Thank you that’s an excellent point Saphire.
Think of it this way: It reflects well on the CC if one of their graduates gets into Cornell. So the phone call is not just in your best interest. The administration/president should have a stake in it too.
I agree…don’t worry about how you get in, just if you get in. If the president thinks you are a hidden gem that Cornell should know about, then good for you! You prove you are worthy by doing well there. But also look at other options in the mean time.
Yes, I would drop your view off at the nearest garbage dump and listen to @SaphireNY. . Admissions officers will be willing to be frank with a representative from your college so you may get insights. They will also be adding info they didn’t have (the Val). It isn’t a matter of you being qualified, that is never going to change their mind. CC transfers to selective privates is just very difficult there aren’t that many slots. Ask for and take all the help you can get from an influential person.
If Cornell doesn’t work out, then focus your efforts on larger (mostly public) universities and some colleges with fairly high attrition rates. It’s a shame that you did not receive better advice as re transfer agreements with colleges in your area. Which region of the state are you in?
Long Island
Nassau? If so, maybe get your parents involved. While I have no experience, just knowing people who have or will attend, I suspect they are used to parents calling to ask (although that sometimes makes them less tolerant of it).
Yes, it is Nassau. I try to keep my parents out of it because I don’t want to give colleges the impression that I need my parents to speak on my behalf.
^^that I agree with–you make the calls, no parents
Fine, make the first call. If the President says no, then have your parents call unless they are not of the type or it is really frowned upon in the culture of the school. If your parents cannot, find an aunt or an uncle or perhaps the guidance counselor from your high school if you have a relationship. Especially if your parents paid the tuition, money talks. It is much easier to say no to most young people than to adults, especially educated adults, in my experience. They have seen what is possible, most kids have been told to follow the rules up until now.
I think someone arguing on the OP’s behalf is a good idea, but it shouldn’t be a parent or a relative–they can’t really speak to the OP’s academic achievement. I think the OP should ask one of his professors who wrote recommendation for him if he/she would call Cornell admissions/administration and plead the OP’s case.
I did not mean that her mom should call Cornell. Although a professor calling is also an interesting idea.
The OP got specific advice to have someone high up such as the President of her community college call. That is excellent. If she has trouble getting the President to call, then her family or prior GC needs to step in and insist that her current college where she is currently number 1, call Cornell and anyplace else she wants to go
Hey guys, just a quick update. I talked to the head admissions rep an hour ago and told him my story. Unfortunately, he said all decisions are final. I asked him would a call from the college pres help and he said no. It’s extremely disappointing to hear and it almost feels as if I was rejected again. Also, still no word from Hopkins, but that doesn’t look good either.
Sit down with the college president/head of guidance at your college and discuss options. They have resources that you do not. Good luck
Thanks everybody for all the advice, it was very helpful. I’m glad to have had such numerous and thoughtful suggestions. At least I can say I tried my best to get in, instead of thinking what if.
For future reference, when you plan on having someone high up call on your behalf, don’t tell the admission officer you happen to be talking to, if it’d make a difference if someone called on your behalf. They have to say it won’t, and then both you and him/her are locked in. 
Go see your Dean or college president, and discuss options.
What’s your parents’ budget for college? Can you go out of state?
My parents’ budget depends on a few factors. They would only help me pay 60k /year if they felt the school was extremely high ranked (top 30) and was good for my major. Otherwise, they’d want me to go to a Suny.
Honestly I’m leaning towards just working full time and see whether a four year is actually right for me.
baloney! If you have a 4.0 and are CC valedictorian, OF COURSE a 4-year is right for you. If it’s not, who, pray tell, is it for!!!
Would your parents extend their criteria a little (considering most Top 30 universities take few if any transfers from CCs). There’s a LOT of leeway between a SUNY and a top 30.
What would your major be?
There are some good colleges that miscalculated yield and are still taking applications. Would you be willing to try and apply there?
They include:
DePaul and Lake Forest in Chicago; DePauw, in IN; Drake, in IA; Goucher, in MD; Hofstra and Pace in NYC; Marist, in NYS; NCF in Florida; Ohio Wesleyan; Wooster (mandatory research supported by college); Penn State (University Park, not Engineering) and UF, two top-ranked public universities.
And there’s also Cardiff in the UK, or SOAS in London, which are Russell Group (the UK’s “Ivy league” sorta). Also, Trinity College Dublin (Ireland’s top college).
Economics lol. However, I honestly feel confident in my ability to work full time and be successful at that. I’m not immediately dismissing the possibility of attending a four year school. I’m just saying I would like to work for a year and make a more rational decision over whether going to back to college would be worth giving up whatever job I have.