Hi, please chance me for cornell CALS. I wish to study food sciences.
Inuit male that current lives in Nunavut, Canada
Family income: Below 50k CAD/38k USD. Both my parents are hunters/tradespeople. They don’t have the typical office jobs.
GPA: 3.91/4 unweighted
Rank: 1/23 (am I competitive?)
SAT: 1540 on my first try (780 math, 760 English)
SAT II: Bio E- 760, MATH 2: 770
ACT: Did not take
AP: What are AP’s?
Circumstances: I had to fly to Ontario to take these.
Extracurriculars:
(1) Won regional/provincial SEEL AND SNOW RABBIT hunting competitions.
(2) Local youth leader
(2) Founder of our schools student leadership council.
(3) In charge of managing our local herd of about 30 reindeer and sled dogs.
Hooks: parents only have a high school education, I’m Inuit first nations (“aboriginal”), low income
Clearly you need to have a backup, and there are lot of excellent ones in Canada.
It is very hard to predict admissions to Ivy League universities. Personally I think that your chances are pretty good. If I remember correctly Cornell accepts about 15% of applicants. My guess is that you chances are at least 15%, and possibly a bit higher than that. I would still guess probably less than 50%.
Expect Cornell to be a lot of work. The work will not let up for four years. Given what you have already accomplished (which is impressive) I am pretty sure that you can handle it as long as you want to do it.
I will be applying to Canadian as well as American universities. In my settlement, it is quite rare for kids my age to go to university or any type of higher education. Usually, we work for the tribe, become hunters/tradespeople, etc.
I do recall a couple years ago that someone in my tribe got into Cornell CAS for an arts major (she did Inuit paintings/drawings), this Inuit girl was the only one that I know of other than me who ever applied to the Ivy League.
We’ll see what happens though, as I feel my hooks and my background are quite unique, and coupled with the other aspects of my application, I will hope it is enough.
My common application essay is about when I had my coming of age ritual where I basically had to hunt, butcher and kill my own seal and the experiences and struggles I had doing it. It’s a great representation of my culture and our connection with nature.
My cornell supplement is about why I’ve developed a passion for plants and agriculture. In Nunavut, there is not much you can grow (most of our fruits/vegetables are either imported or canned). In my grade 10 summer, I went on a fieldtrip to Ontario where we got to volunteer on a farm. The great experiences of that trip is what I will talk about in my supplement.
Also- an explanation as to why me and the girl both only applied to Cornell: based on videos of the campus, it seems to have the most beautiful and open landscape. It has great arts/biology majors (which are very attractive to First Nations people). People say it’s too cold and snowy, but for someone like me who lives in a land where the temperature can easily drop to -60 degrees and snow all year, Cornell winters are nothing; in fact, it reminds me most of home.
If Cornell is your first choice, apply ED. IMO, your background along with your grades/scores makes you a compelling applicant but your chances are much higher ED.
I just want to say that I hope you get in - I have no idea if you will or not but you clearly have a very unique story and it sounds like an interest and talent for a subject that would be useful for your community. Best wishes to you!
Your hook looks very good. However, you are the best of 23 students could cast some doubt in the Adcom’s mind. Cornell ( and other selective colleges) want students it accepts to succeed. It is important that your letter of recommendations and your essay be really good. Make sure you tie your essay to why Cornell and why Cornell should pick you over many other excellent candidate. I’d keep the essay positive, uplifting/inspiring but not too graphic.
You, together with your teachers and guidance counselor, need to show them that you are prepared and will succeed if accepted. Best of luck. Please let us know the outcome. i, for one, am rooting for you.
My school only has around 150 kids, of which 23 are in my grade. A school of 150 people is considered a gigantic school from where I live. I know it isn’t a lot, but they should consider my location (a small settlement in Nunavut), and the opportunities I get. Also, I got a 1540 on the SAT on my first try as well as great SAT II scores which shows that I can do well academically. My letter of reccomendation will come from the principal, my sciences teacher and my math teacher.
I think you have an excellent chance applying early decision. However, you do need a lot of financial aid. Cornell is need-aware for international students, meaning the amount of aid you need could affect your admission decision. Nevertheless, I still feel you have an excellent chance. If you are admitted, Cornell commits to meeting your full financial need (THEIR definition of financial need). Please review this information about Cornell financial aid for international students:
I think you have an excellent chance of getting into Cornell for food science. That is my daughter’s major as well. However Cornell’s financial aid is not as generous as some of the other prestigious schools. Do yourself a favor and also apply to some of the other Ivy League institutions, Stanford, Duke, and/or MIT to help you get as much aid as possible. According to Cornell they welcome the opportunity to match those schools financial aid offers. Good luck!
@efefsef: You should be admitted to Cornell, but beware that the killing of seals is a sensitive issue in the US. (Stress the survival aspect, not the killing side.)
Consider Dartmouth College & the University of Montana as well as Cornell University.
St. Lawrence University & Bowdoin College are LACs to consider.
I suspect that you would be admitted to almost every college & university in the US. And I am being serious. Native American aboriginal applicants are rare & even more so with your outstanding qualifications.
@UglyMom Yes, Cornell’s financial aid isn’t need blind, which may be a slight problem. However, I plan on applying to Cornell ED with financial aid, then RD with other Ivy League/top schools. If I don’t get enough financial aid, I can escape the ED contract.
@Publisher Thanks for the feedback! And I will definitely be careful.
I feel like I have a good chance because I’ve definitely showed that I’m a qualified applicant coupled with my background and hooks. We’ll see what happens.