3.5/174 deferred at Cornell today Forum

[newbienew]

Hey guys, you can see my stats and result in the subject. I'm disappointed to be deferred, though I wasn't really sure what to expect. Is this about par for the course with these numbers and Cornell?

Cornell is my top choice, so I'm also wondering what (if anything) I can do to bolster my admissions chances between now and when they make regular decisions. Should I send an additional "Why Cornell" essay? Should I write anything explaining my comparatively low GPA (which was better my soph-junior-senior years than freshman)?

Any and all advice would be much appreciated. Thanks!

[ClayDavis]

Aim higher

[romothesavior]

Aim higher

This.

You can do better than Cornell, and they likely know this too.

[newbienew]

Well, I appreciate the positivity, but for personal reasons, Cornell is honestly where I want to go. I realize the advantages of attending a t6, but I want to be at Cornell. Would it benefit me to make that very clear to the admissions officers? I don't think I should really share my personal reasons (as they have to do with my personal life), but I could quite honestly tell the admissions office that Cornell is my top choice. Could this help me at all? Anything else I could do?

[krad]

Well, I appreciate the positivity, but for personal reasons, Cornell is honestly where I want to go. I realize the advantages of attending a t6, but I want to be at Cornell. Would it benefit me to make that very clear to the admissions officers? I don't think I should really share my personal reasons (as they have to do with my personal life), but I could quite honestly tell the admissions office that Cornell is my top choice. Could this help me at all? Anything else I could do?

Submit an LOCI with this information.

They deferred because of the reason people above me have mentioned- they think/know you'll go to a higher-ranked school.

If Cornell is your number one choice you need to let them know that, stat, and tell them why!

[newbienew]

Haha, but Cornell is my #1 choice for a reason related to loved ones, not academics. I assume I shouldn't tell them that?

[ClayDavis]

I mean if you *have* to go to Cornell, at least apply throughout the t14, get scholarships, and use them to leverage $ from Cornell when you finally get in.

[AreJay711]

Haha, but Cornell is my #1 choice for a reason related to loved ones, not academics. I assume I shouldn't tell them that?

You can get the same academic experience anywhere in the t14 as you can from Cornell. What you can't get from them is whatever personal reason that makes you want to go to Cornell. Let them know that.

[newbienew]

I really appreciate everyone's advice, and I'm especially curious on this point. I had assumed it would make more sense to emphasize that which I like about the academics of Cornell, rather than my personal fondness for its location, especially since my personal reason has to do with the location of other people I love. I figured a reason like this would be dismissed or looked down upon. Am I wrong?

[glitter178]

I'm not necessarily saying to do this, but....
i read in another thread that someone who got waitlisted called and asked why, what they did wrong. if they tell you... well, nothing, maybe you could express that you really want to attend their school and ask what you need to do to be given further consideration. So maybe call first and you can see what they really want from you instead of just assuming?

[KMaine]

Haha, but Cornell is my #1 choice for a reason related to loved ones, not academics. I assume I shouldn't tell them that?

You can get the same academic experience anywhere in the t14 as you can from Cornell. What you can't get from them is whatever personal reason that makes you want to go to Cornell. Let them know that.

This. Explain your situation to them. If you were YP'ed, it should get you in. If there was some red flag in your ap., maybe not. Do try to get some $ out of them if you come here, though.

[krad]

Haha, but Cornell is my #1 choice for a reason related to loved ones, not academics. I assume I shouldn't tell them that?

You can get the same academic experience anywhere in the t14 as you can from Cornell. What you can't get from them is whatever personal reason that makes you want to go to Cornell. Let them know that.

I agree with this. See Dean Zearfoss's response to writing a Why M essay because you like to have dinner with your family on Sundays: http://www.top-law-schools.com/sarah-ze ... rview.html (towards the middle/end of the page).

Edit: And DEF try for $$ at peer schools as leverage.

[Ragged]

I really appreciate everyone's advice, and I'm especially curious on this point. I had assumed it would make more sense to emphasize that which I like about the academics of Cornell, rather than my personal fondness for its location, especially since my personal reason has to do with the location of other people I love. I figured a reason like this would be dismissed or looked down upon. Am I wrong?

They just want to know that you will attend if admitted, reasons don't matter so you can make anything up. All they care about is protecting their yield ratio.

[newbienew]

Thanks again, everyone. I'm already working on my LOCI. I'm surprised by everyone's optimism, as I thought my GPA was on the low side for Cornell. Hopefully you're all right, though, and my LOCI gets the job done. I had assumed the relatively low GPA + no softs did me in.

[AreJay711]

Thanks again, everyone. I'm already working on my LOCI. I'm surprised by everyone's optimism, as I thought my GPA was on the low side for Cornell. Hopefully you're all right, though, and my LOCI gets the job done. I had assumed the relatively low GPA + no softs did me in.

Good luck! I don't think your GPA will hurt you as you are only slightly below median with a LSAT way above the 75%

[krad]

Thanks again, everyone. I'm already working on my LOCI. I'm surprised by everyone's optimism, as I thought my GPA was on the low side for Cornell. Hopefully you're all right, though, and my LOCI gets the job done. I had assumed the relatively low GPA + no softs did me in.

Good luck! I don't think your GPA will hurt you as you are only slightly below median with a LSAT way above the 75%

This. That LSAT will help carry you with the LOCI, I'd imagine. Good luck with your #1!

[trudat15]

Good luck man. I got Deferred to RD too with the similar numbers (.05 lower GPA). Was annoyed, but I hope I can get in somewhere higher (though I dont have a t10 acceptance in my pocket yet, so I'm mildly freaking out).

Write a LOCI and tell them why you want to be there. Hopefully it was just YP and you'll be at Cornell. Be sure to take everyone's advice and apply everywhere else to leverage $$.

[newbienew]

Thanks, everyone. We'll see, I guess...

On another note, does anyone know if this: "Your application will be considered again after our February 1st deadline for regular admission applications." part of the e-mail I received today is definitely true?

Is there really no chance I'll hear anything before February 1st? Thanks in advance if anyone knows.

[whitman]

Thanks, everyone. We'll see, I guess...

On another note, does anyone know if this: "Your application will be considered again after our February 1st deadline for regular admission applications." part of the e-mail I received today is definitely true?

Is there really no chance I'll hear anything before February 1st? Thanks in advance if anyone knows.

I got in with that GPA and a 172. So do what everyone else said and you should be good.

[akikaze]

Columbia would likely be very interested in a 174; I have a friend who graduated Princeton with a 3.4 and a 175 who was admitted (yes, admittedly Princeton), but in general Columbia is willing to sink pretty low to capture some very high LSATs.