Cornell ED Class of 2024 Results

Colleges & Universities Cornell University
21

Replace the “[a” below with “[” .

**Decision: Accepted **

Objective:
SAT I (breakdown): 1450 (M: 740, R: 710)
ACT (breakdown): 33
SAT II:
Unweighted GPA (out of 4.0): 3.3 uw / 4.8 out of 6 weighted
Rank (percentile if rank is unavailable): n/a
AP (place score in parenthesis): Lang Comp: 5 World History: 4 APUSH: 5
IB (place score in parenthesis):
Senior Year Course Load: Wind Ensemble (Band), A.P. Lit, A.P. Calc AB, A.P. Economics, A.P. Spanish Lang
Major Awards (USAMO, Intel etc.): National Hispanic Scholar

Subjective:

Extracurriculars (place leadership in parenthesis): 4 year member of school’s band program, eventually became Oboe section leader of school’s Wind Ensemble (highest tier band in school, audition only). Public Relations Officer of school’s Spanish National Honors Society. 3 year member of student council. President of school’s Contemporary Culture Society (club focused on talking about modern-day issues in a socratic-like environment)
Job/Work Experience:
Volunteer/Community service:
Summer Activities:
Essays (rating 1-10, details):

Common App: 10/10. I wrote about salchipapa (s/o to my peruvians) and how it reflects on the person who I am today. Talked about how I value the American dream while also mentioning my love for hispanic culture and how it teaches me so many valuable life lessons. I wanted to make my essay as unique as possible, and I think it was the thing that got me accepted.

Supplemental: 9/10. Talked about the mind and how its power can lead one to do extraordinary things (beatles making abbey road). Focused on the idea that at the College of Arts and Sciences, I wouldn’t be graduating with just a economics degree, but with a degree that would be unique to me. The ending was eh, but overall I think I killed the essay

Recommendations (rating 1-10, details):

Teacher Rec #1: 8/10, A.P.Physics Teacher. Didn’t really focus on my academics, instead focused on my character. Talked about my passion for learning and how I wish to make a change in the world. Gave it an 8 for how short it was, but overall, it was a really good essay. Almost made me tear up lol
Teacher Rec #2: 10/10 A.P. World History Teacher. Didn’t get to see this one yet but he said he loved writing my essay. I did really well in his class, and I was an attorney for one of his mock trials (got no sleep during that time). Also participated in his philosophy club, which I really enjoyed because it really broadened my perspective on the world. Great teacher!
Counselor Rec: 10/10. She was able to give the AO some perspective on my upbringing and how I was able to achieve a lot while also being limited due to growing up in a Hispanic household. Pretty sure she also talked about my character as well.
Additional Rec:
Interview: 75/25. I was really energetic throughout the whole interview, but it was kinda short and I asked sorta basic questions

Other

Applied for Financial Aid?: Yes
Intended Major and College: Economics, College of Arts & Sciences
State (if domestic applicant): NJ
Country (if international applicant): US
School Type: Suburban Public
Ethnicity: Hispanic
Gender: M
Income Bracket: <$150,000
Hooks (URM, first generation college, etc.): first gen, URM

Reflection

Strengths: Hooks, Letters of Rec, ESSAYS!
Weaknesses: GPA!!
Why you think you were accepted/deferred/rejected: Prob because I am an URM, but also because those essays carried me.
Where else were you accepted/deferred/rejected:

General Comments : apply to colleges you don’t think you’re gonna get into. I thought I had a 0 percent chance of getting into Cornell, but somehow I defied the odds!

