Click here to go to the NEW College Discussion Forum

I will be applying ED to the hotel school at Cornell this fall. I am an NY state resident and white female.  Here are my stats:

GPA: 106.something weighted (hardest classes possible at my school)
Ranking: school doesn't rank, but top 3% of 250 (+- 10) students
SAT I: 1270 verbal 580, math 690 (retaking, very disappointed, got a 1250 PSAT, took Kaplan course, math went down by 20 and verbal up by only 40)
SAT II: 730 writing, 660 chem, 650 math ic (retaking) the hotel school only requires 2 SAT IIs
ACT: 27 composite (30 math, 29 English, 28 science, 22 reading)

Awards:
French award (2 years), Band award, Outstanding band participation (3 years), National photography contest, district winner (3 years), Student of the month Math

Competitions:
NYSSMA (9th, 10th), All-State Festival (11th), Canadian Chemistry Exam (11th), Intel Science Talent Search (12th) .. my paper relates to what I would like to study in college

Activities:
Founder of children's literarcy program, Part of establishment of Clarinet Trio, President of National Beta Club (12), VP National Beta Club (11), VP Student council (9-10), Band (all years, section leader 10-12), Marching band (all years, section leader 10-12), Jazz band (9-12), Pit Orchestra (10-12), Philharmonic Orchestra (10-12), National HS (11-12), Tri-M Music HS (11-12), Foreign Language HS (11-12)

Work/Volunteer (during school):
Volunteer at library for children's crafts, Volunteer for prestigious group that helps fix up homes for elderly and underprivileged persons, Published author

Summer Experiences:
Law intern at county executive (very prestigious office) (2 summers) Fencing classes at local college (2 summers) Volunteer at library for children's crafts and reading (3 summers) Camp counselor (1 summer) Art classes at museum (2 summers)

I play two instruments.  My mom did not attend college and my dad has a very limited college degree. I know my SATs are not the greatest, but I am working really hard to try to improve them (any suggestions, especially for critical reading, are appreciated). I want to continue music and fencing in college.  Probably French and photography, too. I am interested in studying hospitality/business law. I have great recommendations from two teachers from my school who both know me extremely well. Please leave any comments, suggestions, etc. Thanks :-)

By Collegewannabe (Collegewannabe) on Wednesday, July 07, 2004 - 10:26 pm: Edit

do you have work expierence

By Csugarman (Csugarman) on Wednesday, July 07, 2004 - 10:31 pm: Edit

I tutor and I've worked as a camp counselor. I've also worked at a big law office and I am applying for a job at a local hotel.

By Collegewannabe (Collegewannabe) on Wednesday, July 07, 2004 - 11:50 pm: Edit

the thing is i was going to apply to hotel school but i couldnt find a hotel job

By Collegewannabe (Collegewannabe) on Wednesday, July 07, 2004 - 11:50 pm: Edit

with out the job its waste of time applying

By Csugarman (Csugarman) on Thursday, July 08, 2004 - 07:36 am: Edit

I don't believe that. I think anyone can get in and not have to work for a hotel. In fact, I'm interested in hospitality LAW, not exactly managing a hotel. The hotel school is my best fit, though.
I am still applying even if it is a "waste of time."
The most important thing is faith.

By Csugarman (Csugarman) on Thursday, July 08, 2004 - 08:48 pm: Edit

anyone? please?

By Collegewannabe (Collegewannabe) on Thursday, July 08, 2004 - 11:33 pm: Edit

If you call up the admission office the lady told me 1 in 100 students get in with out working in the service industry so its up to you

By Cooldude (Cooldude) on Friday, July 09, 2004 - 08:15 am: Edit

if you can get 1300-1350+ then it will dramatically improve your chances. DONT RETAKE IC the curve is too harsh, instead take some other SATII subject in which ur sure to cross 700.

Tips: I think you are struggling with CR (ur reading score!!) so: http://www.collegeconfidential.com/cgi-bin/discus/show.cgi?4/40737
for Math **********PRACTICE************! since u got 690, that means you could easily get a 800 by avoiding careless mistakes.

