@sisirox It is not easy or hard the offer, you are accepted that way or not. Not much you can do to lobby for it. But it is just as good as an acceptance. The process was fairly simple for ILR, could vary for other colleges.
They send you a detailed guide, listing the types of classes you must take elsewhere. You must get B’s or better. Send in the info to prove it, and some trivial forms (not applying again, no more essays or recommendations). And the following fall you go to transfer orientation, meet new friends, etc.
Cornell is not the only school to do this, I know people who got similar offers from Harvard. But not many schools do it, and very get the offer.
It is an offer of admission, not waitlist. Contingency in grades is no different. You can’t flunk out sr year of HS if accepted as a freshman, and you must be serious about your freshman year in this case as well. But otherwise, you are accepted and just need to be patient.
Socially, it is as good as you are active and personable. They have transfer orientation activities so you meet other kids your own age/class. Joins clubs and you make friends if you are social.
Academically, they do have the option to take some freshman level intro 1 credit survey class, but do not require if you feel not needed, at least in ILR they did.
Best thing my son did, going this route. He loves the campus, met nice people. If you loved Cornell, better to have 3 years of what you love than 4 years of a compromise !