Is Studio Art very competitive? Oh no I thought not a lot of people applied to it since it’s a fine art major, and will be easier to get in.
No clue. I just know AAP is a very small major school.
My kids are Engineering kids and not at all talented in the Arts unfortunately, or may I say sadly.
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Re interviews, no one should stress, especially this year. This information comes directly from someone who runs a regional Cornell alumni interview group.
The interviews at Cornell are not evaluative. In prior years, however, the interviewer would send a brief narrative of the interview. Admissions would see this and though it wasn’t supposed to sway decisions, many wondered if they did impact decision making, at least at the margins.
This year, I assume because of all of the admissions scandals across the country, Cornell has eliminated the narrative portion too.
So the interviews are non-evaluative and without a narrative. There now is really no way for admissions to use the interview even if they wanted to.
Interviews now are basically a marketing tool and no one should lose sleep over having or not having one.
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I actually heard some of it is also because alum would put off doing the narratives or not get them done in time and with the low number of applicants being “interviewed” they want to focus on the informational aspect and how to reach everyone so this way by eliminating the narrative, the alumni may now be able or willing to meet with more applicants. My friend said she was always asked how many she would be available to talk with and then would be asked to squeeze in more and more. I assume they will ramp up their efforts to recruit alumni again to do these. I don’t think my husband has been asked now for about 5 years so they don’t try all that often, or else in our area maybe there isn’t a shortage of them.
I don’t know. There is a slight chance they might throw away your application if you don’t have a test score since all the strongest applicants have test scores. But they will most likely weigh your other things more heavily: essays, extracurriculars, leadership, LOR
I don’t think so. Cornell, specifically, is not even looking at the test scores even if applicants submit.
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they do look at the score if you submit it
wait, I applied ILR too!! My UW: 3.8, ACT: 36
Certain schools are test blind. They also do not just throw away applications, and especially wouldn’t throw away an application for lack of test score. That would mean they would throw out 73% of them since only 27% submitted any test score.
The only real negative there is being an international student and the immense competition of international students. For the past couple of years the freshman class has been made up of less than 10% of internationals and most are accepted during ED. More and more apply during ED each year so chances of being admitted get smaller and smaller each year. That’s it.
They have made it clear that test optional is just that. Optional. You will not be penalized for not having a test score. There are thousands of people in this position all over. They will instead weigh everything else more heavily including grades, rigor, ECs, essays etc. but they won’t just throw away an application. Smh.
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Does anyone know why some Cornell schools went test blind? I’m a bit frustrated over this as my test score is a high point of my application. I have absolutely no clue what advantages Cornell gets from adopting this policy. None of the other schools I’m applying to are test blind. Disclaimer: I applied to Cornell RD, not ED, but I’m using this thread because it’s active.
Where did you get the information that some schools are test blind? Which school? I never see it any where. It is unfair to the students who have high test score but relatively lower GPA. Hope they will look at the test scores.
Cornell abandoned using a narrative form from alumni because we were only able to reach half the applicants to offer meetings and they didn’t want to disadvantage any applicant who wasn’t offered a meeting. As applications continue to increase, there just aren’t enough CAAAN members.
Those of you who were offered a meeting, use it as an opportunity to make a connection, learn more about the university, and get your questions answered.
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College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, the College of Architecture, Art, and Planning, and the SC Johnson College of Business announced they will be score-free and will not use test scores as part of the admissions review process this year.
The other colleges are test optional.
https://blogs.cornell.edu/admissions/2020/09/24/why-we-went-score-free/
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This information is widespread, you can easily find it online. All Cornell schools except CAS, human ecology, ILR and engineering are test blind. I contacted admissions and asked if they would even see my test score if I submitted, and they responded saying that they will have no idea whatsoever whether any applicants submitted tests.
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If my S21 wants to send his SAT scores to Cornell ILR, is their SAT code any different than the Cornell University? I see for Cornell University, the SAT code is 2098, is this the same for ILR too? Pls advise me, thanks!
No experience with those schools that are test blind as far as my kids go but all I can surmise is that they are looking at more subjective things than a test score to make a decision. AAP requires a portfolio so those students would have person work to be able to share and I would think that by far is more valuable than a test score. SHA will be looking for students with culinary skills and/or experience in hospitality and what they can show they’ve done there and Dyson will be looking at Business types of experience, Deca and those types of things and courses taken in high school again more representative than a test score perhaps. I think Dyson takes a huge number of NY residents as well so it’s very hard to get in otherwise. My non Cornell student in a top business school had a solid business background and essays definitely helped. The test score was only secondary. Not sure about CALS and what majors fall under there specifically but maybe the agricultural side of things also would have applicants be able to have ECs or other things that would be strong enough where a score isn’t necessary. Additionally if most of the applicants in any of these programs are from NY and much of NY couldn’t take an ACT then maybe that’s part of it but I’m not sure if that part is true or not that’s just something I’m throwing out.
Any athlete though must still submit a score.
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There’s only one Cornell University for sending the SAT. Just make sure it’s not Cornell College in Iowa.
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From the website:
“As appears to be true at test-optional colleges and universities, we anticipate that many students who will have had reasonable and uninterrupted opportunities to take the ACT and/or SAT during 2020 administrations will continue to submit results, and those results will continue to demonstrate preparation for college-level work.”
Most colleges are test optional.
It’s not unfair as it’s all over the application page and requirements.
3 of their 7 schools are test blind. No scores will be considered by those applicants period. The other 4 schools are test optional. It’s on their webpage under undergraduate admissions testing requirements for 2021 First-year applicants. It’s really not that complicated.
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