Cornell Chance me with low sat!

<p>Hey guys! I’m an international applicant!
I applied to the college of engineering, Cornell University</p>

<p>SAT1: 2010
CR-630
Math-710
Writing-670</p>

<p>Toefl: 100</p>

<p>SAT2: Math2-770
Chemistry-690</p>

<p>GPA: 4.0/4.0 (no AP offered)</p>

<p>Extra Curricular:

  1. Volunteer (translating letters from Africa or Latin America, teaching low-income students)- more than 700 hours
  2. G20 in Korea interpreter & Education Fair interpreter
  3. Varsity soccer team vice captain in 10th grade, and captain in 11th&12th grade
  4. School facility engineer
  5. School gospel band leader
  6. Student representative committee (president)
  7. Sunday School Secretary, Vice president, President
  8. Choir conductor & leader
  9. Mentoring in school for three years
  10. School newspaper main photographer and editor</p>

<p>Award:
Outstanding Academic Achievement: Calculus
Outstanding Academic Achievement: Physics
(My school seldom gives awards)</p>

<p>Letters of Recommendation
Math teacher- really good! I had pre-cal class in 11th grade.
English teacher- 12th grade literature & homeroom teacher. He knows me well.
Counselor- sucks. She is not a native speaker. She made countless grammar mistakes. But the context is good.
Senator- He wrote me a good recommendation! Let me put it in here.</p>

<pre><code> As the former Chairman of the National Assembly of the Republic of Korea in Education, Science&Technology Committee and current member of Congress, I am writing with great pleasure to recommend Jin to your program in your distinguished department.
In the Summer of 2010, I held an open educational seminar for high school students. It was through this seminar that I first met Jin , but it was through his exchanging of e-mails with my secretary that I began to learn more about the passionate young man who continually bombarded me with questions during the seminar. I was told after the seminar that Jin had approached my secretary to seek about his e-mail address. Jin frequently sent a myriad of e-mails, ranging from topics about the current national political system to inquiries about domestic issues regarding the current educational system. Later, I found out that Jin’s father was a close acquaintance of my secretary, so I happily invited him to my office to engage in an open discussion with me and other high school students.
During my interaction with the young students, Jin stood out from the rest of the associates in my office. His bold and daring confidence was evident through his questions, which often sparked a debate between he and the other invited students. His confidence was made even more distinct after he politely asked me to share my personal e-mail address with him. Amused, yet astonished at this bold move made by a young high school student, I agreed.
I do not usually check my personal e-mail, but one day when I did do so, almost a month after my interesting encounter with Jin, I happened to check in to a mailbox with an influx of e-mails from the young man. At that time, I didn’t quite understand why he had sent so many messages if he knew that I had important governmental affairs to attend. However, this slight irritation quickly transformed into a feeling of embarrassment after I began reading one of his messages. The context of his e-mails was far from being irrational and contained deep and sincere questions and analysis that seemed to far surpass the visions of young men around his age. Through the e-mails, I soon learned that his desired field of academic studies is in engineering, and I was taken aback, considering the breadth of information Jin already knew about politics and public policy as well as his passionate interest in the matter.
I was thoroughly impressed by this special young man, and invited him to several annual events and social functions that seemed appropriate for his invitation. At the events, I conversed with Jin about a range of topics, and learned about his desire to attend an American university.
I cannot be of direct assistance to Jin’s dreams of further education at an American institution, but I can strongly hope that with this recommendation, he will be able to move one step closer to pursuing his journey. In all my years in politics, I have had the opportunity to meet many people working as an important individual in my nation’s government, and I have found that academics are vital criteria for success, but people who embrace a positive attitude, have greater potential to truly succeed. This young man has already accomplished things that adults could not have been able to achieve. With his ability to weave his own connections in an adult society, while retaining an air of politeness and maturity, he has already shown the amount of potential he has in constructing his career and life. With Jin’s perception of the world around him and his attitude, I know that he will be able to accomplish great things.
I believe that your school can help mold Jin into a more complete individual, who will be of great impact on current globalized civilization. I am curious about what Jin will accomplish later in the future, and I ponder upon this idea with high hopes. I am enthusiastic in advocating the well-being of this promising young man and strongly support his journey into your university.
</code></pre>

<p>Do I have a chance for Cornell?</p>

<p>Cornell would be a reach. Your SAT score is low with math at 710 and the Chem SAT II score is low. Your ECs look fine but I’m not sure what sort of TOEFL score would be needed for CoE</p>

<p>Admissions doesn’t care about toefl. mid-high reach</p>

<p>does this recommendation will be a great advantage for me?</p>

<p>We are not admissions officers. </p>

<p>High reach IMO.</p>

<p>Cornell only considers SAT scores at the 1600-scale, meaning your writing score is useless.
You don’t even pass the 1400 range, so I’d say Cornell’s a reach school for you.</p>

<p>GraceTone, I’m 100% positive they don’t only consider 1600 scores since they exclude writing. That would require one to get an 800 on math and CR. Math should probably be brought up a little, and CR should probably be around 650-700. You’ll probably do fine, though. Everything looks great to me. SAT’s are only like 20% of what admissions officers look at, so everything else will probably weigh out your semi-low scores</p>

<p>SAT is 30-40%. It also doesn’t help that you are an ORM international since those scores are low.</p>

<p>@mmaatt
I don’t think you understand what the “1600-scale” score for the SAT means.
That means only the Math & CR section is considered.
So yes, that would mean one would have to score a perfect 800 on both the Math & CR section for the maximum score on the 1600-scale.
Cornell definitely doesn’t look at the writing section. Try researching it if you’re still not convinced.</p>

<p>A really high reach… every international student I personally know (overachievers in China) have higher SAT scores… all were above 2300.
The rec letter is ok, a bit cliched and doesnt really stand out… of course its just my opinion so feel free to disagree.</p>

<p>@ gracetone
yeah, i know. i read your comment as “you have to get an 800 on both CR and math to even be considered” sorry</p>