Cornell University Waitlist Class of 2022

@grundeis https://admissions.cornell.edu/contact/contact-admissions-representative

I remember accepting my waitlist position, but do they send email confirmations when its done? And if not, how do I confirm that I am on the waitlist?

@BobBuilder111 I didn’t receive one… I just clarified that I’m on the waitlist when I sent my LOCI

Hi Everyone,

This is the email that my D received when she sent her loci to the email address that was specified in the waitlist letter:

Thank you for your email and concern regarding your application to Cornell University. We are currently processing application materials and will send an update to transfer applicants next week.

You will be notified by email if your application is incomplete, and we will provide you an opportunity to send in any required materials to complete your application. Please do not send duplicate materials to our office.

Thank you for your patience as we work to complete applications.

Undergraduate Admissions Office
Cornell University
Ithaca, NY 14850
undergradapp@cornell.edu | admissions.cornell.edu

She checked the old portal just to make sure that there was nothing new showing up on the financial aid page. She also had not received a confirmation email after initially going on it.

From what I gathered from last year’s waitlist thread, those accepted from the waitlist pretty much knew at the end of the first week of May. Certainly by mid-May. Those that had not heard anything into June discovered that info. had been posted on Cornell’s website. (I am thinking of the Engineering website in particular). So remember to check the website for info. because you may not get a direct email. However, you could receive an email saying that their class is full (Arts and Sciences). Some people also got accepted for January instead of the fall. Others were offered a GT.

What I don’t like is that my D truly doesn’t have closure. She’s on 3 waitlists that she is very invested in. And while she’s committed to a school in a really great situation, she is embracing that option less these days. Just do your best if you want a waitlist school. Don’t beat yourself up. Don’t be sad. Just wait it out a bit longer, like my D, and then truly get ready for your committed school. It will all work out. This process just drags it out a bit. And I think WL situations in general are going to become the norm. The new normal.

Perhaps yield is lower across the board because of the crazy shifts and changes that have happened in this cycle. Perhaps a lower yield rate initially will be part of the new normal as well. And then it will become normal for schools to craft 1/3 or 1/4 of their class from the WL by hand picking the students from it.

@Winky1 I am confused. Why does your email say “transfer applicants?” Aren’t you a first year applicant on the waitlist?

Yes @lenasharb, my D is a first year applicant on the wl. When I saw her email, I just thought that they put that info. in there for transfer kids who are also using the same email address for their documents. ?? I just checked her email again, and she sent her loci to undergradapp@cornell.edu and that is what was on her wl letter. Not sure if there is any other reason for them including transfer info.

@Winky1, my son sent his LOCI to both undergradapp@cornell.edu and CC’ed the particular school’s admission email (in his case, CAS). He got the same automated “Transfer applicant” response from undergradapp@cornell.edu immediately, but a clearer response from CAS the next day, which says “Thank you for your updated e-mail. We will add it to your application file.”

Thanks @bogeyorpar . She also copied Human Ecology. The response from them is a general automated email back as if she was someone who just emailed them for info. I will let you know if she gets another HumanEc email specific to her adding info. to her file.

@Winky1 I don’t post much but have enjoyed reading your helpful posts. In the same boat with my son. Goes to a large pittsburgh suburb high school, high achieving, WL at CMU and Cornell, rejected by the rest, but accepted to Pitt Honors with Scholarship, but not excited at all. This has been a brutal process (my first), luckily my younger son is Pitt all the way!

Sounds very similar @andromeda10. Hoping he warms up to Pitt. It’s a great school, truly. My girl likes it a lot, and it’s super strong in neuroscience. Has everything she’s looking for, however, until this process is done, she’s only giving them half of her heart, so to say.

@Winky1 I was a waitlisted from Humec last year, but was offered a Transfer Option mid-May! I suggest your D write them LOCI’s each detailing why her major is a GREAT fit for her (Humec is all about fit), how Humec and Cornell can nurture her passion, and her plans for the future. Research about what Humec offers like exchange programs, Capital semester, research opportunities, etc. Also it helps if she could emphasize how Cornell is her first choice. I think I wrote about three LOCI’s before I was given the Transfer Option. I was recently accepted as a fall transfer, so if you have any questions, you can message me.

Thank you so much @idekidc ! I will pm you. Congratulations on your acceptance! That’s great that you saw this through.

@idekidc, congratulations!! You give us all hope :).

@Winky1, I’ve been a lurker on the board for a long time and always enjoyed your supportive and informative posts! My D is in the same situation–she has a few decent options, but she’s got her heart set on Cornell (waitlisted). This is an exhausting process!

@lambeatslion , good luck to her. At least she has options! Some of my D’s friends really don’t. Lottssss of WL this year!!!

What Cornell college did your D apply to?

@Winky1 Human Ecology! And thank you so much for the good wishes–right back atcha! Yeah, a lot of D’s friends were waitlisted at different places :(. Like you said earlier, it’s the uncertainty that hurts the most!!!

It seems as though I never had my parents sign the Cornell financial aid form and it was due quite a while ago… would this negatively affect anything?

Hey guys if we are waitlisted is there a way to see our financial aid package? Or it’s just hidden right now?

When writing the essay instead of focusing on what Cornell could do for you, write about how you could contribute as a member of Cornell community. As an example, if you have done research and received recognition for it, let Cornell know you would continue the same passion at Cornell. If you have a special EC, let Cornell know you would love to start a club or be part of it. A school like Cornell already knows what it can do for its students (great education and experience), what they are trying to do is to craft a community.

I am sure most of you are experts by now on how to write such letter.

Do waitlisted applicants receive need based financial aid or they feel more inclined to take off the list those who dont need FA?

Technically, Cornell is need-blind. I believe they are still need-blind for the waitlist. Some schools become need-aware when they go to their waitlist. I guess the first step is to find out if they are need-blind with the waitlist. If they are, then I do think they still will guarantee to meet demonstrated need.