Type of high school (or current college for transfers): competitive private
Other special factors: (first generation to college, legacy, recruitable athlete, etc.) none.
Intended Major(s) Biochemistry/Biology/Chemistry
GPA, Rank, and Test Scores
Unweighted HS GPA: (calculate it yourself if your high school does not calculate it) 4.0
Weighted HS GPA: (must specify weighting system; note that weighted GPA from the high school is usually not informative, unless aligned with the recalculation used by a college of interest, such as CA, FL, SC public universities) 4.64
Class Rank: N/A
ACT/SAT Scores: 1530 SAT (790 Math, 740 RW)
APs: 8 APs taken, 5s on all.
List your HS coursework
(Indicate advanced level, such as AP, IB, AICE, A-level, or college, courses as well as specifics in each subject)
English: Honors freshman and sophomore year, AP Lang & AP Lit junior and senior year
Math: AP Calculus BC junior year, Dual credit Multivariable + AP Stats senior year
Science: AP Bio, AP Chem, Anatomy/Phys, AP Physics 1, APES, AP Computer Science A
History and social studies: AP Human Geo, APUSH, AP Gov, AP Microecon
Language other than English: 3 years of Spanish
Awards
USABO honorable mention (top 20%)
National Merit Semifinalist
DECA state/district finalist
Award for health competition (stated below)
Extracurriculars (Include leadership, summer activities, competitions, volunteering, and work experience)
Chem research for 3 years, presented at undergrad/grad level conferences
Health competition, only HS participating, placed in top 100 teams
Co-founded project to pack over 100 hygiene kits for homeless shelters
Officer for health/community service club
DECA
Volunteer at science center for 3 years
Independent research through school, submitted for science fair (no wins)
Bioinformatics research program mentored by Stanford professors (no publication)
Recreational dance team
Volunteered at summer camp for 4 years
Essays/LORs/Other (Optionally, guess how strong these are and include any other relevant information or circumstances.)
Essays: I think they’re fine, but not anything crazy. My counselor told me that she thought my personal statement and supplementals were good so I’ll just say they’re decent.
LORs: Anatomy & AP Calc teacher, both of whom I’m pretty close with and have a lot of kids asking them to write recs so I’d assume they’re pretty good. Also got a rec from the PI who I did my chem research under, pretty close with him so I think it’s pretty good.
Cornell seems like the right level for you IMO, although still a reach. Your academic and test profile are a perfect fit. Your activities, leadership and essays (if you are not underselling) won’t stand out, but will be a neutral. ED might be enough to get you over the hump.
I think you are a competitive applicant for CAS. Don’t be upset if you are deferred as Cornell is making a concerted effort to admit less of the class through ED. You may very well be admitted in RD.
Best of luck to you and I hope you will let us know when decisions are released.
I’d second this. My son had a sort-of similar profile a year ago (extensive drama/music instead of research) and was deferred ED but admitted RD (and did not go there). We heard from several grapevines that Cornell is moving away from admitting such a large percentage in ED.
You are an academically very strong student who has done very well in high school. So long as you have applied to safeties, and so long as you have paid attention to your budget in deciding where to apply, you will be accepted to very good universities, and to universities where you can get a great education. None of us can predict whether Cornell will be one of them.
Given that you are specifically hoping for admissions to Cornell, I will tell you my story about applying to graduate programs. Cornell was my top number 1 dream choice. I was rejected. I was disappointed, but the disappointment only lasted one week because a week later I got an acceptance to my second choice. I went there and LOVED it. Years later it finally occurred to me that my second choice had always been a way better fit for me. Both schools got it right. In my case Cornell was right to reject me because a different school really was a better fit for me (they figured this out before I did).
Highly ranked universities are looking for academically excellent students who are a good fit for them. They do however get way, way more academically excellent applications than they have places to put them. We can look at your stats and agree that “academically excellent” part applies to you. Whether you will get in is really not predictable.
But so long as you have applied to safeties you will have an excellent university to attend in September.
I know that this is a very stressful time. However there really is nothing to do at this point other than keep up with your current course work, wait, and see what happens, and have faith that this will work out one way or another.
My DS had a similar academic profile to yours (different ECs) and he got in ED last year to CAS for Bio. He’s a freshman now and so happy there! Hope this helps. He found out last year to the day so I’m guessing you’ll hear next week. Feel free to ask me questions and good luck!