As far as applying is concerned, definately apply you never know what might happen you might be that 1 in 100th person!! Good luck

By Csugarman (Csugarman) on Friday, July 09, 2004 - 07:42 pm: Edit

Thank you for responding and being realistic. I studied incredibly hard for the Sats, but i never seem to do as well as I'd like to on them. I'm going to try much harder now that summer's here. My goal was a 1350 originally, and I know that for most people on this board, that's low, but for me, it's amazing. I just.. don't do well on these college board exams.
And i agree with you, I think my CR is definitely what is killing me. I don't remember how many I got wrong, but I know I got a lot more CR wrong that analogies and sentence completions combined. I feel so stupid with my verbal score. And I know a lot of people keep saying the key is to "read" constantly, but I do. And I read good books, too, like Anna Karenina, Catcher in the Rye, Wuthering Heights, etc.. I love reading
Thanks again for your advice, I really appreciate its reality
Anyone else have advice or comments?
Chelsea

By Csugarman (Csugarman) on Sunday, July 11, 2004 - 07:50 am: Edit

bump please

By Enarang (Enarang) on Sunday, July 11, 2004 - 11:47 am: Edit

yeah I think there ae a good amount of people that get in without hotel work experience so try it.

By Csugarman (Csugarman) on Sunday, July 11, 2004 - 06:10 pm: Edit

How do you see Cornell for me? Is it a reach or a match? (i will not mention "safety," because I know it's definitely not that). PR says it's a "good match."

By Enarang (Enarang) on Sunday, July 11, 2004 - 06:13 pm: Edit

I'd say reach

By Csugarman (Csugarman) on Sunday, July 11, 2004 - 06:17 pm: Edit

a reach because of my board scores? Or something else too?

By Csugarman (Csugarman) on Tuesday, July 13, 2004 - 01:49 pm: Edit

Could you (or anyone) specify as to why it's a reach?

Will the ap exams help:
US History 5
Physics 4
Chemistry 4

By Collegewannabe (Collegewannabe) on Tuesday, July 13, 2004 - 01:53 pm: Edit

nobody can say hotel school is a reach because there admissions is VERY random. But it is very very very difficult getting in with no work expierence in the service industry. I am also appplying there.

By Scubasteve (Scubasteve) on Tuesday, July 13, 2004 - 03:08 pm: Edit

oh christ... yes you can.. and their admission is not as random as you think... i'd say over a 1300 and a 3.7gp is almost a must

By Csugarman (Csugarman) on Tuesday, July 13, 2004 - 04:10 pm: Edit

collegewannabe - You're applying to the hotel school? Congratulations! I'm assuming you found a job in the hospitality industry. (You do recall, no so long ago, stating, "with out the job [the job in the hospitality field] its waste of time applying.")

By Collegewannabe (Collegewannabe) on Tuesday, July 13, 2004 - 05:28 pm: Edit

i havent found a job but im just gonna give it a shot

By Hammertime (Hammertime) on Tuesday, July 13, 2004 - 06:30 pm: Edit

My brother got into the Hotel School with a 1320 and a 3.4 unweighted, taking hard courses at a very good HS. I'd say he was in the upper 30% at best...but he did have brain surgery junior year, which took him out of school for over a month and screwed his grades for that year, so the GPA would have probably been a little better. His only work experience was working in a nice restaurant for the summer going into senior year, and he got a pretty good recommendation from a manager or owner or something. His SAT 2's were all low 700's or high 600's. His essays were decent. Oh, and he also got in after being originally deferred from Early Decision.

So go for it. You have absolutely nothing to lose. The only issue is the SAT, and if you retake and get over 1300, I'd say you have a very good shot.

By Lunchbox (Lunchbox) on Wednesday, July 14, 2004 - 01:01 am: Edit

csugar, what people are saying here is very true: you need to work in service to get into hotel school at cornell. I have talked to people who work there, and that is a big thing. If you are into law, I suggest applying to the ILR school at cornell. Its a state side, so you'll be paying less, and, if you dont' like it, you can always switch to arts and sciences once youre in. but yeah, its important to get a service job for that. and the impression i got was that if you haven't had that service experience, they feel like how do you know thats what you want to do? Have you looked into how the school is run? the classrooms are built onto the statler hotel, which the students take a big part in running. so yeah consider ILR or get a job in the hospitality/restaurant business real quick!

By Kousuke (Kousuke) on Wednesday, July 14, 2004 - 02:17 am: Edit

"PR says it's a "good match.""

PR says a lot of things, they say that HYPSMC are all "good matches" for me. i really dont plan on applying to any of them, maybe S or C because i love them so much, but most likely no, because it would be a waste of my money. take what PR says and forget it, the only thing the "counselor-o-matic" is good for is finding a school that matches your interests. dont take any of the "Safety/match/reach" stuff seriously.

