Do I have any chance at all?

Colleges & Universities Cornell University
1

<p>I’m finishing up my 10th grade. The whole “college is coming near” thing hit me recently, and I realised that my high school GPA so far might have screwed up my dreams. I slacked off in 9th grade because I didn’t realise the importance of everything, and since I continued the same 2-year programme I started in 9th grade in 10th grade, the things I “missed” reflected on this years’ grades too. Some basic info about my stats:</p>

<p>I go to an international IGCSE & IB school and I live in Asia.
My GPA in 9th grade was 2.99…
My GPA this year (so far) has been something above 3.5 (I got a high honour, which requires 3.5, but I don’t know my exact GPA). My average is somewhere in the mid-high 80s.
I’m starting the full IB diploma next year with an additional 7th IB certificate course, and I’m aiming high for those. Aiming high for my GPA too, hopefully. My IB diploma will be bilingual (if that helps with anything).
With the IB CAS programme I’ll have over 150 hours of service, ECs, and stuff.
I’m starting the Duke of Edinburgh gold medal programme next year.
I’m in the top 25% this year.</p>

<p>Extracurriculars & achievements:
High honour every year through middle and high school except 9th grade.
I’ve joined an international Honour Choral programme for 3 years, and I’m planning on auditioning for the coming 2 years as well.
I’ve been riding horses competitively for 6 years, have a regional 2nd place medal.
I’ve played the flute for 3 years.
I’ve played the alto saxophone in the school band as well as seperately myself for 5 years.
I played the violin for 5 years but had to quit a short while ago.
I’ve been a part of, and will be the Head of the Light & Sound crew at school.
I got accepted into an international MUN conference, but couldn’t attend because of financial difficulties.
I’m on the school debate team.</p>

<p>Also, I’d like to note that my school doesn’t allow lesson choices except for electives, which automatically lowered my grades because of some of the 14 classes I take not fitting me. </p>

<p>If all of my future plans go well, and I improve, will my consequentially low average GPA and history screw things up for me?</p>

<p>If not Cornell, where COULD I head towards?</p>

<p>Thanks for the coming help and advice…</p>

2

<p>no, as long as you get your GPA back on track, it won’t provide any hindrance towards your application. It shows improvement through the years, which is almost better than a 4.0 every year.</p>

3

<p>wow…that’s quite the resume there…and I mean that in a really good way. Trust me, if you continually improve your GPA, that would actually impress admissions people more than consistency. So don’t worry too much about your GPA; based on your extracurriculars andyour courseload, you have a good shot at Cornell and pretty anywhere else you apply to.</p>

4

<p>If you continue to improve your GPA and keep up the extracurriculars, you can most definitely get in. Counselors should be impressed with your dedication to improvement and hard work after your freshman year.</p>