<p>For an African American , Fist generation . how are a few bad grades looked at ? What can out weigh it?</p>
<p>What does your race matter? I think you already know the answer to this question, you just want some assertions to make yourself feel better. I don’t think a few bad grades matter in the long run. What can outweigh it? Getting A’s. You’ll see your GPA gradually rise. Though mine sharply rose after getting all As in the previous semester.</p>
<p>balance it with other things that youre passionate about like EC’s, volunteering, awards, etc etc and if youre good enough in other aspects it wont matter too much 
depends on the grade though </p>
<p>It depends on who’s looking. A few bad grades to a school like Harvard might mean you’re not studious enough. To other colleges it probably just means you had a life or that wasn’t your best subject. What balances out bad grades are better grades and EC’s like has already been stated.</p>
<p>If your study habits are your problem, exam time saved my grades and how I study. There’s a planner that keeps track of everything for you. Really convenient. If not, start to work hard and pick up the slack! Good luck :)</p>
<p>Some will say that being AA will allow you to go past go. Isn’t going to happen. You must strive for excellence. The competition is far too stiff. Even more important are your LORs. What will your teachers say about you? Your character? Your maturity? Your drive, ability to persevere…etc. </p>
<p>Will you be applying to school in the fall? Which classes did you receive the bad grades? Are they C’s? Or D’s/F’s? </p>
<p>GPA and transcript are the two most important evaluation factors. in other threads you asked about a 3.0GPA – if this indeed is your GPA (you’ve been circumspect about this) and with Cornell’s applicant pool, you should REALLY focus on another suite of target schools. You’re not even in the ball park.</p>
<p>I know you’ve stated this: <a href=“Cornell - #5 by chambersw - African-American Students - College Confidential Forums”>Cornell - #5 by chambersw - African-American Students - College Confidential Forums;
<p>But entering into your 12th grade year, there is little more for you to do. You might also look up some proverbs about heeding the advice of teachers and elders. </p>
<p>Plus, you seem to make Cornell into some utopian goal. Why is that? Why is “Cornell” and its name so important to you? Because it’s an Ivy? Can you name 2 or 3 other colleges that you’re striving towards similar to Cornell? What does the rest of your target college list look like? Or are you name-chasing?</p>
<p>You said you’re African American and a first generation to attend college. That’s fantastic. Now focus that energy and achievement into something that will truly enhance you and prepare you for life. A degree with the words “CORNELL” printed on it isn’t a magic bean that’ll grow a stalk up to the sky.</p>
<p>Please, please – re-evaluate a realistic suite of target schools. You’re setting yourself up for a fall. You’ve slipped to defending yourself and your choices when people are honestly trying to give you advice. Soon, people will stop giving you advice. Given the rash of “oh please is there any way I can get in” posts you started since the conversation on Jun 19th – I don’t see anything changing.</p>
<p>@T26E4 </p>
<p>You are correct. I misspoke when I said even more important were the LORs. I thought about that after I hit “post comment”, I meant to correct but got pulled away from my screen. But remember you LORs are important, for any school that you apply to.They will give a nice picture of who you are outside of your grades & standardized test scores. </p>
<p>@T26E4 , You are wrong . I will not be focusing on another target school. However i do have other schools that i am also looking at . My GPA ,may be out of the ball park , but my entire application will be in the ball park . So funny how you say that i am seting myself up for a fail , when you did not even ask about my SAT scores, SAT 2’S ,EC , and awards . Some kids with 3.0s and low SATS got in , but i guess no one looks at the bigger picture . Other than saying that i am seting myself up for a fall . Why don’t you ask about my other academic factors and non academic factors , and then give a fair judgement from that . In other words look at everything before you make a decision , i think that will help you to give constructive advice. Also when i ask for help or advice on here , i expect to hear what i need to improve and what is already good .</p>
<p>OP,</p>
<p>@chambersw, I just read your last thread. I see that you have a D in one class, and an F in another. </p>
<p>My own DD just finished her application cycle. She had a very stellar transcript, solid standardized test scores, amazing LORs, interesting/odd/quirky ECs for someone who looks like her…She(we) never assumed that she was a shoo in for any of the schools on her list. She never asked if being AA would get her in, would give her a pass. She always knew that she had to be a top applicant, in every area. She worked hard, in all areas, for all four years & didn’t decide to get serious about her grades at the end of her junior year, like you seem to be doing. </p>
<p>She(we) had a VERY healthy grasp of reality and were prepared to be told “no” by most if the schools on her list. Do we have faith? You bet your a*s we do, but we were also VERY realistic. We were beyond shocked when each acceptance rolled in this past March. I helped her to fall out of love with her top choices. Why? Because there were no guarantees & I didn’t want her to be heartbroken. You have fallen in love with Cornell, but will Cornell reciprocate that love? Please be realistic about your list. Start to find schools that you will be happy attending. They are out there. </p>
<p>And you must be open to advice when you ask for it. If everyone is saying the same thing, there must be some truth in those words.</p>
<p>You will find a college, but I highly doubt that it will be Cornell. </p>
<p>You ask what can outweigh bad grades? Maybe the last names of Clinton, Trump, Obama or if you were a developmental admit. Outside of that, there is very little that can make adcoms ignore a D and an F. Even double legacies have to be kick a*s. </p>
<p>@chambersw ,</p>
<p>I’ll bite, tell us more about yourself. Give us a better picture of who you are. </p>
