<p>I was accepted for the fall of '09 for Cornell University. I'm asking this outside the Cornell board specifically because I wanted some general insight on re-admission.</p>
<p>I was a sophomore transfer applicant to the CALS (College of Agriculture and Life Science) and was accepted, but we can't afford it, and the last thing I want to hear as a response is 'just go and take out a loan!' because it's definitely not that easy (with all due respect.) We'd be taking massive loans out regardless of when I go, since we don't qualify for almost any financial aid..but anyway!</p>
<p>So, yeah, I'm spending just <em>one</em> more semester at my community college which will save us just enough money for my to attend Cornell! I'll still have loans, but they won't be nearly as large...regardless, I wanted to ask, how much does that effect an admissions office in general when it comes to accepting someone who has already gotten in? I know spring transfer is much less competitive at Cornell, and more spots open with kids studying abroad, transferring, dropping out, etc. I'm not giving myself false hope, I'm actually quite confident given what the admissions woman said to me when we sat down with her after getting basically owned by the financial aid office. She said I was 'over-prepared' to enter CALS as a Communications major, and that, while she couldn't give me a guaranteed deferral admission, she said as long as my grades stay up, there's no reason why I shouldn't be re-accepted.</p>
<p>Thoughts? Anything I should be concerned about?</p>
<p>Water - Congrats on your acceptance to Cornell … sorry to hear about your financial dilemma.</p>
<p>There are a lot of issues here. Admissions: I’m not clear why you would need to re-apply. My suggestion is to make an appointment with the Dean and explain your situation. In general it’s his/her opinion that counts most. So build a bridge there. Financial Aid: Spring Semester will be a new calendar year, which means a new FAFSA, etc. The Dean can’t help with this … please resist the temptation to ask. (S/he’s there for your education, not to make the education affordable.) Maintaining your grades: Don’t do this and you won’t have to worry about Cornell in the Spring. Getting your degree: This could be a problem, because the courses you take at CC this fall may not fulfill the requirements for a Cornell degree. It does you no good at all to defer Cornell attendance a semester if that means you’ll have to stay an EXTRA semester at Cornell in order to meet the degree requirements. So, when you meet the Dean, be prepared to discuss whether you can defer matriculation until the spring and STILL graduate in May 2012. Good luck.</p>
<p>Thanks for responding, NewHope!</p>
<p>I’m actually really knowledgeable about what I need for Cornell and what not. I’ve already taken all the required courses, checked with my dean of admissions at CALS to verify that all the new courses I take this fall will transfer under the right categories I need, and I’m definitely going to keep my grades up high given my schedule for fall is pretty safe.</p>
<p>In addition, I’ve already spoken to Cathy Sheils, the Head of Transfer Admission to CALS, about deferring my acceptance…unfortunately, even though Cornell does what’s known as ‘guaranteed transfer’ for students rejected for their freshman year application, she couldn’t guarantee my acceptance or defer it to spring. With that said, basically what it could mean is I’m a shoe-in (provided my grades are decent/I demonstrate my ‘fit’ level for Cornell again in another essay/I take the right classes), yet she just really can’t <em>guarantee</em> me due to policy.</p>
<p>^-We actually discussed that in person in a lengthy walk-in meeting with her after we got out of the financial aid office. It was depressing that I wouldn’t be able to go in fall but I’ve picked my head up since.</p>
<p>My real questions are just, does being accepted once before and having had such a good outlook from the head of admissions give me good chances on being reaccepted, so long as I meet the expectation levels?</p>
<p>I’m looking for anyone who has experience or knowledge regarding transfer admissions as well as anyone who has info on being accepted, then not getting to go and reapplying (if there is anyone.)</p>