If you were waitlisted by Cornell, you aren’t alone. Cornell offers a wild number of applicants, 12% in 2023, a spot on the waitlist. Out of 8,282 students offered a spot on the waitlist in 2023, 6,166 accepted that offer. This is twice as many students as they expect to enroll in the first-year class. We can’t quite understand what the purpose is of having such a deep waitlist, but it is what Cornell has done for years. Ultimately, for Fall 2023, 362, or 5.9% of students on the waitlist were accepted.  

Cornell University is famous for being the most transfer-friendly Ivy League school. They even have a first-year admissions track that actually has you transfer into the university. The school holds space for transfers, but that doesn’t mean you’re an automatic in just because you apply. This is a competitive, top-tier, Ivy League school. You need to have your ducks in a row!

No one hopes for a rejection letter, but for many hopeful Ivy League applicants, it happens. First off, sorry that you didn’t get into Cornell. However, it isn’t the time to mope. There is still a lot of work to do, and the next two weeks will be super important to maximize your chances for a successful Regular Decision round.