OP- the best way to end up at the college that’s right for you, that you love, that meets your needs is to spend the rest of HS becoming the very best YOU that you can be. And then figuring out how to match up who you are with what a college is looking for.
So how to increase the chance of getting admitted to Cornell as a transfer? None of us can tell you that. But how to increase the chances of getting admitted to “A fantastic college which you will love”? Continue to be a good student. Find a few things (or one thing) that you do outside of classes which gives you joy and energizes you. Figure out how you like to spend your time, and the kinds of problems/opportunities that you can take advantage of.
The reason you keep getting the same answers is that you keep asking some version of the same question- how can I get Cornell and Princeton to want me as much as I want them? Which we keep telling you is the wrong question. So kicking the can down the road to transferring (vs. freshman admissions) kind of shows you aren’t listening to what you are hearing.
I want the Cornell degree not just for its prestige, but because I feel that I would gain a tremendous amount of knowledge by attending that I could put to great use in the workforce. 100% GENERIC
I also reckon I’d fit in quite well there. 100% GENERICThe setting is great, it has a stunning campus, and a diverse student body. It also has a great variety of courses that I believe I’d utilize at one point or another. 100% GENERIC
I’m not only looking at Cornell, and the very reason for my existence is not to be admitted there. I’m also looking at safeties and other high-caliber schools that I believe will suit me. GOOD
But why is it that people apply to Cornell and other Ivy/T20 schools? It’s for the quality of education, the esteemed diploma, and the experience. YOU WILL WANT TO GET TO THE BOTTOM OF THIS IF YOU WANT TO BE ADMITTED TO ANY TOP COLLEGE.
Realistically, lots of people apply to to Cornell and similarly selective schools because their notion of “fit” is mostly “prestige” (“the esteemed diploma”).
YOU WILL NEED TO GET TO THE BOTTOM OF THIS IF YOU WANT TO BE ADMITTED TO ANY TOP COLLEGE.
Expound on that, please.
For me, the experience is getting involved in the school itself. Befriending students, starting clubs, joining existing clubs, etc.
What is an acceptable answer to my rationale for wanting to get in? I mean, I want the whole package, and I want to get invested in the school community.
In less than 100 words, why do you want to attend Cornell? Please avoid any information that could be used at another school of our caliber, with just a simple name change.
I think one of the things that a lot of us are reacting to is the absence of any sense as to what in particular you like about a specific school (besides the label) or whatin particular you want academically from your college.
For example: ime (except for students who are simply going for “Ivy”) there isn’t much overlap between students who are equally drawn to Cornell and Princeton (eg, a student who is a good fit for Princeton is likely to be happier at Duke than at Cornell).
Similarly, while both Cornell and Princeton offer a great undergrad education, their best areas don’t overlap all that much. In building your list of places to apply you want to consider that as well.
Use the time you aren’t self-studying for APs, and spend some quality time with a Fiske guide!
Or- if you like doing standardized testing and you have one or two subjects that you lovea above all others, as money is not an issue, look at international universities. They don’t care about your classroom grades or ECs- just your standardized tests (figure you will need 3-5 AP scores of 5 in subjects related to what you want to study).
You know…you need to also invest your time and energy into loving other colleges and particularly the colleges where you get accepted. There are many students with a “dream school” that doesn’t work out. The smartest thing is for you to become involved where you DO get accepted. Join clubs, start clubs, make friends, do well in your academic pursuits. Be an active member of your college community.
There is an old saying…grow where you are planted. Most students do…and don’t even look back on that dream school…because they become invested where they actually gwt accepted. So…start looking at the schools in this country that can give you your opportunities and for the time being anyway…forget about Cornell.
ETA…you can certainly apply to Cornell or a where else, but have sure things in your application list as well.
As long as you know the odds are not great, I think it’s great that you want to try. You will benefit from trying, whether or not you end up at Cornell. Idk why people are giving you such a hard time.
So, here’s what I think you should do:
1)Research each and every college within Cornell and decide which one you want to apply to. Cornell has several colleges (7?), each with it’s separate admissions office, and slightly different acceptance rates (Idk if transfer rates are different by college though). You’ll want to make sure that you are applying to the college you want because it’s hard to change to another college once you get in.
