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Hey, I am just looking for some feedback and/or advice. Thank you for your honest (even if brutal) comments; I appreciate your help a lot!

SAT I:
Overall - 1580
Math - 800
Verbal 780

SAT II (I just took them...these are predictions):
Writing - 710-750
Math II-C - 780-800
US History - 740-770
(I may take Chemistry - I should be in the 720-760 range)

Curriculum - most vigorous possible (including 9 AP classes by the end of senior year and 3 years of coming to school 50 minutes before anyone else to take an extra class - 0-mod)

Unweighted grade - 92%
Rank - by the end of this year, my weighted rank will be in the top 10%, but my unweighted rank may not even be in the top 15%....my class has 515 people and my school is highly competitive....I believe we have some type of "consent release" policy which means that my awful unweighted rank may not even be released (I'm not sure)....the problem in my rank is in my freshman year, when i earned straight 88s because i was too stupid to do any work....my last two years have been decidedly solid

Other academic stuff -
top 10 in my school in the Chem Olympiad and American Mathematics Competition (AMC-12)

Extra-curricular -
National Honors Society member (for which I tutor other high school students)

Futre Business Leaders of America member - placed 7th in the state at "Mr. Future Business Leader" event (the most competitive and comprehensive event); I will probably be Treasurer next year

DECA (Marketing) member - placed 1st in South Jersey at "Sports and Entertainment Marketing" both in overall and role play; won top award at state competition for the test portion for the same event

Community Service - over 1,300 hours of helping the elderly with computers at the Golden Age Senior Care Facility; helped the school and library; participated in events with the Jewish Relief Association

World Affairs Club - Steering Committee member; Lenape Model Congress – earned highest award, “Top Speaker”. Moorestown Model United Nations – earned highest award, “Best Delegate”. Participated in the following mock International Court of Justice, UPENN Model United Nations, Rutgers Model United Nations, two (2) South Jersey Model United Nations (once as a chair), two (2) Eastern Model United Nations, Rutgers Model Congress on an advanced committee, succesful fund-raising.

Sports - Captain of South Jersey All-Star Volleyball Team (17s). Started JV for Freshman and Sophomore years for Eastern Volleyball. 2004 Varsity player for Eastern Volleyball (as a Junior). Bob Bertucci Volleyball Camp participant. Eastern Volleyball Camp participant. Karate – black belt; assistant instructor. Decorated ballroom dancer (won a total of six (6) gold medals in amateur career).

Arts - played piano for 7 years, mostly for fun; selected as one of four instrumental soloists from Eastern High School to participate in Arts for Teens; I DJ for fun; also, I have a CRAZY music collection of 4,000 songs

Work - I worked as a special marketing consultant for Horn and Handart Bakery Cafe in Philly; also, I made my own company under my dad's name to create websites and ads for companies

I have an extensive knowledge of Macromedia Flash, Macromedia Dreamweaver, Macromedia Fireworks, Adobe Photoshop, Microsoft Office, and Microsoft Windows.

This summer, I will be in the Camp Business summer program (sponsored by Commerce Bank and Drexel Business School (LeBow)....this program only takes 100 people from the tri-state area....upon completion of the camp, I will work at Commerce for the rest of the summer.

Also, I was born in Ukraine and moved here when I was 5. I speak/read/write Russian fluently.

My essays should be fairly good.
My recommendations are coming from the Vice-Principal of the school (who taught one class all year: my AP U.S. History class), my Econ teacher, and my guidance counselor

I am fairly sure that my two glaring weaknesses on all my apps will be my unweighted class rank (because of freshman year) and my lack of any legacy

Majors: Marketing, International Business, and foreign affairs

Please give me any comments/feedback/recommendations you have (be as brutally honest as possible!)...THANK YOU!

By Cuspidor (Cuspidor) on Sunday, May 09, 2004 - 01:00 pm: Edit

I bet yo DO have a chance... but from what you say, you look like you haven't really taken the time to THINK about what activities you like. You've gotta come through as a unique person with a passion for learning (and your carreer). So far you seem like an A student who is good at doing as told. I'm sure this is not true, but you have to convince them of this.
They'd rather see someone who will motivate class discussion, someone innovative who will add a twist to their class. Otherwise, you're just another typical A student with excellent ECs.

By Dostoyevsky (Dostoyevsky) on Sunday, May 09, 2004 - 02:48 pm: Edit

well....in school, i am undoubtedly the most active person in class discussions (no matter what class)....but how do you think I should convey this (other than my recommendations, which will surely testify that I am what I claim to be concerning motivating class discussion)?

my true loves are:
business stuff (especially marketing)
volleyball
world affairs

the other stuff i like and all, but it is merely supplementary (although i am good at a lot of other stuff like computer graphics)

so what do you recommend I do?

thanks for the critique and advice!

By Cuspidor (Cuspidor) on Sunday, May 09, 2004 - 07:07 pm: Edit

I would suggest that you present some kind of evidence of independent research on those issues in business that interest you the most.
For example, you can use the additional essay on the application to do that. Also, you can write it on the part that says Why do you wanna come to cornell.
Show them that your level of curiosity in the field that motivates you exceeds that of the applicant pool. Maybe you can have a member of faculty interview you and write you a recommendation.
I hope that helps.

By Noripj (Noripj) on Monday, May 10, 2004 - 10:07 pm: Edit

Well, if I were on the admissions board, your stats would only make you eligible to apply. You must make a few arguments for admissions.

1.) What is it about Cornell that you need to achieve your legitimate goals? (Why is Cornell different from all the other Universities out there?)

2.) What can you offer Cornell that other students who also qualify to apply can't.

3.) Why is Cornell your number one choice? Is it because US News ranks it high, or because you rank it high?

I think you will have to convince yourself and the admissions office that Cornell is not the best school in the world, but the best school for you in the world. Do you follow any Cornell professor's research? Have you done any research yourself? You must distinguish yourself from all of the other academics as a scholar, not just a phenominal student.

By Cornellhopeful (Cornellhopeful) on Tuesday, May 11, 2004 - 03:34 pm: Edit

I also think you have a good chance. Also, i don't know if you've thought about it or not, but are you applying to Penn? They have the Huntsman Program in International Studies and Business. Your academic and EC interests seem to match the Huntsman Program. It's EXTREMELY difficult to get in. You are fluent in Russian, and they look for those who have intermediate knowledge of a language. It's a top choice if you're interested in business and international affairs. You can go to the Penn site for more info.

By Dostoyevsky (Dostoyevsky) on Tuesday, May 11, 2004 - 08:04 pm: Edit

i know about the program, and i will most likely apply (and get rejected) from it lol....my gpa is NOT nearly good enough, unfortunately; however, thank you for the advice....man, i don't know if i can get into a good school, but a GREAT program at a GREAT school is really pushing it for me lol.....i wish though!

By Theshadow0710 (Theshadow0710) on Sunday, May 16, 2004 - 03:42 pm: Edit

If you want a really good foreign affairs program try the Walsh School of Foreign Service, I was going to apply there but since I am Jewish and it a Jesuit school.............yea.....try that one.