By Dualaspect (Dualaspect) on Wednesday, July 14, 2004 - 04:19 am: Edit

hey where do discussions about graduate studies goes....i've been searchin this place for tht......
i'm plannin to do an MS in CS...

By Collegewannabe (Collegewannabe) on Wednesday, July 14, 2004 - 09:05 am: Edit

you are the kind of person i see get into cornell hotel school with the reallyhigh grades and ok sat scores. I think if u get a service industry job hotel restraunt and apply ED you will get in. that is what i think. Since i m not working at a hotel and i like both ILR and Hotel im not sure which one im going to apply to. Make sure u kick ass on the interview. I also heard it helps ifi have like porftolio of like food dishes u make any some other things. good luck

By Csugarman (Csugarman) on Wednesday, July 14, 2004 - 09:29 pm: Edit

Hey I tried to post this before, but there was something up with the board
Hammertime - thank you, you made me feel more confident about applying. I think the hotel school is the best fit for me right now
Lunchbox - yes, i prbly would have an easier time getting in to ILR, but I am really interested in hospitality law. I figure I can prbly take the law classes at ILR, though and still get a good hospitality background.
Kousuke - I know about PR, thats why I was questioning why it would be a "good match." I know my Sats arent great, but I'm going to try my best.. again
Collegewannabe - this is what I tried to post before: admissions are crazy. Who knows what will happen? but maybe we will see each other next fall! If Cornell is your dream, as it is mine, go for it and never give up.. and food dishes?? really?

Faith is important all, believe in yourself

By Duke3d4 (Duke3d4) on Wednesday, July 14, 2004 - 09:34 pm: Edit

thx jesus, i will believe

By Csugarman (Csugarman) on Saturday, July 17, 2004 - 08:17 am: Edit

I have a job now at a hotel for the summer so hopefully that will be good! Thanks everyone for your help

By Collegewannabe (Collegewannabe) on Saturday, July 17, 2004 - 08:54 am: Edit

really good job

i think your going to get in.

good luck

By Benndamann33 (Benndamann33) on Sunday, July 18, 2004 - 09:27 pm: Edit

Alright here we go, i'm sure you'll all sick of this but i would appreciate any insite.

SAT I
math : 780
verbal:710
combined: 1490

SAT II
math IC : 780
writing : 690
chemistry : 700

Volunteer
Peer Tutored for approximately 100 hours in high school(free, 50 hours with cerbal palsy student)
lunch with a friend(ate lunch everyday with a student selected from life skills)

Clubs
student council/government every year in high school
class president junior year
NHS member
Forensics (congress events)

sports
Tennis (4 year starter/letterman) captain junior year, most likely to be senior year
not a great tennis player, good thoug, section doubles champion, not division one player but still a resume' builder

Other Items
3rd in class
All A's for final grades except one B in AP english 11
Attended seminar on world affairs, 20 countries represented, sent on rotary club scholarship
2 apprenticeships, one sophomore year on web design, one junior year on international affairs
2 time Jet participant (engineering competition)
Math 24 semifinalist in pittsburgh 5th grade
8th grade recieved a "First" for science fair at Penn State (doesnt mean you win, just a qualification, there is honorable mention, 3rd, 2nd, 1st, perfect)
Piano for 6 years
Babysit a mentally challenged individual for 2 years, about twice a month
Teach tennis during the summer
1 year worked at racquette club


Classes (i'm going into my senior year, this is with my senior classes counted)
6 science (4 honors, 2 ap)
5 math(3 honors, 2 ap)
4 social science(1 honors, 2 ap)
2 advanced computer programming
4 english (3 honors, 1 ap)


That's about all that i can think of if you need more to decide, let me know
I want to apply to
Brown, Rose-Hulman institue of Technology, CMU, Allegheny, Miami of Ohio, Stanford, Cornell, Bucknell,georgetown, UVA, william and Mary and Princeton.

By Noodleman (Noodleman) on Monday, July 19, 2004 - 12:17 am: Edit

that's rude, dude. start your own thread.

By Benndamann33 (Benndamann33) on Monday, July 19, 2004 - 12:24 am: Edit

Whoa sorry, i do apologize, i started a new post. As to this post, i apologize for incorrectly posting. All i had to say was on critical reading take your time,(kind of haha), and try and stay calm. Cover up the answer choices and think of what you would say, look for the most similar choice, as if you were doing math. I did better on math then verbal but did well on critical reading, that was pretty much my key, thinking of my own answer then looking for it there. Best of Luck.