Chance me for Cornell ED + other schools for meteorology/atmospheric science [CA resident, 4.0 GPA, 1530 SAT]

Chance Me / Match Me
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Demographics

  • US citizen

  • State/Location of residency: California (Bay Area)

  • Type of high school (or current college for transfers): Public, large, competitive

  • Other special factors: N/A

Cost Constraints / Budget
No cost constraints

Intended Major(s)
Meteorology / Atmospheric Science

GPA, Rank, and Test Scores

  • Unweighted HS GPA: 4.0

  • Weighted HS GPA: N/A

  • Class Rank: At least top 10% according to counselor, no official rank

  • ACT/SAT Scores: 1530 SAT (760 math, 770 english)

**List your HS coursework
**
9th: AP CSP (5), Honors Bio
10th: AP Euro (5), Honors Chem, Honors Literature
11th: AP Calc AB (5), AP Lang (5), APUSH (4), AP Physics 1 (5)
12th: AP Lit, APES, AP Physics C: Mechanics, AP Calc BC, AP Stats
More info - French 3 (highest level at school), 2 years band + 2 years choir + 1 year drama

Awards
National Spanish Exam Gold Medal, National ensemble band/choir awards, AP Scholar w/ distinction + CB school recognition award, scholar athlete

Extracurriculars

  • Research position with international meteorological/severe weather lab, worked a lot with meteorological data + foreign language material & worked w/ some organizations, led a pretty significant/impactful project largely independently

  • Independent tornado research project on understudied area, created publicly available database

  • Sang with 5 choirs for 10+ years; incl. regional honor choir and 2 years of school choir as section leader

  • Band for 2 years w/ several ensemble awards, played multiple instruments, first chair

  • School theater, lead actor & volunteer for set construction

  • Language classes w/ local university

  • French accredited immersion summer program, certified French tutor at school

  • Varsity XC/Track + Badminton, helped w/ JV tryouts/training

Essays/LORs/Other
AP Lang teacher - Seen a lot of growth as a student & writer since freshman year, knows a lot about my character & academic motivation
AP Calc teacher - Did really well in her class & filled out a whole questionnaire so there’s a lot to write about I hope
Music teacher - We’re very close, he’s seen a lot of growth & can speak a lot about my personality & character in class

Schools
Safeties: CU Boulder, UAlbany, Penn State

Targets: UW Seattle, UW Madison, UIUC, Purdue, UCD, UMD

Reaches: Cornell (ED), UCLA, UCB, UMich

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I like your list and think it’s appropriately categorized. For Cornell ED specifically, be sure to have high quality essays for the college specific essay prompts. Also be sure to apply to the public schools on your list by their EA deadlines.

Good luck to you!

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Great list! Depending on how important meteorology is for you, you might prefer your safeties to your targets (and maybe even some of your reaches!) Great problem to have! I’ve worked with several people that went to Penn State for meteorology and they rave about it! I’ve also great things about UAlbany.

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I’m sure you’ve seen this webpage already, in case you want to check out some more potential options.

I’d classify UC Davis as a safety given your stats, since you have no in-state schools designated as such. Plus, it’s not formally need-blind & you indicate no cost constraints.

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UC admission is need blind according to What’s the most important part of the UC application? Our admissions experts weigh in. | University of California

However, the holistic reading including subjectively evaluated essays makes it impossible for an applicant to have 100% assurance of admission.

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wxjd, I would trust the official UC website.

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Your profile is terrific, and I would bet that UW Seattle will accept you, but I think that school should possibly be shifted to the reach category (for just about any out of state applicant).

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Great profile - surprised no Oklahoma and Florida State (the biggies in the field).

Albany will be very regional - i.e. nearly all NY kids.

I suspect you’ll get in through your targets.

I’d lean yes to Cornell but it is a reach as noted. Same with the UCs and Michigan.

I suspect you’ll end up in Cornell or a UC - at least have those options.

But I think you’ll earn a lot of acceptances but visited Oklahoma with my son and I’d urge you to consider - as it’s renowned and a fine program.

Best of luck.

OU School of Meteorology Recognized as Top Program in the Nation