Hello, I want to know if it’s possible to get into Cornell with a 3.5 unweighted gpa (currently-junior year). My school is ranked in the top 25 of US, and they don’t do weighted courses. I’m trying to do well on SAT/ACT and Stand out with my extracurriculars. What ECs are good to show my interest in the medical field and any ideas on what kind of “individual passion project” should I do (I want to be a pediatrician or something related in the future)?
Good medical ECs would be HOSA and science-related clubs/competitions. Although, if you’re just joining now, it’ll be a red flag since it looks like you haven’t had extensive interest in the field. Colleges like consistency. A 3.5 UW gpa can be overlooked at Cornell if you have the test scores, essays, and other materials to make the adcom overlook it.
Colleges like to see multiple interests, but you definitely shouldn’t dabble in a ton of different things, just for the sake of an application. Colleges like to see commitment. Any medical internships you can do over the summer, independent research projects, starting a medical club at your school, etc., would be good. Definitely take both the ACT and SAT, because most people score higher/are stronger on one or the other.