1 Like
22

**Decision: Rejected **

Objective:
SAT I (breakdown): 1600 (one sitting, no essay)
ACT (breakdown): 36 C (one sitting, 36 on each section, 11/12 on writing)
SAT II: 800 Math 2, 800 Physics. 800 Lit, 790 Chem
Unweighted GPA (out of 4.0): I split time between two different schools, one that had a GPA on 4.0 scale, and the other on a 100 point scale. If I had to approximate, I’d say 3.8
Rank (percentile if rank is unavailable): Top 10%
AP (place score in parenthesis): 5 BC Calc, 5 Chem, 5 Physics C Mechanics, 5 English Language, 5 World History, 5 US History, 5 Stats, 4 Bio,
IB (place score in parenthesis):
Senior Year Course Load: Linear Algebra, Organic Chemistry, AP CompSci, Senior English (everyone takes it), Intro to Architecture
Major Awards (USAMO, Intel etc.): National AP Scholar

Subjective:

Extracurriculars (place leadership in parenthesis): swimming, math team captain, politics club leader, physics club
Job/Work Experience: LG each summer since 16, started teaching swim lessons last year. Also worked at a local fast-food restaurant for a few months
Volunteer/Community service:
Summer Activities:

Essays (rating 1-10, details): Common App: 7/10. I wrote about the summer I helped my grandfather recover from his shoulder surgery. Kind of ‘meh’ in my opinion.
Supplemental: 7/10. Nothing special or creative. I just talked about what appealed to me in CAS for my major and other related fields I wanted to study/conduct research in.

Recommendations (rating 1-10, details):

Teacher Rec #1: 9/10. I thought it was pretty good. It was my AP Physics teacher and we always met to talk outside of class about non-academic stuff.
Teacher Rec #2: 9/10 Also assumed it was pretty good. It was my Multivariable Calc teacher who nominated me for the all-school math award at the end of the year.
Counselor Rec: 9/10. We got along well, not much else to say really TBH.
Additional Rec:
Interview:

Other

Applied for Financial Aid?: Yes
Intended Major and College: CAS, Mathematics
State (if domestic applicant): Massachusetts
Country (if international applicant):
School Type: Tier 1 New England Boarding School for grades 10-12, competitive day school for grade 9.
Ethnicity: White
Gender: Male
Income Bracket: $100k-$150K
Hooks (URM, first generation college, etc.): n/a

Reflection

Strengths: Test Scores, GPA, curriculum
Weaknesses: Essays, extracurriculars, really anything subjective.
Why you think you were accepted/deferred/rejected: Honestly I really don’t have much personality, and I think it showed in my essays and lack of extracurriculars.
Where else were you accepted/deferred/rejected: Rejected from CalTech and MIT

General Comments :

While I was pretty bummed at first, I came to understand that Cornell gets tons of students with similar academic profiles to me, and I just didn’t have anything to stand out. I’m just a pretty bland person who doesn’t have much to contribute beyond academic achievement, and kids like that are a dime a dozen. Out of the six kids who did ED to Cornell from my school, I was the only one to get flat out rejected. On to RD I guess!

23

“kids like that are a dime a dozen” - not true at all. You have very impressive achievements and stats others can only dream about. I think the six apps from one high school may have counted against you. Like you say, your essays may be lackluster too, but there are plenty of colleges that look harder at stats than essays. Get someone to read your essays and give feedback. The content sounds good but the tone may need to convey more enthusiasm and introspection. Also it is not too late to apply to a few colleges who focus more on stats. WashU is one that comes to mind since they only recently added the supplemental essay requirement. Good luck!

24

**Decision: Deferred **

Objective:
SAT I (breakdown): 1530 (M: 800 R: 730)
ACT (breakdown):
SAT II: Math II: 800
Unweighted GPA (out of 4.0): 3.89
Rank (percentile if rank is unavailable): 15 / 394
AP (place score in parenthesis): world 4, cs principles 3, lang 4, stats 4, psych 4, cs a 4, gov 4, Spanish lang 3, lit 3, physics I (4)

IB (place score in parenthesis): math sl (7), going to be taking in May: bio sl, computer studies hl, English hl, history of americas hl, Spanish sl
Senior Year Course Load: ib Spanish 5, ib contemporary history, ib English 4, ib bio, ib computer studies 2, theory of knowledge, Java database (honors), Linear Algebra (dual enroll), Discrete Math (dual enroll)
Major Awards (USAMO, Intel etc.):
a few mu alpha theta things (regional level)
literally nothing else woot woot
Subjective:

