Is it worth a shot? (chances ED to CALS)

Colleges & Universities Cornell University
1

<p>Major : Atmospheric Science</p>

<p>State: NJ</p>

<p>School: Public, ranked in the 70’s out of 300+ schools in NJ</p>

<p>URM Status: None, i’m white. </p>

<p>SAT: Not submitting (not a good score anyways)</p>

<p>ACT: Composite - 31, 9 essay</p>

<p>SAT Subject Tests:
Math Level 2 - 750
Physics - 690 </p>

<p>GPA - 92.7 weighted, unweighted is close to that because I didn’t take any honors or AP courses until last year… GPA reflects freshman, sophomore, and junior year. Midyear report won’t be send (unfortunately) because ED decisions are out before our 2nd quarter ends. By the way, massive upward trend. Got all B’s freshman year no honors, all A’s sophomore year but still no honors, all A’s junior year 3 honors 2 ap’s.</p>

<p>Rank: 76/423 - top 18% (see above why)</p>

<p>Senior Year Courseload:
AP Calculus BC
AP Physics C
AP Literature and Comp
AP Biology
Honors French 3
TV Production</p>

<p>APs:
AP Statistics - 5
AP Computer Science - 3</p>

<p>Essays:
Common app, I talked about how I use to be introverted and a follower but after getting NHS President my life changed and I became more extroverted and more of a leader. Everyone I showed loved this essay so I suppose it’s good. Cornell Supplement, I talked about my passion and pretty much my obsession with weather. This essay is quite good too (I think haha)</p>

<p>Teacher recs:
AP Stats teacher talked about how she was nervous about me because I hadn’t been in a honors level math class before junior year. She went on to talk about how I struggled in the beginning but I progressively got better and by January she said I was her best student. </p>

<p>History teacher talked about how I was a natural leader and on group projects we consistently got the highest grades. I don’t remember much more than that (my counselor paraphrased for me) </p>

<p>EC’s:
President of National Honor Society - 11,12
President of Computer Club - 10, 11, 12
Multicultural Club - 11,12
Key Club - 11, 12
Math Club - 10,11
JV/Varsity Tennis - 9,10,11,12
Work as a camp counselor at summer camp
Storm Spotter for SpotterNetwork</p>

<p>Other colleges I’m applying to:
UC Berkeley
University of Maryland
Penn State
Rutgers </p>

<hr>

<p>Do I have a shot? My GPA and rank are going to kill me :(… but hopefully they realize that freshman year was just a blip.</p>

2

<p>Honestly, I don’t think it’s worth it to apply ED, especially if you have other schools you have a better shot at and would apply ED to.</p>

<p>Not only are your grades and class rank subpar, but so is your course rigor. Freshman year grades are sometimes overlooked, but the fact that you didn’t take any honor or AP courses until junior year is troubling. ACT score is average, but not impressive. ECs are about average-above average, but not great. </p>

<p>But if you truly love Cornell, it’s affordable, and you really have no other options to apply early decision, then go ahead and do it! It sounds like you have excellent recommendations and perhaps excellent essays (up to the discretion of the adcom however) so if your essays are great and truly show yourself and your passion for your area of study and that along with your recommendations COULD get you an acceptance. Unfortunately, it’s still an extreme long shot and I just don’t see it happening, but who knows. </p>

<p>Another course of action you could do is instead apply regular decision so that you would (hopefully) have all A’s first semester senior year and send that in to Cornell. That would help you far more than the ED boost. You should also retake the ACT either this October (test date is 10/27, registration deadline is 10/5) or December (if you change to regular decision) and aim for a 33+, which would also help you a lot.</p>

<p>Good luck to you.</p>

3

<p>I think that Cornell reports that something like 90% of it’s 2011 incoming class was ranked in the top 10% of their HS class. Unfortunately, that would make Cornell a reach for someone in the top 18% of their class.</p>

<p>ED – if it’s your first choice, and you can afford it, why not. So long as you have a few good matches and at least one solid safety school, why not go for your dream!!</p>

4

<p>Cornell is my first choice by far. If I got in it wouldn’t even be a question that I would go (hence why I’m applying ED). </p>

<p>I realize it’s a pretty far reach but I have a 0% chance if I don’t apply. Ugh this is why people should try all four years of their high school career :(</p>

