I've worked at the admissions offices of various universities ranging from fairy selective to most selective, and I volunteer as an admissions interviewer at my alma mater. Sometimes, it's the less-perfect candidates that are easier to understand (and therefore, accept). When pretty much everyone who applied to the school was perfect to begin with, we really looked at the personal qualities and extracurricular activities.
One thing I have definitely noticed as a trend over the years is that being "well-rounded" is less likely to be seen as a plus these days (this was definitely NOT the case when I started back in the early 2000s, when being an all-around leader, doer, and joiner was a good thing). At every "highly selective" admissions office I've worked for since 2010+, they've carefully crafted their class to find people who are exceptional at 1-2 things (even if it's something totally random and seemingly trivial). Most admissions committees actually meet several times over the course of the admissions season to see what kind of class they've put together so far, what the yield is likely to be, and what kinds of people they would like to add throughout the season.
Being good at like 5 activities, volunteering, speaking a second language, and having great stats is standard at these universities. You have no idea how many applications adcoms read that are literally perfect, essays that are flawless, etc. and yet they can't get a sense of the person underneath at all. If they were to describe the applicant, he/she would be... perfect? This applicant's favorite subject was... everything? This applicant did... all the usual stuff? This applicant likes... who knows? (You get the idea.)
I've actually seen significantly less "perfect" candidates admitted because they had a real strength in something, expressed real weaknesses, and people found them super-interesting. (And no, they weren't always URMs or from remote areas of the country.)
That said, there are PLENTY of wonderful schools that will accept the OP, and his/her life is not over because one school says no. One school saying no means very little in the bigger scheme of things. As all the other posters say, every successful person in the world has endured a rejection of some sort!
Thank you for your replies, everyone. Just wanted to post an update.
So I spoke to my counselor, and neither of us could figure out what went wrong. However, I received a likely letter from Columbia earlier today, so I think I will do well in the RD round.
Thanks again!!!! I'll be sure to post all of my final results.
websensationRegistered UserPosts: 1,753Senior Member
edited March 10
Cornell rejection was a fluke imo. Not many kids get a likely letter from Columbia, a school that emphasizes academics a little bit more. At least one school views your accomplishments the same way I view yours. I bet you will get into UChicago if you applied there. Probably MIT.
The Columbia likely letter confirms that IMO your application is top 90% of admitted students at top schools. I believe the RD results will reflect that. Let us know as the results come in. The thing that stands out for me is you
I also felt for some reason Cornell was not a good fit for you. Your academic accomplishments plus being a Senior Class President as well as leading several clubs stands out for me.
the overall sense of how you would/wouldn't fit into the community.
Page 7 of responses:
for some reason Cornell was not a good fit for you
THIS. Nobody ever wants to believe that the AdComms have any idea of what they are doing. The AdComms at super-selective schools know who they have accepted before, who is in the mix this round, and what they are trying to build.
If Columbia loves the OP enough to send a likely letter (and they don't send many), it means that Columbia sees @armian not just as a qualified candidate, but as a good fit.
@armian, I'm glad that you came looking for support, and I hope that the many kind and helpful posts here helped you through what was obviously a painful jolt. If Cornell was the first time you have 'failed' or been rejected, I hope you remember a little of that feeling going forward. It will help you be a kinder person when others around you stumble. It should also be a reminder that you are more than the sum of your resume!
SO SO glad you got into Columbia OP! Coming from a disadvantaged background and growing up with two deaf parents, you've come a long long way and will go even further, with or without Cornell, Columbia, etc. You must always remember that your accomplishments are never "for nothing" even if they are not immediately recognized by the people you want to impress. Congratulations!
@armian Congrats!!! So happy for you! @whatisyourquest Likely letter is gold in regular round elite college admissions these days, only the top 10% of RD admits get them.
@armian HAHA CONGRATS MAN!!!! I was the first commenter I believe and I just checked back today to see that you got a likely letter from Columbia! I was rejected there ED, but I am so excited for you! See!? I told you good things were yet to come and you would just need to hold on a lil bit longer haha. This is amazing!
I haven't heard back from any schools yet so I guess i"m waiting the 17 more days it'll take for Ivy Day haha.
Let me know all of the schools you get accepted to haha, I'm really interested in hearing from you again.
I think this was a great lesson for all of us involved in this thread! Don't doubt yourself!
@armian - congratulations. Columbia is much more selective than Cornell.
