision soon. Sorry if this is long, I'd really appreciate it if you guys could look through it

I'd love to apply for AEM but it's ridiculously selective. I may apply to a more realistic major of ILR or something in the Design and Environmental Analysis fields. Everything seems so interesting! Which gives me the best chance of getting in?

GPA: 4.2 Weighted, 3.9 Unweighted
Rank: Top 10%, school doesn't show actual number
ACT: 30
Junior Year: Spanish 4 Honors, AP Stat, AP Lang and Comp
Senior Year: AP Gov & Politics, AP Environmental, AP Calc A, AP Physics, Spanish 5 Honors

(My schools selection of AP classes are pretty lousy. Just the regular science ones and the ones I took. Also I've been in the highest level of my classes and took math and spanish a year ahead of my grade but didn't take any official honors or ap classes until junior year. Will this hurt me?)

EC's:

FBLA - President (Senior Year), Treasurer (Junior year)
- Established a fellowship with the BP company that has their headquarters in my town (mentorship program for select members, business simulation competitions with real life scenarios, lectures and speakers), Single handedly coordinated and ran several fundraisers that raised over $500, (I was literally the only motivated person in the club), won 1st place at State competition and competed at nationals

Volunteer Club - Vice President
- volunteered over 30 hours at the home for the handicapped and school for the blind

National Honors Society - Membership Coordinator and tutor

Tutor at Kumon Learning Center - all of Junior and Senior year

Friendship Circle (outside of school) - Chapter President
- organization that betters the lives of kids with special needs in town. Spent every sunday with a boy with special needs for all of Junior and Senior year and spent time with several others in a bowling and sports league

Spring Track - JV and Varsity Thrower

Camp Counselor - Counselor at a sleep away camp for 8-9 year old boys. Basically spent every moment with them, 24/7, for 7 weeks

Summer Study at Michigan + UCLA

Hobbies: Graphic Design (won several awards in school and town for my work), been playing guitar for six years

Background Info: White, Jewish, New Jersey, Upper middle class family

Again, I'm sorry if this is long, I hope some of you will read it!

I know my ACT score isn't stellar and my class rigor is not as tough as my competitors who are applying, but I have an incredible drive. I put my heart into the things I do and I love it all. Education has always been a priority of mine as well as giving back to my community, and I will do my best to make that as clear as I can through my app essay's and such. Getting into Cornell would be a dream come true. Do you have any suggestions that could help my chances? Thank YOU!!

Peppino

Which college are you planning on applying to?

mahaco

Cornell ED and then Michigan, UVA, Emory, Binghamton, Delaware, Northeastern, James Madison, and Indiana (Kelley business)

AlphaOrionis

Peppino meant which college within Cornell are you applying to. (There are 7 and you have to decide on one)

mahaco

Oh sorry I misread that.

I'm basically narrowing it down to CALS for applied economics and management and the College of Human Ecology for design and environmental analysis

AlphaOrionis

Ok cool. You live in NJ and both are NYS sponsored colleges, so you won't get a tuition break which kinda sucks. Anyway, your GPA is perfectly fine for Cornell, and even tough your school doesn't have much in the way of challenging courses, they will know that and will by no means hold it against you. ACT is ok but it is not going to set you apart by any means. IMO extracurriculars are above average which will help. Great leadership, commitment etc. I think you have a pretty good shot, but make sure both the Common App essay and the supplement are top notch. Oh btw, you should know that you can technically apply to two schools within cornell ED...you must say which is your preference and they will review your app first, and if you are rejected send it along to the next college (doesn't work very often but whatever). If you are accepted at the Ag school first lets say, then it won't go to Human ecology...