5

<p>Also: How does one convey passion for Cornell without sounding obsessive (which I am) in the supplement? Or are you even supposed to do that at all?</p>

<p>I just want them to know that it’s my dream school and would do so much just to get in :(</p>

6

<p>Do you have any way to show a passion for atmospheric sciences? Have you pursued this interest in any way? Cornell is very big on fit to school and major. If you could talk to someone in the department and make a case for how you’d be perfect for them. Maybe there aren’t that many kids who want to do that major. Otherwise - can you take your ACT again and raise it?</p>

7

<p>I told myself before my 3rd ACT that this was it. I did not want the pressure of taking another test… and I’m keeping that promise. I refuse to take it again.</p>

<p>I probably should have mentioned this though, considering it’s the only EC that deals with my major, and it’s a pretty big one. I’m a storm spotter for SpotterNetwork</p>

<p>[Spotter</a> Network](<a href=“http://www.spotternetwork.org/]Spotter”>http://www.spotternetwork.org/)</p>

<p>“The Spotter Network is dedicated to bringing storm spotters, storm chasers, coordinators and public servants together in a seamless network of information. We strive to provide accurate position data of spotters and chasers for coordination/reporting which in turn provides ground truth to public servants engaged in the protection of life and property. The network is a combination of locally installed software for position and status reporting, and web based processing and mapping.”</p>

<p>I mentioned this in my supplement and this will also be on my activities resume.</p>

8

<p>You need an excellent essay to have a good chance. Cornell will have plenty of applicants who have proven themselves top students for more than 1.5 years. So while you are likely smart enough for Cornell, given the competition, do you really deserve the spot over someone else who is also smart enough, but doesn’t have any ‘blips’ on their record? The objective in the essay is to at the same time: 1) why you fit in at Cornell 2) demonstrate that you can utilize Cornell to succeed and 3) why you are going to be a good addition to the Cornell community. </p>

<p>With a solid essay, your chances won’t be all that small.</p>

9

<p>I feel like that’s pretty difficult to do while writing about how my interests and related experiences influence the major i’ve selected (CALS essay question). However I dedicated much of my last paragraph to why I am perfect for Cornell.</p>

10

<p>Battlebrick</p>

<p>Let me reiterate my advice – Cornell is your number 1 choice and (I assume) you can afford it.</p>

<p>Based on your statistics, you are qualified in that you can probably do the work there. However, Cornell is probably a reach for you.</p>

<p>You list of colleges includes schools that are match and/or safeties. This is KEY – you’re approaching the entire process sensibly. FWIW, I’d probably recommend two or three more matches and one more safety, but my D thought I was a PITA on this point when she applied.</p>

<p>So – apply to Cornell ED – take the shot. As you say, your chances of admission are infinitely better applying than not applying.</p>

<p>Your app generally sounds good and your Teacher Recs EXCELLENT.</p>

<p>Final point – chance-me threads are pretty useless ESPECIALLY if you’ve already decided to apply.</p>

11

<p>Thanks for the advice everyone. I literally just applied 20 minutes ago. I’m very happy that it’s all over and done with. I talked about my storm spotter thing in my supplement and my short answer question. Also in my supplement, I talked about my obsession with weather and how with Ezra Cornell’s vision of “any person… any study”, I will be able to turn my “crazy” passion for weather into a dream career. Hopefully they see past my mediocre GPA/class rank and see my true passion.</p>

<p>Who knows, in two months time maybe I’ll be saying Cornell 2017!</p>

12

<p>Even I’m applying to the CALS lets say we both meet in Fall the next year :)</p>

13

<p>You’re not going to get in.</p>

14

<p>Hello, GraceTone. Do you review applications? If not, I don’t think you’re in a position to conclude that this student doesn’t have a chance.</p>

15

<p>this is why you should never do a chance thread. </p>

<p>accepted to cornell. bumping this for future applicants/whatever for motivation. i can’t believe it.</p>

16

<p>Thanks Battlebrick for the reassurance <3</p>

17

<p>It made me so happy to read that you were accepted after that ******* said you wouldn’t get in! Lol gave me such a big smile!</p>

<p>Congratulations!</p>