Either is nearly impossible for my kid to reach, but they want to shoot their shot. Applying TO with 3.7W, very strong ECs with a lot of leadership. They are trans, and their essays, ECs, etc., speak to advocacy, social justice, and policy changes they helped make within their urban public school. They want to major in political science and minor in religion. It would be public policy in Brooks, and they could minor in religion at CAS. They don’t LOVE being boxed into a public policy major, though.
We are from NYS, which might help a teensy bit with Brooks?
Both are test recommended, so they’re not going to get into either.
I would apply for the school of interest. But seems Brooks is a no brainer for the tuition save alone. You could always change later.
But then you say they don’t want to be boxed in…so you’ll have to decide the worth. I don’t think your odds are better at Brooks…but I could be wrong…and as you say, they want to shoot their shot…but if it were me, I’d find a school that’s truly TO with a low submission rate as they’re telling you up front, they want to see the test.
Best of luck.
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Don’t quote me on this, but I believe its harder for NY state kids to get into brooks because of the sheer number of applicants. This goes for any state supported college at Cornell: NY state kids apply for the in state tuition. If I were in your shoes, I would apply to CAS as long as tuition is not a problem. If tuition is, then go with Brooks but keep in mind that Cornell is a reach school for anyone. I’m not sure how your school weights grades, but 3.7 is quite low even for unweighted. Good luck with your application, I just turned mine in this week.
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I didn’t realize CALS was test optional until after I submitted…
Recommended - not optional.
No submit, no get in (in my opinion)
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CALS is test blind, not test optional.
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Sorry, I thought we were talking about CAS (from religion in the first note and the thread title.).
Yes, here is the policy. Both Brooks and CAS are recommended. CALS, Architecture, and Johnson are test blind.
Thanks
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It sounds like your son has some wonderful acceptances—and applied to a very large number of schools, many of which he’ll probably have acceptances from in the next few months! Wondering if another application submission, and probable rejection, is a good thing to do. It is all so stressful and an emotional rollercoaster—I feel for you, as we’re going through this too. I realize he drives the application bus—and you’re there for support—but I just wonder if another app is truly a good idea, when he could shine at one of the schools he has already been accepted to.
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My bad, that’s what I meant. Wish it wasn’t though, could have submitted my 36 next year haha
Or to a reach that has few submit tests - Vassar is under 40% tufts barely half.
Then the TO is less diminished.
But if the heart is on Cornell, it’s fine as long as they understand the insurmountable odds.
IMO, TO is never really TO for kids from high income areas.
At least in my high school, even if TO, no test, no getting in (to the Ivies and that caliber).
TO went from being a COVID policy to now an access thing. But if you’re from my zip code, they knew you could afford to retake, take a billion prep classes, and they used that against you when applying TO.
Meanwhile, I applied with a 35 ACT to top LACs and still received many WL and rejections, despite way less than half submitting and my score still being the high end of the 25-75. They don’t seem to care as much as the bigger selective schools. I guess that is part of the liberal arts philosophy.
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