No, I got waitlisted then got an email saying I would also get a TO if I’m not admitted off the waitlist. So, right now I basically have both
That’s a good option to have. Congratulations!
1 Like
Thank you!
You don’t need to withdraw if you can’t find a “button” on the application page. Just decline or don’t answer a phone call from them if they do call you.
Most schools are now coming out and saying their classes are full or they will be taking only a few more, or no decisions until later in June, so I wouldn’t worry about it. It doesn’t mean anything to just leave yourself up there. My son left his name on some lists but has no intention of switching. He’s very excited with his choice and after already getting a roommate, starting the placement tests, housing process, and doing orientation shortly, he couldn’t imagine starting all over again or being behind and playing catch up elsewhere. Many kids are in the same position so no harm to just leave yourself and do nothing.
Although you are right that many schools are coming out saying their classes are full or they will only be taking only a few more, I would have to wholeheartedly disagree about not doing anything. If you are fully committed to where you want to attend and no longer have any interest in Cornell, it would be a disservice to other students on the waitlist to not say anything - only because regardless of not accepting phone calls, Cornell admissions still has to email the student and/or post a decision onto your Portal, which if you have no intention of accepting, could have possibly gone to another student who would have accepted.
I think a quick and short email to the college you applied to and ask that they withdraw your application from the waitlist is due diligence, should you be in said position.
5 Likes
Because Cornell manages their waitlist by college, I think it’s due diligence to just send a quick and short email to the admissions office of the College you applied to ask to withdraw your application from the waitlist.
1 Like
Please do email them or call undergrad admissions. They are very good about calls. You can even use the chat feature on the undergrad admissions page and let them know that way. It is really important that you do this soon because it can affect other students!
1 Like
Could y’all advise me on how to format an email stating I would like a TO offer if not admitted directly?
It’s just a personal choice whether you want to spend the time to do that or not. I know my son hasn’t done that. I don’t see how it impacts other students’ chances. First of all, the chance for Cornell to visit the waitlist is very low based on the overall situation this year. Second, even they happen to need a few people, how lucky can he be the one picked from the thousands of candidates on the list? Considering the two steps at very low probability each, the chance to get off is like hitting a lottery 
Let’s assume that he is the luckiest person in the world, but if he doesn’t take the offer, Cornell surely will go to the next person. Just saying, actually Cornell is my son’s first choice 
1 Like
It still doesn’t hurt to try! The world works in miraculous ways.
I would disagree that it’s a disservice to anyone else on the waitlist to not saying anything. If Cornell calls anyone, or emails someone, and don’t get a response, then all they do is move to the next person. It doesn’t make it any less likely for someone else on the waitlist to get in. It’s not like because Adam over here doesn’t answer or respond to a Cornell call that Brad over there doesn’t get contacted at all and if Cornell has a spot that then no one gets it. Furthermore, Cornell admits by college. So even if Adam were in College of Engineering and not taking the call, and Brad were in SHA, then by Adam not answering the call means the next person off the waitlist might be Carl because Carol applied to College of Engineering. Each school has different buckets and when they call someone off the waitlist, they generally try to fill that spot with someone with certain characteristics to make up the class that they’re looking for. So if they want equal men and women and it was a woman that they called and she didn’t answer, then they’re most likely to go to another woman next. What one person does has no bearing on your child with the exception of if that person applied to the same college, has the same characteristics as your child and accepts admission. Then your child’s chances have decreased in being selected to get a spot off the waitlist. For all the emails that kids have sent and the time involved in the application process, it’s not so tragic if Cornell has to send an email and work a little harder to extend someone an offer. It takes about 30 seconds to send an email and post a decision. Everyone knows that. I also don’t think you mean to say it is due diligence. Due diligence is when someone performs an investigation, or review of facts sometimes necessary to complete a legal requirement. There is no legal requirement to inform Cornell that you’re not staying on the waitlist. I think what you really are trying to say is that YOU think it would just be respectful or courteous to do so. Perhaps so, but there are many schools that when kids are on a waitlist, they don’t even tell you when they are done taking students off of a waitlist and you stay on that list forever. Doesn’t the school have a duty to tell the students when they’re done with that list? I don’t recall from past year’s if Cornell tells students that or not. It sounds like from some posts above, that some of their programs may already be full and perhaps that Engineering is one even as last year they took students in mid-April and this year it sounds like that have taken none and we’re a month into May.
As has been said by many on other threads, students should try to love the schools they’re committed to and if they get a surprise call welcoming them off the waitlist, then they can make that decision then, but the odds are against anyone to get off any waitlist, especially at this point. It is almost like winning the lottery.
I hear you! I think the other person took my post out of perspective. The student who asked originally no longer wanted to attend Cornell, so in that case, I would say go ahead and let whatever college you applied to know that, if it is your son’s first choice, then of course stay the course and best of luck!
I think you took the post a bit out of perspective, I was being specific to the student who specifically said they no longer wish to attend Cornell, but I’m glad you got to air out your frustration. All these kids have worked incredibly hard so may they be lucky too!
It’s a disservice in the sense that people are already making significant decisions based on the college they’re attending. Placement exams, dorming applications/looking for apartments, registering for courses, honors college work, and transferring credits among many other things take up our time, energy, and sometimes money. This is especially true for AP exams, where a ton of people are neglecting/canceling certain exams in order to study for other exams and maximize transfer credits. I think some people are even getting refunds for AP exams that won’t get them any college credit. We’re in a fairly busy time of year, so even a few days could make a huge difference. And personally, coming from a low-income background, I’ve spent about 30-60 minutes every day for the past week fighting with my current college’s financial aid department because they aren’t processing my financial aid appeal, while also trying to balance work and AP exams.
Even if the chance of getting accepted is extremely low, I think it’s be a little rude to prioritize one’s ego/curiosity over these legitimate needs of other waitlisted students. I agree with the advice of “loving your school” – if someone is so satisfied with their current choice that they’d turn down Cornell, then I think it’d be courteous to help out others who aren’t in such a good position.
1 Like
Hey guys, I’m an international applicant from New Zealand and I got waitlisted for Cornell. Just wondering is the chance of getting off the waitlist lower for international applicants?
I’ve been submitting the awards that I received recently (e.g. proxime accessit award) through the application portal in the optional supplemental material tab but is that a right place to submit any extra awards that I received after getting waitlisted?
Also, I’m just wondering what a TO offer is and how it works? Can you still email unis that rejected you and ask for a TO offer?
Thanks guys all the best for y’all
In the time it took you to write this response, you or your child could’ve emailed the school with your desire to withdraw from the waitlist. It’s the right thing to do. Saves time and effort for the admissions office (this is in response to srparent15)
I didn’t take it out of perspective. I just disagree with it. If someone wants to tell Cornell they chose elsewhere that’s fine, but by not telling Cornell they are also not hurting themselves or anyone else who is still on the Cornell waitlist. If someone thinks otherwise then they really do not understand how waitlists work. That’s all.
My kid already attends Cornell so actually you’re wrong on that one!
And any parent who writes an email on behalf of their child to Cornell will definitely not be getting in off the waitlist! They do not want or like helicopters there.
1 Like
Then why are you even on this thread if your kid is already enrolled?
TO for Cornell is only offered by certain colleges there. For instance, Engineering does not have this option. Also, most schools in the US do not offer this as it is fairly unique to Cornell.
Basically if you’re offered it now or via not getting in from the waitlist, it’s a guaranteed transfer option if you meet certain criteria laid out for you at a different university for one year. If you meet that criteria you then can start at Cornell for sophomore year.
Here’s some info on the TO to CALS Transfer Option Frequently Asked Questions | CALS