I am in the process of applying to Cornell as a transfer (psychology major) and not used to the extensive application process so just want to make sure I’ve got everything all squared away. If you’ve applied to Cornell this year or at some point and are actually familiar with their process, help me out here. Yes, I see all the requirements on their website, but it’s great to have a real person confirm what I’m doing because the Common App confuses me.
The Common App itself:
Completed personal information
Completed everything that applied to me under academic history (just not the standardized tests because you don’t need to submit those as a transfer)
Under supporting info: completed experiences and achievements, but did not add any documents as none of them seemed to apply to anything Cornell is asking for?
Under program Materials: I see things like resume, catalog course descriptions, college and high school transcripts, personal statement, and writing sample. Do I need to submit any of these? I am having my transcripts mailed directly to the school instead…and do I need to add a personal statement and writing sample and what not?
I am working on getting my academic recommendation, in the recommendation tab.
I have answered all the questions and am working on writing my essay for "Tell us what you'd like to major in at Cornell, and why or how your past academic or work experience influenced your decision, and how transferring to Cornell would further your academic interests." though, this is the ONLY writing prompt I see under the "questions" tab, should there be another? I am applying to the college of arts and sciences so maybe that is it.
I am working on getting:
Academic recommendation
College report
Mid-term report
I have had both high schools I've attended and my one and only college I'm attending mail transcripts already
I have completed the NACAC application fee waiver form
I have yet to complete the online College Scholarship Service on collegeboard
This is all I can think of that needs to be completed. I hope I’m right. Let me know if there are any gaps, sorry I know this is a lengthy post.
I am applying for transfer as well. It appears that Cornell is not asking for the common app transfer essay, and is only asking for the transfer supplement. However, if you feel that you have more to add to your application through a statement, you have the option of submitting one.
Thanks for that. I guess it’s good that that one and only writing prompt is all I need to worry about. Where are you in your application process? It’s the additional stuff that’s stressing me out: the mid-term report, college report, and professor recommendation. My old professors appear to be unreachable, especially this one in particular that wasn’t in his office during office hours, never answers my emails, and didn’t call me back after leaving a voicemail. The admissions office at my school almost didn’t even know what to do with the college report form because they had never seen it before and are requesting that I bring an envelope and stamps in to mail it (as if they don’t already have that themselves?), and the mid-term report makes me nervous because I guess I’m supposed to go around to each of my current professors at the end of class and get them to sign off on my grade? I’m waiting for the first week of March or so before the deadline to do this because only like 1-2 assignments in each class have been graded so far.
You should let your professors know you will be requesting midterm grades/evaluation. Just give them a heads up. The midterm report is most lenient document though, I believe admissions understand that grades may not be available by the application deadline, so I think they say by April the latest(Or at least what my GT friend has told me). Cornell has a transfer application checklist page, I would check that out.
I am currently finalizing my supplement and drafting a personal statement. All applicants are going to have good grades, so I’m spending a lot of time tailoring my supplement because that is what’s going to count the most probably.
Thank you, you as well! That’s probably good advice to email a heads up to my professors, I will do that. For your personal statement, are you writing about anything in particular? I’m not exactly sure what is typical to include in a personal statement.