2) Visit the admissions office of your chosen college, in person, when Covid is under control. Ask to meet with an AO and ask them the questions you are asking here. I think most parents here know little about transfer. Cornell’s transfer policy is also different than other Ivies’ because some (3?) of its colleges are partly funded by NY state. AOs are real people, so if they know you, they might be more inclined to help you.
3)Study their policies, acceptance rates, “guaranteed transfers” they’ve already offered, etc. and see if there is an “easier” path (i.e. college/major that accepts more transfers).
Good luck, OP. Just remember, Cornell is not the be all end all. With a positive attitude, you’ll go far.
In less than 100 words, why do you want to attend Cornell? Please avoid any information that could be used at another school of our caliber, with just a simple name change.
"I wish to attend Cornell because of all that it offers. If enrolled, I will be devoted to becoming as submerged in activities I am most passionate about. I find that Cornell possesses many that would be of great interest to me. I would take part in these activities both as a leader and a member with the unified interest of sharing all I know and learning what I don’t.
I also hope to use the knowledge gained at Cornell to pursue a career, and hope to employ this motive - one of sharing - in the process of doing so."
I’ve had no experience writing college essays, but I imagine my written rationale for seeking admission could look something like that.
I hate to say it…but this little “why Cornell” essay could have the name of any other college substituted for Cornell. There is nothing unique to Cornell in this.
If this is the best you can do, you need to realize that you could substitute the name of any other college where you have written “Cornell” and this would still all be true.
How different would that essay be if you changed the name of the college? Is there any college you could not just insert? How about Harvard, Dutchess Community, Western Governors, SUNY Albany?
I hate to say it…but this little “why Cornell” essay could have the name of any other college substituted for Cornell. There is nothing unique to Cornell in this.
I could also substitute those vague “activities” I mentioned with specific ones unique to Cornell, and that’d make “Cornell” an anchored word in the essay. It goes both ways.
Unique to Cornell (and not most schools) is a diverse list of student-led organizations accessible to students. I would take part in these and would also start one of my own.
This is a very bad “why Cornell” essay but your college adviser will help with that for any college you apply to.
You’re greatly helped by the fact you won’t need financial aid.
For Cornell, the #1 college for transfers is CALS. It mostly takes cc transfers and HEOP applicants but it does admit students (mostly NYS residents) who come from colleges that don’t offer the majors CALS offers or have a very different environment. So look at all the majors in CAS and find one that’s both interesting to you and not offered everywhere. That’s your best shot.
Next, you need to find a college where you’re top 25% for curriculum rigor and GPA. That’d be a college I identified upthread as a safety, or something like Muhlenberg, Drew (that seone mentioned upthread)… There you’d need to prove yourself in a few existing clubs as a freshman, to the point that sophomore year you could be entrusted with a leadership position in one, all while having excellent grades and being noticed positively in the classroom. 2nd semester sophomore year you’d apply to Cornell CALS with a good case that their environment and majors are very different from your college, where you’ve shown both academic excellence and leadership, but doesn’t offer what you need academically.
So, the path is exceedingly narrow, but there it is.
Ok good, if you have bio/chem/physics – precalculus/calculus and foreign language 4 would form the basic core curriculum along with English and social science/history APs.
Another constraint is accomodations for your disabilities. If you apply mostly to safeties in order to go to Cornell, you’ll get several acceptances, probably with honors program/college. This will allow you to choose the college with the best accomodations. (Keep in mind that colleges won’t necessarily accomodate your needs so that’s a key variable).
" unique to Cornell is a diverse list of student-led organizations"
Which specific ones?
Cornell was my dream school when I applied to graduate school. I had visited multiple times. I do agree that it is a great university and a beautiful campus. I was turned down. I was disappointed when I was turned down.
I attended my second choice university for graduate school. I LOVED it. I did very well. I never looked back.
You really can do very well at a wide range of universities. There are a lot of very good ones. Cornell is indeed one of them, but it is only one of a very long list of schools where a strong student can do well.
The other issue that has occurred to me is that IMHO Cornell is one of those great universities that is relatively stressful for undergraduate students. This can be difficult for someone who is still a teenager. Some strong students are fine with this. Some find the stress hard to deal with. Some also find the short days in the winter tough to deal with, some do not. I think that you should just think about how much stress you want in your bachelor’s degree program.