Cornell "Feb 1st deadline waive" memo Forum

[mintjulep]

Just a couple of days ago, I got a short 1-page letter from Cornell inviting me to apply, despite their deadline being Feb 1st (passed). The last line of the letter is "P.S. We're also waiving our February 1st deadline. Why not give us a try? Simply include this memo (not a copy) with your application."

Basically, I'm interested in sending out an application now, but I can't send Cornell a paper-app because all my LoR's and everything are done through the LSAC services. So I need to do an online app, but how do I get them the memo to waive the deadline? Has anyone seen this letter before or done this? Is an online application possible?

[DukeHopeful]

You can just print the certification letter and mail the memo with it. I know some schools do fee waivers where that's how you have to do it. Don't do electronic certification.

[Pearalegal]

...because their apps are down?

[holydonkey]

Weird. I would think Cornell would be paying people not to apply at this point. Maybe they're worried about yield rate.

[Gamecubesupreme]

Weird. I would think Cornell would be paying people not to apply at this point. Maybe they're worried about yield rate.

Why would they pay people not to apply? It's free application money for Cornell. It's not like they have to accept people who apply.

[JCougar]

Just a couple of days ago, I got a short 1-page letter from Cornell inviting me to apply, despite their deadline being Feb 1st (passed). The last line of the letter is "P.S. We're also waiving our February 1st deadline. Why not give us a try? Simply include this memo (not a copy) with your application."

Basically, I'm interested in sending out an application now, but I can't send Cornell a paper-app because all my LoR's and everything are done through the LSAC services. So I need to do an online app, but how do I get them the memo to waive the deadline? Has anyone seen this letter before or done this? Is an online application possible?

May I ask what your numbers were to warrant this?

[holydonkey]

Weird. I would think Cornell would be paying people not to apply at this point. Maybe they're worried about yield rate.

Why would they pay people not to apply? It's free application money for Cornell. It's not like they have to accept people who apply.

I should have put the part about paying people in laugh brackets with pictures of clowns surrounding it to indicate it was a joke, but I forgot.

Dealing with an increase of over 50% in apps means hiring a number of part-time employees. App fees in no way come close to paying for staff in an admissions office.

[redginseng]

App fees in no way come close to paying for staff in an admissions office.

Not true. Suppose I pay 70 dollars for application. If the ad com reads the application for three minutes then she can go through 20 applications per hour. 20 times 70 dollars is $1400. Higher than highest billing rate among top partners.

[notanumber]

App fees in no way come close to paying for staff in an admissions office.

Not true. Suppose I pay 70 dollars for application. If the ad com reads the application for three minutes then she can go through 20 applications per hour. 20 times 70 dollars is $1400. Higher than highest billing rate among top partners.

Each application takes far, far more than 3 min to process. Remember, admissions needs to cover all of:
1) Developing application material
2) Developing class profiles and admission criteria
3) Publicity, including travel
4) Processing applications
5) Reading applications (and 3 min is a pessimistic estimation of the average cumulative time spent)
6) Overhead (buildings, materials, etc...)
7) Contact with potential applicants and admitted students
8) The cost of processing and evaluating applications with fee waivers

All of this is expensive. And I'm sure that I'm leaving out plenty of expenses. Schools are lucky if the application fee covers even a significant fraction of the costs of running an admissions program.

p.s. Also got the Cornell waiver thing (along with a fee waiver, so it's not just about increasing application income). I suggest that the OP just call Cornell tomorrow and ask them.

[holydonkey]

App fees in no way come close to paying for staff in an admissions office.

Not true. Suppose I pay 70 dollars for application. If the ad com reads the application for three minutes then she can go through 20 applications per hour. 20 times 70 dollars is $1400. Higher than highest billing rate among top partners.

Very true. Say Cornell gets 6000 apps (about 50% + 2009 # of 4172) and 80% of applicants pay the fee (no waiver). Cornell brings in $336,000 a year in app fees. Now how much does the admissions office have to pay LSAC to use the credential assembly service for online applications? No idea, but using a vendor for an application is usually very expensive. Now add the cost of registering for LSAC forums and transportation costs for going to fairs around the country. Now subtract travel grants for admits that visit the school. Now subtract the cost of office infrastructure, paper for decisions, publications like viewbooks. Already out of money. Then you have to pay for staffing...

Adding an additional 5% brings in 300 apps, 240 of which may pay fees for a total of $16,400. So if you hire someone for $15 an hour without health insurance or any other benefits for 8 hours a day, you can get them for 136 days of work. No admissions office is making money off of app fees.

[MURPH]

If they just took the money from the late apps and threw the app in the "no" bin then they would make some money, increase their number of app (increase for USNWR rank) and have almost no increase in costs.