My Cornell Story

Anyone that knows me knows that I've been working towards becoming a Cornell University student since I was a seventh grader.  I fell in love with the town of Ithaca, NY in August 2009 when my brother came to visit Cornell University and Ithaca College.  From that moment on, I knew where I wanted to be.  I applied and got into a competitive magnet high school where I majored in Fashion Design & Merchandising, went to all the leadership conferences offered (anyone OUTSTANDING reading this?), played varsity lacrosse, won two grants, was President of a club for three years, was a Peer Leader, a member of National Honor Society, took plenty of AP classes, and more.  I got good grades in school, volunteered every weekend, and even had a job.  Everyone was convinced that I was a shoe-in for Cornell.  As was I.

I applied early decision and didn't want to apply anywhere else (but my mom forced me to apply other places so I applied to two safeties: Binghamton and Ithaca College).  When early decision day came in December, I had a sinking feeling that I was not prepared for a rejection, because I frankly hadn't thought about that as an option.  For me, it was Cornell or bust.

I was deferred.  I was heartbroken.  It wasn't a rejection, but at this point I had wanted to go to Cornell for three years already and everything I had done since visiting had been done with the knowledge that it would make me a good candidate for the school.  I had to wait three and a half more months for a decision after that.

I watched social media as friends got accepted to their dream schools, even Cornell.  Why hadn't I been accepted yet?

Finally I got my notification and it wasn't an acceptance.  I had been "transfer optioned".  A transfer option is an offer of admission that Cornell gives out.  They tell you that they don't have space to accept you the year you applied, but you have the option to complete certain required classes and obtain a minimum GPA at another college of your choice, and then apply again for the following year with a shortened application.  This transfer option gives you priority over other transfer students in the application pool and it is generally acknowledged as a "guaranteed transfer" if you complete the requirements that were asked of you and don't do anything stupid at your first school.  It used to be called a guaranteed transfer but apparently some kid committed a felony so they had to change the wording.

I was a wreck.  It didn't help that I thought I had been rejected because the wording of the letter wasn't very clear.  I grudgingly decided on Ithaca College for my first year.

*DISCLAIMER: My year at Ithaca College was very enjoyable.  The people there are the nicest and most supportive in the world.  I have nothing but respect for my old classmates and I think very highly of Ithaca College as an institution.  It was hard to say goodbye.*

Not going to Cornell was terrible to think about.  I had to take extra classes at my local community college in the summer to make sure that I had enough of the required classes completed, I basically had to spend my year working even harder than before to prove to Cornell that I belonged there.

My brother was going into his senior year at Cornell and it upset me that he didn't even want to go to Cornell in the first place!  He didn't get into his top schools and settled on Cornell…I had been working since I was thirteen to be there!  When we came up to Ithaca to drop him off for classes (they started before mine), we drove through Cornell's campus on our way to dinner.  I cried for the whole meal.  It wasn't fair to me.  Everything Cornell made me cry, especially seeing friends make their decisions to attend there seemingly out-of-the-blue.

I never bought anything that said Ithaca College on it.  My heart wasn't there.  I could see Cornell from my dorm room and almost everywhere on campus.  I wasn't where I wanted to be and seeing people be where they wanted to be was rough, to say the least.

Finally, after sixteen or so painful months of waiting for a decision from Cornell (since I originally applied in November of my senior year of high school), I finally was notified that I had been accepted.  It was April 27th, Charter Day on the 150th year anniversary of the university.  What a relief.

Fast forward a few months and here I am: A full-fledged Cornell student.  Cornell is known for having a lot of transfer students so I have met a lot of people in a similar boat to me.  I don't like admitting that I am a transfer student sometimes because in some ways I feel like I've been at Cornell much longer than current students but it comes up regularly because there's no way to get around it: I never lived on North, brunched at RPCC, I don't know where buildings are or how to navigate the libraries, and I don't have a solid friend group.

I am enjoying and taking advantage of every minute here though.  As my legs burn as I walk up the slope I find myself thinking about just how lucky I am to be here.  And don't try to have a conversation with me as the clock tower plays the Alma Mater, I'm too distracted by it to focus on anything else.  Just sing it with me as we sway back and forth high above Cayuga's waters.

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