My daughter got a likely and Rabi Scholar from Columbia and was rejected by WashU - admissions is a somewhat arbitrary process once you go beyond the gatekeeper qualifications (GPA, SAT etc.) and they boil down to how interesting you are from the perspective of the application reader (essays primarily). A rejection is not a reflection on you as much as it is an indication that with the inexact science of admissions good people get rejected without significantly impacting the composition of the incoming class because there more smart people applying than the school can accept.
The other issue you run into occasionally (not saying Cornell does this but it is highly likely WashU does) is they reject people that they believe are unlikely to accept an offer of admission because that lowers their "acceptance rate" number as well as increases the "matriculation rate" number. Both impact US News rankings.
Replies to: Why was I rejected ED?
I've worked at the admissions offices of various universities ranging from fairy selective to most selective, and I volunteer as an admissions interviewer at my alma mater. Sometimes, it's the less-perfect candidates that are easier to understand (and therefore, accept). When pretty much everyone who applied to the school was perfect to begin with, we really looked at the personal qualities and extracurricular activities.
One thing I have definitely noticed as a trend over the years is that being "well-rounded" is less likely to be seen as a plus these days (this was definitely NOT the case when I started back in the early 2000s, when being an all-around leader, doer, and joiner was a good thing). At every "highly selective" admissions office I've worked for since 2010+, they've carefully crafted their class to find people who are exceptional at 1-2 things (even if it's something totally random and seemingly trivial). Most admissions committees actually meet several times over the course of the admissions season to see what kind of class they've put together so far, what the yield is likely to be, and what kinds of people they would like to add throughout the season.
Being good at like 5 activities, volunteering, speaking a second language, and having great stats is standard at these universities. You have no idea how many applications adcoms read that are literally perfect, essays that are flawless, etc. and yet they can't get a sense of the person underneath at all. If they were to describe the applicant, he/she would be... perfect? This applicant's favorite subject was... everything? This applicant did... all the usual stuff? This applicant likes... who knows? (You get the idea.)
I've actually seen significantly less "perfect" candidates admitted because they had a real strength in something, expressed real weaknesses, and people found them super-interesting. (And no, they weren't always URMs or from remote areas of the country.)
That said, there are PLENTY of wonderful schools that will accept the OP, and his/her life is not over because one school says no. One school saying no means very little in the bigger scheme of things. As all the other posters say, every successful person in the world has endured a rejection of some sort!
So I spoke to my counselor, and neither of us could figure out what went wrong. However, I received a likely letter from Columbia earlier today, so I think I will do well in the RD round.
Thanks again!!!! I'll be sure to post all of my final results.
The Columbia likely letter confirms that IMO your application is top 90% of admitted students at top schools. I believe the RD results will reflect that. Let us know as the results come in. The thing that stands out for me is you
I also felt for some reason Cornell was not a good fit for you. Your academic accomplishments plus being a Senior Class President as well as leading several clubs stands out for me.
THIS. Nobody ever wants to believe that the AdComms have any idea of what they are doing. The AdComms at super-selective schools know who they have accepted before, who is in the mix this round, and what they are trying to build.
If Columbia loves the OP enough to send a likely letter (and they don't send many), it means that Columbia sees @armian not just as a qualified candidate, but as a good fit.
@armian, I'm glad that you came looking for support, and I hope that the many kind and helpful posts here helped you through what was obviously a painful jolt. If Cornell was the first time you have 'failed' or been rejected, I hope you remember a little of that feeling going forward. It will help you be a kinder person when others around you stumble. It should also be a reminder that you are more than the sum of your resume!
https://www.collegeconfidential.com/dean/what-are-likely-letters-like/
@whatisyourquest Likely letter is gold in regular round elite college admissions these days, only the top 10% of RD admits get them.
I haven't heard back from any schools yet so I guess i"m waiting the 17 more days it'll take for Ivy Day haha.
Let me know all of the schools you get accepted to haha, I'm really interested in hearing from you again.
I think this was a great lesson for all of us involved in this thread! Don't doubt yourself!
My daughter got a likely and Rabi Scholar from Columbia and was rejected by WashU - admissions is a somewhat arbitrary process once you go beyond the gatekeeper qualifications (GPA, SAT etc.) and they boil down to how interesting you are from the perspective of the application reader (essays primarily). A rejection is not a reflection on you as much as it is an indication that with the inexact science of admissions good people get rejected without significantly impacting the composition of the incoming class because there more smart people applying than the school can accept.
The other issue you run into occasionally (not saying Cornell does this but it is highly likely WashU does) is they reject people that they believe are unlikely to accept an offer of admission because that lowers their "acceptance rate" number as well as increases the "matriculation rate" number. Both impact US News rankings.