Hey, everyone! I got offered a transfer option to CALS for Animal Science. Before I learned of my TO I was super excited to be attending my safety school, once I heard of my TO I was pretty emotionally confused what to think. Now I feel super blessed to be given the opportunity to transfer to my dreams school.
As for the people who are wondering about attending CC, I have my own opinions on the CC idea. I think that there is really nothing like joining an incoming class of freshman at a college where no one knows one another and you all are starting brand new together. I think you shouldn’t sacrifice this one of a kind experience (if financially possible) just because of the “ethical dilemma” or easier to maintain a 3.0. I mean lets be real we can all probably maintain a 3.0 at any college if we got into Cornell. 
I personally think you shouldn’t tell anyone of your guaranteed TO and just immerse yourself fully in the freshman college experience.
I’m not planning on telling anyone at my college about my plans, but I think I’ll tell friends/family that I’m going to X University with the option to transfer to Cornell my sophomore year - so not a definite plan, but an opportunity. I’m going to keep quiet at my new school, though, and just enjoy my freshman experience, like you said.
@tocollege182 Are you from San Diego? We are… if so, the CC I looked at was Grossmont, but I didn’t look at the SD CC like Mesa or City College. My son is probably going to U Miami next year as he loves the U (& I could easily see him staying there). The CALS req for TO is one year (2 sem) or EITHER bio w/lab (need more clarification on what type of bio classes count) or Chem I & II w/labs (this is more straightforward), plus 1 year freshman comp (that’s a given at a lot of schools), and Calc I (which a 4 on the AP Calc AB would check off). I think we have to be patient & wait for the packet they are sending with the detailed information.
@Steglitz90 Yeah I’m from near San Diego! I was recently looking into what could transfer from City College to UCSD, and I either wasn’t looking properly or I couldn’t find anything that would really help satisfy the HumEc bio & chem lab requirements. Do you think it’d be a viable option? I’m considering reaching out to HumEc (I know that they said it’s best to wait till after we committ to a school, but I’m getting anxious). I wasn’t aware that they were sending a more detailed packet; I’m sure it can help a ton.
Hi all!!! I was offered a TO to CALS for Communication. Super excited about the opportunity and am definitely going to take it. However, I am torn about where to go for freshman year especially since the Class of 2020 GT Thread described how it is difficult to fit Cornell’s requirements on top of the other classes you have to take. Nonetheless, I’m extremely excited as Cornell is my dream school
My daughter is looking at the TO as well…likely to go to her second choice school and then if she can swing getting the classes and grades, she will transfer, but otherwise be OK with staying. She is bio for CALS, so 3.5 minimum GPA required.
Got offered a transfer option for the ILR school, I’ll be attending Washington University in St. Louis with the intention of staying at WashU and I’ll reconsider the option that Cornell is giving me when the time comes.
@tocollege182 Since I’m a bio major I have a bit more requirements than some of the other majors, so I was thinking if I find out it’s going to be hard to fulfill the requirements I might switch my major. My requirements are 3.5 GPA, 1 year bio w/labs, 2 writing/English, Chem 1 and 2 w/labs, calculus 1, and calculus 2 or stats. Strongly recommended but not required organic chem 1 and 2. Honestly, I’m still pretty overwhelmed and confused about the whole transfer process so I’m pretty worried about trying to meet the requirements. I would’ve preferred SD from Davis, but I got waitlisted there
@tocollege182 My requirements for bio at CALS are 3.5 GPA, 1 year bio w/labs, 1 year chem w/labs, 1 year english/writing, calculus 1, calculus2 or stats. Recommended but not required 1 year organic chem. Bio seems to have more requirements than some of the other majors, so I was thinking if it starts to look difficult to fulfill the requirements, I would switch majors. I’m still pretty overwhelmed and confused by this whole transfer thing, and I’m pretty worried about not being able to meet requirements at a UC.
UCSD was my top choice UC because I lived near there for a few years. Got waitlisted though…
@forest2021 Sounds like the requirements for HBHS and bio at CALS are close to the same. If it gets difficult, do you want to switch majors at UC Davis or switch at Cornell? I’m considering calling UCSD soon (if they’re willing to talk to me) about this whole thing, being as honest as possible about the Cornell TO. I don’t know how it’s all gonna work out, or even if it will 
I’ll let you kno if I come across anything useful.
Can you switch intended majors for Cornell and retain TO? Class selection is the biggest hurdle, as for most schools you won’t be guaranteed a slot in the required classes.
Have you guys started hearing from Cornell colleges already about the course/GPA requirements for the Fall 2018 Transfers?
OR are you basing your requirements on previous year’s requirements?
I am a TO (2018) for ILR and I have not heard anything yet.
I have started research on the coursework at my current Community College but I’m curious if anyone has already received their TO requirements already.
@tocollege182 Sorry I wasn’t clear about it, but I meant I’d switch majors at Cornell. Animal science major has way less requirements for transfer compared to bio major. I’m still not sure if I’m going to tell UC Davis about the TO, but for now I don’t think I will. Glad we’re in this together!
@AlexDad2016 From my understanding from other threads, you can switch intended majors by submitting an essay, but the request can always be denied.
@cricketfan I got my email from CALS about transfer requirements the day after Ivy Day. I’m not sure about the other colleges.
@cricketfan Yeah I got mine the day after Ivy Day as well ^^
@forest2021 I’m glad too! I’m assuming enrolling at a UC and scrambling to get CC credits simultaenously will be what I have to do. Do you think we should be worried about switching our majors though? I’m worried Cornell will think I’m no longer committed/have a continued interest in HBHS, compromising my transfer.
'm interested in studying abroad my freshman year in London/Spain at a college program that would allow me to take classes for credit. Do you know if Cornell will permit this?
@tocollege182 , @forest2021
This makes me a little worried. I have not received any communication from the ILR college. I tried calling them on Friday but nobody answered - I assumed they must be swamped at that time so I did not persist.
Can you please confirm the content of your admission notice. Did it look like the following:
Thank you for your application to Cornell University. We regret to inform you that we are unable to offer you admission to Cornell. Given our very large and competitive applicant pool, it is not possible to offer admission to all candidates who would benefit from a Cornell education.
Within the next few days you will receive notification from the undergraduate college to which you’ve applied that you are being offered a transfer option. Please contact the college directly if you have any questions.
We wish you the best as you consider your collegiate options.
Sincerely,
Shawn L. Felton
Director of Undergraduate Admissions
Cornell University
@AlexDad2016 on my son’s email for CALS TO, it said he could switch majors, but not to AEM (applied econ & management). His reqs for ESS (Envir Sci & Sustain/Env Econ) aren’t as stringent as Bio, but are more lab sciences than he would normally take as a straight up Econ major at his 2nd choice school (U Miami) He is considering whether to change his major at Miami to Enviro Policy, as that year’s fresh reqs match up exactly with what Cornell wants.
@Steglitz90 i’m also considering Umiami for my freshman year! I’ve been accepted into marine science/computer science. Luckily, I’ll be able to meet all my pre-reqs for cornell under that major
@forest2021 yeah i’m a little worried about that too, but for me it says that we have the ability to request a major switch until March 1st of next year, so I’m only going to attempt to switch if I decide that I really need it. They can always deny the request to change majors, but I’m not really sure if it’ll compromise the transfer.
@sprinkle PM me if you end up at UMiami – pretty sure my son is going there in the fall. You guys could be a good support network for eachother.