<p>I recently submitted my Cornell supplement, but did not take advantage of the alternate option. Now, I feel that I should have chosen a secondary school as well. Is there a way I can still submit an essay and use the alternate option even though I already submitted my supplement for the common app?</p>
<p>Thank you.</p>
<p>No, I don’t think that’s possible given that their offices are closed until January 4th due to the holidays. Which college did you apply to? I’ve read some specific colleges that you designated as your primary college frown upon specifying an alternate because if you are a true “fit” you won’t have a problem being accepted to your primary option.</p>
<p>Oh thanks for the reply. I called their offices today and they told me they were closed until the 4th. I applied to CAS under biological sciences. I realized that I could select the same major under CALS, but I had already submitted my supplement. Now I’m a bit worried because I know that acceptance rate is higher to get into CALS than CAS. Do you think there is nothing I can do?
Thanks.</p>
<p>You could always call them on the 4th even though it’s after the deadline and ask them if it is still possible to apply to an alternate college. But I’ve seen that the chance the alternate college will even evaluate your application is very slim, unless you have something spectacular that relates to the mission of the alternate college (somewhere around 5% of those who specify the alternate and are deferred by the primary college); but then, why did you apply to the primary college in the first place? </p>
<p>I was accepted ED to CALS and did specify an alternate college so you’re not at a complete disadvantage to specify an alternate.</p>
<p>Oh congrats on your ed acceptance. would you mind telling me your stats for acceptance or what theyre looking for? thank you. Yeah, I read that they hardly take alternate anyways, but if the major im looking for is under 2 colleges, then I should have taken advantage of the opportunity.</p>
<p>Wait, so you did specify an alternate or did you not? I was a bit confused by your last comment.</p>
<p>I specified an alternate on my application, but my primary was CALS. I wrote a supplement essay for both the primary and the alternate and I applied to two colleges using the option because many of my extracurriculars were in line with both colleges. I did CALS and, as my alternate, ILR.</p>
<p>Cornell wants to know that you have a passion and that this passion fits with the college’s mission. I was absolutely thrilled that I was accepted to my top choice school and all that it had to offer. I visited campus, and it felt as if the whole school fit with what I wanted in a university and with my major, it would open so many otherwise unopened doors.</p>
<p>Okay I just hope I get accepted into CAS then. I guess the alternate isnt a huge deal since like you said only 5% get looked at anyways and they dont know if they will even be accepted. I really hope I get into Cornell, I visited over the summer too!</p>