<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>