Can you appeal a decision?

Colleges and Universities A-Z Cornell University
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<p>I want to appeal my decision, which was rejection by ILR. I know that Cornell does not automatically refuse appeals and throw them out, like some other Ivies do. However, even though they read through appeals, there's a slim chance of being waitlisted or getting an acceptance. The reason I want to do so is because the education at ILR is one that I can't get anywhere else. I know appeals letters shouldn't be whiny and complain about how you're stats are good, how you got into better schools/your rejection doesn't make sense, etc. I heard appeals letters that are most compelling are the ones that offer new info about recent achievements, improvements in grade/GPA, etc. So, does anyone have any thoughts about writing a letter to appeal?</p>

<p>Please don't say that writing a letter is a "waste of time." Writing a sincere letter is only going to take an hour of my time, so I think it's worth it. I just want to know if anyone has any other thoughts or suggestions.</p>

<p>Thank you.</p>

<p>If I got into ILR, I would DEFINITELY attend. It's my #1 choice. (I'll say that in my letter.)</p>

<p>Some of my stats/info:
3.9 GPA, 7 AP's (4 on test in English & US History; 5 tests this year in Psych, English, Euro History, US Government, and French), 2070 SAT (650 CR, 700 M, 720 W), 700 Math SAT II
Lots of extracurriculars/leadership related to what ILR is all about ("advancing world of work/solving human problems"): Model UN/Congress (7 awards, 4 leadership positions), +150 hours interning for a Senator (got a letter of rec from Senator explaining my great verbal/people skills), community service for Red Cross + hospitals, AP French tutor (currently have a 99 in AP French, tutor kids in French I-IV; I know foreign language is an important requirement for ILR), and many other meaningful activities</p>

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<p>^ I feel for you. I got rejected by CALS and was going to do an appeal but chances are i’ll just transfer next year.</p>

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<p>Yeah, I think I’ll just try to transfer next year, as well. I did mail an appeal letter today, so hopefully they at least take a glance at it.</p>

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<p>i was also rejected from CALS as well, so i completely understand you guys. I really don’t know why, as my stats were better than some kids who got in from my school (i.e. sat scores, class rank) i am going to try an appeals letter too, but will probably apply for transfer next year.</p>

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<p>Yeah, I guess it never hurts to write an appeals letter, especially if you are a competitive applicant who genuinely cares about Cornell. Even though I didn’t apply to CALS, I will definitely post back on here if I get any feedback regarding my appeal! Good luck to both of you.</p>

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<p>I just called the admissions office today to talk to a representative andd they said that Cornell does not follow an appeals process. Is the fact that you can appeal just on the DL or what? How do you know that they don’t “just throw them out?”</p>

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<p>I think the only time Cornell considers (notice I didn’t say “accepts”) appeals is when there is a very unique circumstance. </p>

<p>It’ll be sort of lengthy, but here’s what happened to me: </p>

<p>I don’t know why this happened, but my primary and alternate college choices got mixed up. I realized this about 2 or 3 days ago. On my CommonApp (I went back and checked), my primary says ILR and my alternate says CAS. On my Cornell Application Status check website, it says CAS for primary and ILR for alternate. </p>

<p>The only reason I am bringing this up now is because I was rejected to CAS, but I don’t know if ILR even saw my application. When I went to the Cornell info session, they even admitted that some colleges don’t even look at the candidates who listed them as the secondary choice for various reasons, including 1) the college was full with primary candidates and 2) the primary college never forwarded the application to the secondary for various reasons (didn’t think the applicant was a good “fit” at either school), etc.</p>

<p>So, as a result, I sent a letter of appeal to both the Undergrad Admissions Office and the ILR Admissions Office. I also sent a letter about the primary/alternate college mix-up to both offices.</p>

<p>Today, I was notified via e-mail by the Undergrad Admissions Office that they do not have an appeals process (same thing they told you), BUT what they told me was that it was an “error” on their part about the primary/alternate college mix-up and that they were “sorry for the disappointing news.” They told me ILR never viewed my application, but it is too late to do anything now. </p>

<p>I think my situation was really bizarre. A few days ago, I also sent a “letter of appeal” to ILR, but the fact of the matter is, they never even viewed my application! I know I’ve already heard from the Undergrad Admissions Office that “there’s nothing more” I can do, but I’m still waiting to hear from ILR. I contacted both ILR’s Admissions Office and ILR’s Dean of Admissions via mail. I hope that my letter at least makes them take a glance at my appliction.</p>

<p>ILR is my #1 college choice (which is why I’m trying so hard to appeal). I know I would absolutely attend ILR if accepted. Personally, given my stats and activities, I thought I was a fairly competitive ILR applicant, which is why I’m so upset ILR didn’t even look at my application. If my appeal doesn’t work, I’m going to most likely go to NYU and then try to transfer to ILR. </p>

<p>In my opinion, Cornell needs to work out the kinks on its primary/alternate college admissions process. </p>

<p>Sorry that was so lengthy, but if you have some kind of crazy situation like that, I’m sure you could try to appeal. If you genuinely care about Cornell and it’s your #1 school, writing a letter could only help, not hurt. I’ll post back if I get any updates regarding my situation.</p>

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<p>Sorry to hear that a mistake like that happened to you, jerseygirl.</p>

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<p>Omggg that is terrible. =/</p>

<p>What other places are you considering?</p>

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<p>The ILR Admissions Office contacted me to say they were also “sorry for the news,” but “due to the record number of applications, we did not have time to look at applicants who listed us an as alternate college choice.” The Dean of Admissions at ILR e-mailed me to tell me that he pulled up my application and read it yesterday and that I looked like a “very strong applicant with impressive credentials who was surely accepted at another great university,” but “acceptances can no longer be made after April 1st.” He encouraged me to eventually try to transfer to ILR.</p>

<p>XoKiwiKisses, I think I’ll probably go to NYU for a year and major in politics. Although, I guess it doesn’t really matter what I major in, since the first year is full of core classes. Afterwards, I’ll try to transfer to ILR, since it’s really my #1 choice.</p>

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<p>Oh wow. I’m sorry. But NYU is a greaaaat school, so don’t worry about it. :)</p>

<p>Who all did you email your appeal to?</p>