34 ACT competitive enough for Asian (:[) male applying for engineering??

Colleges & Universities Cornell University
1

<p>Hi guys,</p>

<p>I know Cornell’'s engineering program is really good and tough to get into; so, as the title says, is a 34 competitive enough? </p>

<p>I know standardized test scores aren’t the only factor, but it would be nice to know what the competitive range is for an Asian male for engineering at Cornell, thanks.</p>

<p>The breakdown is 36 Math, 34 Science, 32 Reading, 33 English, 12 essay.</p>

<p>This is only a single sitting, I am already signed up December aiming for a 35/36, but if a 34 is good enough, I might not even take the December one and just work on college supplements instead.</p>

2

<p>It’s above average, but not the best. It’s enough, but take it again if you could get higher.</p>

3

<p>Yes. No school will reject you because you have a 34 instead of a 35/36. Focus on everything else. </p>

<p>(I also have a 34 and decided not to retake.)</p>

4

<p>got in with a 33
boom</p>

5

<p>If your GPA and class rank or decile are near the top of your class, than you are fine. In my opinion, that will be the determining factor in answering your question. You can not look at just one component of your application.</p>

6

<p>

</p>

<p>I included that in my original post.</p>

<p>But if it helps you out for answering the question, here it is. (This is very brief)</p>

<p>My other stats are:
4.5 GPA (Weighted), 20/538 class rank (top 3.7%), most rigorous curriculum in grade, took 2 APs in sophomore, 4 in junior, currently take 2 college courses and 3 APs. </p>

<p>Pretty competitive school (3-4 HYPSM + 5-6 more Ivies each year) </p>

<p>Freshman year: 4 As, 3 Bs
Sophomore year: 5 As, 2 Bs
Junior year: 6 As, 1 B
Senior year: 8 As</p>

<p>^Guidance counselor wrote about upward trend and how my state of mental capability was lacking because I had skipped a grade and I wasn’t able to “fit” in right away in to the new grade.</p>

<p>Subject tests: 780 chem, 800 Math 2</p>

<p>ECs (by far strongest part of my app): Sending 2 research abstracts (1 on Non-metal redox kinetics and the other on Synthesizing Octahedral Molecular Sieves, kind of Material Sciences Engineering), 350+ hours of research at 2 different universities. captain of science quiz bowl A team, A team for MAth League- qualified for states and new englands, vice president and captain of chess team, won a couple of awards 2000+ hours of table tennis, nationally ranked, #2 junior in state, already talked to cornell’s table tennis president- they said I would definitely make the A team, won number of trophies. 300+ hours of community service- tutored for 4 years . </p>

<p>Recs: Very strong (1 from AP Chem teacher, 1 from AP Calc BC teacher, 1 from professor at a university who I did research with)</p>

<p>Common App Essay: Above average/strong (Wrote about table tennis)
Cornell Supplement: Strong (wrote about math/science competitions and research experiences)</p>

7

<p>Your chances seem adequate. Keep in mind that although you are obviously smart, plenty of students who apply to Cornell are also smart. If you don’t get in, I’m sure you’ll end up somewhere great. :)</p>

8

<p>It is definitely possible for an Asian male with an ACT score of 34 to get accepted to Cornell engineering. I personally know someone who got in with a 33. Engineering, Asian male, all that good stuff. He did have awesome ECs and recs though, I believe. (And your ECs are really strong, too) Just make yourself stand out. Show that you’re passionate about something in your essays.</p>

<p>Instead of putting time into trying to bump your ACT score to a 35/36, why don’t you put that time into really solidifying your essays or something else that you can control? Or, as you said, work on your college supplements to make them really strong. Really, I don’t think that whether you have a 34, 35, or 36 will make or break you. </p>

<p>Much luck to you! (:</p>

9

<p>No need to retake - you’re fine. If they’ll take you with a 36, they’ll take you with a 34. I assume you’re applying regular decision?</p>

10

<p>Yes, I am applying RD.</p>

11

<p>my friend got in as a Chinese male with a 32 on ACT</p>

12

<p>“Pretty competitive school (3-4 HYPSM + 5-6 more Ivies each year)”</p>

<p>IF you don’t get in, I don’t think it will be because of your ACT score, it will be because of your class rank. Your SAT II subject test scores are very impressive. I think the reason behind getting out of the gate a little slowly makes perfect sense. If it weren’t for some of those additional B’s, you move up in rank considerably. Would you gain 10 spots to be in contention for an ivy-- maybe. I think you have a very realistic chance of being accepted.</p>