Extracurriculars (place leadership in parenthesis):
annual heritage assembly, I danced in it and raised money for 3rd world countries (also historian)
NHS
Mu alpha theta
varsity track & cross country
Job/Work Experience: bolay (fast food restaurant), paid intern at research institute since June 2019 in drug discovery (Scripps Research)
Volunteer/Community service: 300+ hours/ mostly worked with kids (I love them and teaching), art camps, summer stem camps, soccer camp for disabled kids,
Summer Activities: listed above
Essays (rating 1-10, details):
common app (6/10) spent a lot of time on it but I couldn’t get it to where I loved it, kinda basic but from the heart
supplemental (9/10) I liked it a lot, combined my interests and goals
Recommendations (rating 1-10, details):

Teacher Rec #1: 10/10 math teacher loved me and let me read it, really sweet showed my personality a lot over my grades
Teacher Rec #2: 8/10 English teacher, not as close to her but she’s cool w me
Counselor Rec: 10/10 knows me thinks im a try hard and went from hating me freshman yr to liking me now
Additional Rec: 7/10 CS teacher, kinda bland but did let some pers. shine through
Interview: 9/10 loved her, remembered my name at a college fair and reached out to me. I spelled her name wrong when I emailed her to thank her tho oops

Other

Applied for Financial Aid?: yes
Intended Major and College: CALS, bio
State (if domestic applicant): FL
Country (if international applicant):
School Type: public
Ethnicity: Asian
Gender: F
Income Bracket: 100k
Hooks (URM, first generation college, etc.): none

Reflection I could have done better on my essays, should have tried harder my junior year (doubled my B’s that year because I was dumb),

Strengths: I showed out of school interest in my intended major ig
Weaknesses: mediocre at everything I do, barely any leadership, even my test scores and grades were average, just not notable
Why you think you were accepted/deferred/rejected:
Where else were you accepted/deferred/rejected: none back yet

General Comments: the college admissions process kinda sucks, don’t let the comparison get to you

25

[asize=4][acolor=#008000]Decision: Accepted [/color][/size]

Objective:
SAT I (breakdown): 1560 (M:800 and R:760) Essay: 21
ACT (breakdown): Didn’t take
SAT II: U.S. History: 780 and Biology E: 760
Unweighted GPA (out of 4.0): 4.0
Rank (percentile if rank is unavailable): Top Decile
AP (place score in parenthesis): APUSH (5), Macro (5), and European History (5)
IB (place score in parenthesis): N/A
Senior Year Course Load: AP Lit, Advanced Science Research, AP Physics, AP Spanish, AP Bio, and Social Studies
Major Awards (USAMO, Intel etc.): National Merit Commended Student, 3rd place human ecology at International Science Fair, Grand Finalist at WESEF fair, and 1st place at Somers Science Fair.

Subjective:

Extracurriculars (place leadership in parenthesis): Varsity swimming and track (5 years and captain), Club Swim Team (Captain), Science Research Program.
Job/Work Experience: Lifeguard (3 summers) and Research Intern (16 total weeks)
Volunteer/Community service: Appalachian Service Project (Rebuilding homes for people in poor areas of West Virginia) in an annual service trip, and teaching local kids to swim in the morning at my town pool.
Summer Activities: Research intern at Mount Sinai in Manhattan for cancer research and weekend work.
Essays (rating 1-10, details): 8/10: I wrote about gaining new perspective from working in a big hospital and seeing people at their worst. I definitely wrote it based on an actual passion which I think helped.
Recommendations (rating 1-10, details):

Teacher Rec #1: 10/10: This was my AP Euro teacher. I loved his class and excelled, but beyond that we have a close relationship. He told me after he wrote it that it was his favorite recommendation he’s written.
Teacher Rec #2: 8/10: My research teacher wrote it and we’ve spent 3 years together being extremely close. He could definitely speak to my personality, but he was very busy during application season and I think he may have rushed through all of them.
Counselor Rec: 2/10: I’ve only spoken to my counselor a few times and he doesn’t know any of my extra curricular activities. I’m pretty sure it was just a form letter.
Additional Rec: N/A
Interview: I actually didn’t get an interview.

