thevicfung

Not very optimistic about my chances :/
I'm a U.S. citizen(Chinese) who took all of middle and high school in an international school in Shanghai, China. My dad was accepted to Cornell 41 years ago on full scholarship.
My GPA: Roughly 4 ish, can anyone explain what "weighted" means?
Rank: Roughly 20/2-300
IB HL History, Chemistry, Eng
IB standard bio, chinese, math
AP Bio, Chinese: 5
SAT: 2150 or something, i forgot (Math 760, Writing 660(***), Reading~730)
SAT 2: Bio 770, Chem 760, Math 720
Intended major: Biochem or something

EC: none, whatsoever. Maybe some astronomy club vp for a few years, some random ec a few hours for each event, helping out, volunteering, but all broken up and not too important to be listed as one thing.

As you can see, EC is probably my weakest, and my scores are nothing too special. I will be applying early. My family has an income of roughly 5-10k USD a year, which isnt very much, so im also worried about financial aid. Thus, the prospects seems to be very, very dim.

oldfort

How did you go to Shanghai International school with an income of 5-10K, who paid for that? How is your family surviving on 5-10K, or is that what you are showing on paper? Most people wouldn't apply ED if they need FA, but in your case it probably wouldn't matter because if you should get accepted you probably would get full FA. Your dad went to Cornell 40 years ago...it's at the tip of tongue to say something, but I won't.

thevicfung

Well I wouldnt go into specifics but living in China is cheaper than living in the US...but there isnt much you can lie about income. I didn't quite get your last comment though...is 40 years too long a span of time...or something?

mrstreak101

haha I think he means that your dad getting in 40 years ago won't really help you much. 40 years is a long time but I think that no matter how long ago your family went to Cornell, youre still considered a legacy student so its only in your advantage

Your EC's will probably get you because you should be really involved in something during highschool throughout. Just apply, you have nothing to lose

BartleDoo

Yeah, your chances don't look good. With that kind of income, Cornell will have to supply you with a large financial aid package. B/c of your lack of ECs, you come off as a student who doesn't explore his/her interests.

katmandoo

actually, isn't Cornell need-blind? i don't think your family's income will determine whether you get in or not.

greennblue

Your GPA and scores are very good. No need to be depressed over them. (Weighting is the method of computing GPA that awards extra points for AP and sometimes honors classes. It doesn't matter if your HS does not weight.) Your ECs may not be great, but if you make it clear that you've been busy pursuing various interests, not sitting around watching TV, that's better than nothing.

vladsinger

Not for international students, as I found out rather quickly.

thevicfung

Bump... I submitted my ED a while ago (duh), but any new feedback would be nice! I think im going to die from nRT/V

adamonkey2

i think you have a decent shot!

and @vladsinger: he's not international (he's domestic from a foreign country)

thevicfung

whats wrong with astronomy club?

momma-three

I am assuming your parents must have lost their jobs this year or there are some huge medical issues preventing the family from not working. If your dad is a Cornell grad I would be a little concerned about applying to the same school and hoping to get all need met when he has not made enough money to send you there.

I hope when my two kids graduate Cornell they will go on to have wonderful careers affording them the opportunity to pay for their kids to go to Cornell. I dont know OP, you may not get much sympathy from adcoms because you are not getting much here.

thevicfung

I am very sad. I guess I should start on my safeties now.

wisdom86

Don't be sad. Your SAT scores aren't bad, and being in the IB program has to be a huge advantage given the rigorous nature of the coursework, and the fact that you've traveled and lived abroad hopefully means you're very cultured and open-minded.

Being VP of the astronomy club does count as an EC and there's nothign wrong with that, nor is there anything wrong with listing any community service you've done, regardless of how minor you may think it sounds.

For you, as for anyone else, applying to any of the Ivies is a toss up of luck and faith, a real gamble. In any pool of applicants they could fill their class thrice over, however, the fact of the matter is, some kids with the right combination of luck and quality get in, and others don't. Therefore, even if you don't get into Cornell, don't tear yourself apart or feel bad.. Stop being depressed and moaning on CC, because as momma-three pointed out, we're not giving you any sympathy.

There are dozens of us in the same boat, wondering if we're good enough, praying that lady luck is on our side when the admissions reviewers look over our applications.. Not everyone applying has saved villages in Africa, developed communities Costa Rica over the summer, scored a 2400 on the SAT's, managed to work 7 jobs while curing cancer in their spare time and reassembled Krypton -_- As long as you've done the best you could have, and accurately represented yourself in your essays, then if you get rejected, there are no regrets. There are many other schools out there eager to play a part in the molding of young minds, such as your own.

Even if you get rejected, look at it as opportunity. Cheer up =\ At our age, we get no where by being sad.

kryptos

how does your family make so little money if your dad is a graduate from cornell?
No offense but that is a very small income for someone living in America, I make 10 gs during the summer from caddying at a golf club.

But your chances are very good, dont worry about financial aid for now. And try to cheer up and look at your life as full of opportunities. The worst thing to do while being depressed is wondering why you are depressed go out and do something