<p>My mom has been talking to people and for some reason thinks that I should apply to the state school then transfer over my sophomore year. I can't think of the advantages to this except creating a headache in making up courses or whatever, and maybe add another year to my schooling. My planned major is physics and of course that should mean in the fall I apply to CAS. But my mom wants me to look into this so I figured I'd post here to tell her advantages/disadvantages of apply to one of the state Cornell schools. Thanks in advance for the info!</p>
<p>Supposedly, if you are applying from in state, you will have the advantage in the admissions process because they are required to accept a certain amount of people from NY. Maybe she is thinking you can apply there, get in, and then transfer to a more selective school that you might not have gotten into. I don't think this is the best choice. It is in fact a paradoxical one in that the state school with a "high" admit rate will actually be harder to get into if your activities, passions, strengths, etc., don't fit with it.</p>
<p>horrible idea. </p>
<p>for one, the contract (not state) schools dont have a quota of NY state residents to fill. At one point in time, they did. This, however, is no longer in effect. The larger % of NYS residents at the schools is a reflection of the applicant pool not who the admissions committe chooses. Applying to a contract college is no longer an advantage for NYS residents vs. applying to CAS. </p>
<p>You'll just be throwing away physics electives. </p>
<p>not a great idea. Apply to CAS as a physics major.</p>
<p>Thanks...I didn't think there was an advantage</p>
<p>can someone prove that there is no quota and that it is a reflection of the large amount of nys residents applying? everyone keeps saying it, but id like to see some proof.</p>
<p>how about proof that they do have a quota.</p>
<p>somebody on the boards sent an email to CALS last year, and the response flat out said that there was no quota for NYS residents and that it wasn't an advantage to be from NY. </p>
<p>i cant find the "uncle ezra" page, but it also says that the schools dont have a requirement of NYS residents to fulfill.</p>
<p>Funny you should bring this up- this is what is happening to one of d's friends. He entered Cornell in CALS. In his soph year (now), he decided he wanted to major in physics (I think-- or it was another science where he would be better served in CAS not CALS). I believe he told his parents over the winter recess that he wanted to transfer but would take approriate courses this semester and make the official switch into CAS in September. Though his parents will be paying more in tuition (we're NYS), they were ok with the change. They at least had the benefit of lower tuition for 2 years and he can concentrate on his new major in CAS for the next 2 years. From a financial point of view, there is a benefit to be in one of the "state" funded schools if it can work for your major. I thought I read that Cornell was going to let you apply to more than one college at time of application (I know CMU does that). But I do not remember if that is going to take affect next year or not. If it does, maybe you can apply to both CALS and CAS just to give yourself the best chance of admittance to Cornell. If you can "mirror" an acceptable program in CALS for a year or 2 and then transfer to CAS, this may work out ok for both you and your parents . Good luck</p>
<p>To me this sounds a little like cheating! For Cornell, you have to write 2 academic interest essays...one focusing on what you like the other focusing on why you chose the school/college you did. I know that we all have though to apply to CALS or HE instead of CAS or Eng., but Cornell would not admit you unless your essays were passionate and honest. It was relitavely easy for me to write my essays--as easy as it can be--because what I was saying was true and me. Don't apply to a contract school because it's easier to get into or cheaper, just apply where you want go.</p>
<p>that's easy to say, but 13,000 dollars is a lot of money</p>
<p>Cornell adcoms can only tell if you are passionate in your essays, not if you're being honest. Two different things. :) If you go to CALS for two years and transfer to CAS in your sophomore year for your junior year, you will essentially be saving a substantial amount of money. While in CALS you could take as many outside college credits as you are allowed until you have no choice but to transfer. (This is from a financial view of course.) It's a possibility; I'm not actually encouraging you to "cheat" Cornell. More people than you think probably do something close to this. Like female students from engineering transferring to CAS after getting in. :D</p>
<p>Here's the Uncle Ezra post. Hopefully this will clarify the misinformation out there about contract colleges being "easier" for NYS students. </p>
<ul>
<li>- - - - - - - - - - - - - - Question 10 - - December 9, 2004 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -</li>
</ul>
<p>Dear Uncle Ezra,
I have a question concerning Cornell's status as an Ivy League School. According to definition,
