My daughter received an invite to attend a 2 day field trip to visit Cornell- bused from NJ to Cornell with accommodations at the residence halls. Invite was from Cornell Admissions/Cornell email. We are a legacy, and our friends who have a son also a legacy did not get such invitation. We have visited several times to campus, and my daughter is interested in such trip, however, she would miss a day of school and trip would have a nominal fee. Would such a trip, given that only a select list was invited, be a shown interest to Cornell and be helpful? We will already be “dinged” as a legacy who is not applying ED due to financial concerns, but can this trip be indicative of an interest, or the opposite, not going would indicate a disinterest.
Thank you in advance for anyone’s thoughts on this.
I would definitely have her do it if there is interest on her part. Sounds like they have an interest.
I don’t think ditching the trip would necessarily materially hurt her chances.
A legacy kid who has gone up there several times should be able to reflect higher-than-average familiarity with the university even without this trip. Obviously attending this would demonstrate more “shown interest”, but traditionally Cornell isn’t so that big on that (though this program might be different). There are always “legitimate” reasons why someone might not be able to get away for a particular two days ( track meet, exam can’t be made up, paper due, Grandma’s birthday, cousins visiting from Austria, etc), and if a good reason is offered up, it wouldn’t really be fair for them to hold it against her.
On the other hand, a trip like this could be a lot of fun and provide insight that might help her with college selection, whether at Cornell or elsewhere. So if she can make it work, time and obligation-wise, I would think t could be good for her to go. Notwithstanding any real or imagined admissions implications.
I guess you already know that there is a legacy “bump” in ED, and ED admission gives you an “out” if the FA award isn’t sufficient.