A college advisor told me it was common for legacy. She may have been incorrect, but several legacies I know were given the TO option in 2022 and 2023. So I have no idea if it’s actually disproportionately offered to legacies.
My daughter accepted to CALS
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I wanted to give my DS’s stats since he was accepted ED and I know how helpful it was for us to see others’ info.
Accepted ED into CAS with a biology major
OOS, white male, need-based financial aid
GPA: 4.25/4.33 UW, 7.25 W
SAT: 790 M, 750 R&W
11 APs, some for current senior year (all 5s in AP tests taken), strong math and science, almost all other classes were honors
General ECs and awards:
-Heavily involved in theater, mostly acting but also experience directing, stage managing, construction. Did 4 shows a year so hundreds of hours devoted
-President of HS theater program 2 years in a row, multiple awards in theater
-President and treasurer of service club, raised money for various service projects
-Student and class council
-Tutored MS and HS math and science
-Honor societies: National, Math, Science, English, History, Thespian, Foreign Language
-Awards in Foreign Language district and national
-AP Capstone Diploma, 5s in AP Seminar and Research, did research study and paper on specific medical field he aspires to go into
-Shadowed multiple doctors in that field
-Paid work in a summer arts camp and assisted living facility
-Volunteer work in multiple areas
What may have helped/advice:
-Having a strong, well-rounded interest and experience in both arts and sciences plus high interest in outdoors’ activities, and writing about that juxtaposition in essays
-Did not do any formal tutoring or prep for SATs or APs but was very self-driven with studying for all on his own
-Only help with college apps was a college essay tutor with his main common app essay. Just needed someone to brainstorm with him (he was so used to writing scientific essays/papers so needed more confidence in creative writing). Once he got over that hump, the other essays were easier and all done on his own
-I know it’s cliche but be yourself, explore and talk about your passions and goals, don’t try to just dazzle admissions
-Nice balance of being humble while talking about accomplishments (he does not like to brag but it’s important to show admissions how hard you’ve worked to get to where you are and what you’ve achieved).
Feel free to ask questions! This is my last kid headed to college (kids ED accepted) so we have some experience 
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My daughter received the TO and she is not a legacy. Her sophomore year roommate and friends who were also TO – none were legacies. (Cornell put all the TOs last year together in Cascadilla.)
One thought about TO is that they might have something in their transcript that Cornell does not want included for the admitted freshman class. They don’t have to publish stats for sophomore transfers. My daughter applied test optional, so the skeptic in me thinks she was admitted as a “guaranteed transfer” so that Cornell did not have to include her in the statistics of test optional admits.
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I don’t think that theory holds much weight. My daughter will be there next fall as a TO and couldn’t submit test scores even if she wanted to: Both Nolan and Dyson are test-blind. Cornell has no idea what her SAT scores are.
I understand, I just talked to so many people about the TO when my daughter received it, and the thinking was there was something in the application that kept the student out as the first year admit, but that the student otherwise checked all boxes. But I do understand that several schools at Cornell are test blind. (My daughter’s program is not test blind.)
The other fairly unique thing about my daughter’s TO was that she got it on Ivy Day, not after being waitlisted. I had heard many/most TOs get it after being waitlisted, but I am not sure if that is true.
That was the case for the kids I know.
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The year my daughter received the TO it seemed an anomoly. It might differ from program to program and from year to year, I don’t know.
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DD24 applied ED1 Cornell Nolan for Fall 2024. She was deferred to RD. She then was waitlisted on Ivy Day. She later received the TO option. She opted into TO Fall 25 should she decide to “apply.” My understanding is that the application is basically putting down her required courses which is microeconomics and a writing course, submitting her high school transcript, updated resume, must receive above a 3.0 in both courses (I believe) and above a cumulative 3.3, and be in good standing. However, it’s not guaranteed, at least it’s not indicated as guaranteed, but it’s very likely as long as she meets the qualifications.
She was accepted to a very good undergraduate business school and enjoys it, however, she will still likely apply for the TO so that she keeps her options open (no pun intended).
I believe that Cornell only has so much room for select candidates and the ones accepted as freshman just happen to be the students they wanted to accept while those waitlisted or given the TO option are qualified, but just not the ones they wanted as freshman.
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Yes, I agree with this assessment.
My daughter followed that same path. Nolan ED>Deferral>Waitlist>TO. Perhaps we’ll meet up at drop-off in August. 
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My D received RD rejection on ivy day with TO option. She doesn’t have legacy and applied as test optional. So anything could happen on Ivy day. She is now a sophmore at Cornell and absolutely love it.
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Kid deferred from engineering. Was probably more hopeful that should have been. Ranked 1st at competitive private HS, UW4.27/W4.98, ACT 36, NMSF, 11 APs, highest rigor at HS. 4 year varsity & club athlete, robotics leadership, extensive volunteering. No major national awards. Tough out there.
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I heard that Cornell did away with the TO last year - is that incorrect? Interesting because I had never heard of it until my daughter received it in '22. Last year I heard of a few other colleges offering it.
My student is a junior who had a TO two years ago. She was told this fall that Brooks School is no longer offering TOs, but other programs such as ILR might still offer TOs. We’ll see what happens this spring.
Hi, my daughter got deferred. Now on the portal, she can’t see the document submission section and the submitted document list section as she used to see before the ED decision came out. Could you please confirm if this is how the portal looks like for the deferred kids? Thank you very much!
My son just checked and the same thing is true for him (deferred).
Thank you very much for the confirmation!
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My son was also deferred and his portal looks the same as your daughters
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I’m sorry to hear that. They do seem like an ideal candidate. I’m guessing engineering is a particularly difficult college. Deferral is a good sign though, no? Hopefully they have some other great options on their list. Good luck!
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will Cornell not post acceptance letter to home address anymore?