Other

Applied for Financial Aid?: Yes
Intended Major and College: Biology
State (if domestic applicant): NY
Country (if international applicant):
School Type: Public
Ethnicity: White
Gender: Female
Income Bracket: 150,000
Hooks (URM, first generation college, etc.):

Reflection

Strengths: My grades and extracurriculars were strong. My cancer research was also definitely a plus.
Weaknesses: My essays may not have been the strongest.
Why you think you were accepted/deferred/rejected: I think my overall profile was impressive and there was a good combination of qualifications.
Where else were you accepted/deferred/rejected: I was accepted at Binghamton and the University of Michigan (Withdrew all other apps before hearing)

1 Like
26

**Decision: Accepted ED/b

Objective:
SAT I (breakdown): 1570 (M:790 R:780)
SAT II: Chem (800), Math II (800)
WGPA (100 scale): 102.55
Rank (percentile if rank is unavailable): Top 5%
AP (place score in parenthesis): Lang (5) Calc AB (5) APUSH (5) French (4) Chem
Senior Year Course Load: AP Lit, AP Econ, Wind Ensemble, AP Phys C, AP Calc BC, AP Stats
Major Awards (USAMO, Intel etc.): Princeton Chemagination - New Materials - 1st Place

Subjective:

Extracurriculars (place leadership in parenthesis): Electrical Engineering Club (Founder/President), Johnson & Johnson Technology Awareness Program, Quincunx Environmental Organization (Founder/President), Eastern Wind Symphony Youth Band (2nd Oboist), Varsity Cross Country, Student Executive Board, iStem Club, TED-Ed Club, NHS, SHF, Tri-M.

Job/Work Experience: Lifeguard @ YMCA for 2 years

Volunteer/Community service: Interact Club: delivered food, clothes and toys to low-income households during the holiday season; cooked at Ronald McDonald House for patients at RWJ Hospital. Administrative and Teaching Assistant @ Huaxia Chinese School: assisted supervisors and teachers with printing, copying, scanning, delivering classwork in a timely fashion. Homework Help Center @ local library.

Summer Activities: Worked on my fledgling small business, Quincunx Environmental Organization: invested in sewing machine with money earned from lifeguarding; created canvas tote bags to deter plastic bag usage in the community.

Essays (rating 1-10, details): Common App: 10/10 I wrote about the various nuanced definitions of “cool” and how my own outlook on the “cool kids” morphed over time. Supplement: 10/10 I wrote about my dream to build hovercars and how Cornell was the perfect place to incubate that dream, included some background info on the subject and mentioned specific professors, classes, and clubs I wanted to join at Cornell.

Recommendations (rating 1-10, details):

Teacher Rec #1: 8/10 AP Lang teacher. I was one of the best writers he’s ever had and one of his favorite students, and I’m sure he crafted a very eloquent letter of rec for me.
Teacher Rec #2: 8/10 AP Calc AB/BC/homeroom teacher. I’ve known him for all 4 years of high school and have excelled in his classes. We both have quiet personalities and have a great bond.
Teacher Rec #3: 6/10 AP French teacher. I was one of the highest-scoring students in the class and one of her favorite students. She’s super nice and I’m sure wrote a very kind letter of rec to everyone. Though since I applied to Engineering don’t know how relevant the French letter of rec was…
Counselor Rec: 6/10 I don’t have a close bond with my counselor since she has so many students, though I’m sure she packaged all my stats and accomplishments very compellingly.
Additional Rec: One of the judges from the Princeton Chemagination competition. He was the one who judged my project and awarded me 1st place. Don’t know how much he wrote, but it must’ve helped lol.
Interview: N/A

Other

Applied for Financial Aid?: Yes
Intended Major and College: Materials Science (subject to change), Engineering
State (if domestic applicant): NJ
Country (if international applicant):
School Type: Public
Ethnicity: Asian
Gender: Male
Income Bracket: 90k
Hooks (URM, first generation college, etc.):

Reflection

Strengths: Writing skills.
Weaknesses: GPA.
Why you think you were accepted/deferred/rejected: Essays.
Where else were you accepted/deferred/rejected: Nowhere else.

General Comments: Yay :smile:

27

thank you so much! i haven’t seen anyone apply for healthcare policy before so this advice is incredibly useful!! @perspica