an Ivy League school is a private instution, and part of some type of sports league which was established back in the day. These institutions include Brown, Dartmouth, Harvard, Yale, and Princeton. However, Cornell is made up of not only the private A+S, Engineering, and Architecture schools, but Hum Ec, Ag, and ILR. (Not sure about Hotel)Despite any notability they might have, they are significantly easier to get into for NY state residents, and cheaper as well due to their status as a public state school. Therefore,
isn't it true that these schools are NOT Ivy League? shed the light proud arts and science student
Dear proud,</p>
<p>I too am proud of the College of Arts and Sciences undergraduates just as I am equally proud of the outstanding students in Human Ecology, CALS, ILR, Hotel, Engineering, and AAP, and the graduate and professional schools as well. Cornell University is a unique and wonderful place with many special qualities. I think, however, that you have several misconceptions about the university, including its status as an Ivy League institution, its admissions policies, and the caliber of our student body.</p>
<p>1) The Ivy League is an athletic conference. What sets this group of schools apart from other conferences is its adherence to the Ivy agreement, which most notably reflects common admissions standards and the absence of athletic scholarships. The Ivy schools are Brown, Columbia, Cornell, Dartmouth, Harvard, Penn, Princeton, and Yale. To learn more see Q11 from 2/18/03 posting. </p>
<p>2) Cornell University is a land grant university for the State of New York, so our mission is both public and private, which is one of the many unique features that sets Cornell apart from our Ivy peers. This standing also puts us in another elite group of other land grant institutions across the U.S.</p>
<p>3) At one time, Cornell University's contract colleges (Agriculture and Life Sciences, Human Ecology, and Industrial and Labor Relations) used residency as a factor in the admissions process. However, it is important to note that these colleges have always admitted the best students, regardless of residency. As the applicant pools have begun to shift and the university receives larger numbers of domestic and international applications, university statistics suggest that residency has actually become a non-factor in admission to these colleges. In general, the proportion of New York State residents who are admitted and enroll in these colleges is equivalent to the proportion of NYS students in the entire applicant pool. This has actually been the case for several years.</p>
<p>I hope this helps to clarify things for you. And that you, in turn, will have a newfound respect for all of your CU classmates.</p>
<p>Emilyanne- No one was "cheating". The wonderful thing about a college experience is that one grows and developes new interests. You're going to tell me that no one ever switches majors and the interests you had as a 16 year old kid is always going to be the same interest you have at age 20?? A kid could enter Cornell having every intention of studying ILR, Human Ec or Cals but in time may have developed an interest in another field. Therefore at Cornell, the student has to transfer to CAS or Hotel-- etc. For a NY family, the switch may include some serious $, but that is how it goes. And I am sure there have been some NY kids who entered as CAS and transferred to ILR.</p>
<p>i think of "cheating" not as a change of interest, but rather applying to one school because it's easier to get into then planning from the very beginning to transfer in one or two years to either save money or to get a head-up on admissions</p>
<p>Gomestar I absolutely agree.
I am not saying that chaning one's mind is "cheating"...But if someone is planning on changing their major after 2 years to save money or to ensure acceptance, that is pretty lame and certainly cheating the system (however unfair it may be).</p>
<p>Before everyone goes on about how this is cheating i think it is important that everyone know that Cornell is aware of this and even suggests it for some students. A good friend of mine wanting to go to the hotel school was suggested by Cornell staff at an info session that it may be better for him to take his first two years at a contract college then transfer over to the hotel school as this would save him a significant amount of money on tuition as he is a NYS resident.</p>
<p>Thanks, gomestar. I had assumed there was a New York state quota for CALS and am very happy to hear there is not, as I'm an out-of-stater.</p>
<p>I am an out of state applicant to CALS from Indiana, so I am hoping that the probable lack of applicants to this school from my state will help me in the process because of "geographical diversity." I am not counting on it a great deal, however, because I'm not sure how big of a factor it is, if at all.</p>
<p>JChockey - as flawless as cornell might make it sound, i have to question their logic. You'd have to apply to the AEM program. If you dont, starting off as a bio major might be a major bummer and would totally backfire. Now, the thing is, AEM is extremely competitive to get into, i believe the acceptance rate is under 20%. It's much easier to get into the hotel school if your stats aren't up to par but have reasonable experience. </p>
<p>In essence it's a good money saving idea, but if you dont get into AEM you're screwed! I'm not saying this to shoot down what you said or anything, I just want to make the person whose reading this and thinking "hey, that's a great idea" to fully understand what they might be getting into.</p>