<p>I just read that you have a 2300. Great score! You can only apply and see what happens next March. One thing I never did was ask for validation of my DDs credentials on this site. I came here to learn about the process, not if she was a good candidate. If you feel that you are a strong candidate, then go for it. But please stop asking if being AA will get you in. Be the best candidate, for your own sake, take race out of the equation. </p>
<p>It’s tantamount to asking if having a disability will get you a seat in first class on an airplane. </p>
<p>I agree with New Haven CT mom, it seriously irked me how you think that being black, first generation while getting a D and an F in a class, and a 3.0 GPA as you said in other posts along with this one should give you a pass. And when people use their status as AA to think they deserve things due to the struggles that AA have went through in the past without putting any effort in on their part it upsets me. Earlier this year three people at my school told me, “I don’t understand why you’re worried about your grades or which colleges will accept you; you’re black.” That really pissed me off because my parents are the first of their families to come from Nigeria and moved to America to give my sisters a me a better life than they have. I busted my butt off to try to get mostly A’s. Yes, I was worried about my grades because I kind of slacked (not kind of did) second semester of sophomore year during track season and got two B+'s in two honors courses. There are plenty of people with UW 4.0s that don’t get into certain schools because of their GPAs and I have a UW 3.97 and in this day and age schools are really competitive so don’t assume anything (I’m not). So as far as I am concerned you did not really try your hardest at all; you basically just assumed I’m black so I deserve this this and this be realistic. BTW what are your safety schools anyway??</p>
<p>chamber: I wish you the best. However, I’ll leave this with you. Your entire posting history appears slanted towards finding an affirmation of your desire rather than an honest search for the truth. Your 2200 and 3.0GPA with very little time to fix it is not anywhere near the mix for a successful Cornell application. It’s my opinion only. </p>
<p>However, be honest with yourself (I feel you’ve not been). You’re looking for confirmation of a favorable scenario for yourself. You’ve not gotten any as far as I can see. Read through your threads. No where do I see you say: “Wow. I didn’t know it is going to be this rough.” No one needs you to bow down. But to have each reply, by people who have no pony in the race, refuted by a prepared defense – well… </p>
<p>Good luck</p>
<p>And you continue in negativity . Keep your deconstructive and negative opinion to yourself . You can be realistic , constructive and positive all at the same time. I will definitely be a competitive Cornell applicant , and i will get in , I will prove that to you . I also do not intend on me being AA and first generation to put me in , but it does add to my story , and that is who i am . I do not believe it will single handley get me anywhere in life . As i said people with 3.0 GPA’S AND LOW SAT scores have been admitted , in small numbers , but they still were admitted . So i have faith , and i believe in myself . I will not allow you to run my life and tell me what i can and cannot accomplish . I am not trying to find any kind of affirmation , i want a constructive opinion , telling me my weaknesses and my strengths.Also my 2300 is very much near a succesful Corenll aplication . @T26E4</p>
<p>Post edited to remove reference to foul language and confrontational statements. Against the Terms of Service. - FC</p>
<p>My SAT score , my SAT subject test scores , my college transcipt ( from the college classes that i am doing while in high school, lol) , extra curriculars , my essays , and reccomendations , will and are very much near a successful Cornell application! @T26E4</p>
<p>@chambersw: You act like you are “entitled” to be accepted to Cornell regardless of what anyone tells you. You posted on CC asking for opinions and you got many, but unfortunately these opinions are not what you want to hear so why post in the first place??? We are not admission officers so all we can do is give you an educated guess. If you did your research thoroughly and after the acceptances have been sent, you will find most of the opinions stated were on target. I wish you Good Luck. It is never bad to “dream” but unfortunately you need to live with the reality.</p>
<p>Actually I am " entitled " to positive constructive criticism , which has reality in it ,if you know how to do it . I did post and I got different opinions , and I also have the right to agree or disagree with different peoples opinions .That matter is not if I want to hear it or not , because a person can give you a positive answer that has reality in it . You should seek to help the person before you put them down . So for you and your little friends on here that like to spread negativity , stop putting down people to make yourselves feel better .More importantly , I am not dreaming , I already know what will happen , Faith , you should get some . @Gumbymom</p>
<p>Are you being recruited to play a sport? ;)</p>
<p>It really depends on your overall GPA. If you have a few bad classes, yet can maintain around a 3.8/3.9, then you’l be fine!</p>
<p>Here’s some positive feedback: cast your net widely so you aren’t devastated if/when you get rejected from Cornell or any other school. Apply to several schools you would love to attend (reaches, targets, and safeties) since it’s sometimes hard to predict. And I say that to everyone. Also, you put yourself out there for feedback, now try to accept what you got. If you didn’t want to hear people’s opinions, you shouldn’t have asked.</p>
<p>@NewHavenCTmom, where did you see that he actually had a 2300? On another thread, three days ago he asked how would a 2200 and a 3.0 look to Cornell. I think he may be asking hypothetically. OP, it is great to have high aspirations but you need to also be realistic and concentrate more on plan B. Those of us that have been around CC for years have seen students obsess over a particular school that is 99% out of their reach only to be devestated when the results come in. If you were truly serious about improving your application, you should be retaking calculus in summer school instead of starting countless threads asking the same thing and then getting rude and defensive when people tell you the truth.</p>