Cornell College – Office of Admission

Are you excited?!  We are!!!  As the admission representatives slowly return to the office, they are being greeted by the smiling faces of our visit coordinator, data entry staff, and a number of prospective students visiting campus on a daily basis.  Their desks are beginning to resemble that of a very full filing cabinet as applications are completed by interested students and are ready for their review. 

We are all in the process of interviewing applicants in a number of locations nationwide, as well as on campus and via phone, too.  Interviews are optional, but a great way for us to get to know you a little better before reviewing your full application.  It’s always nicer to hear about your interests in person as opposed to just reading it on a piece of paper.  You can find a list of off-campus interview locations on our website.  You can also contact your admission counselor to set up a time via telephone or Skype.

The next application deadline is our Early Action deadline of December 1st.  You may apply via the Cornell College online or paper application, OR via the Common Application.  Details for both can be found at the “Apply Today!” or “News/Apply” links on our blog or here.  You can also find links to all necessary forms on this page, just in case you lost your teacher recommendation form or something.  Remember that the earlier you apply, the less you have to worry about during your very busy school year (bonus!).

Reminder — Visit us anytime a la video or on campus for one of our preview days (Next PD: November 9th!) or an individual visit.  We look forward to visiting with you in person anytime and to getting to know you better throughout your college search!

The Office of Admission was pleased to welcome approximately 380 new incoming students to campus this morning.  It’s one of our favorite days because we get to see all of the students we’ve chatted with over the last year or so on campus as Cornellians!  It’s a fun day for all involved.  The fall athletic teams even help move new students into the dorms!

This incoming class has become one of the most diverse for many reasons.  Receiving over 3500 applications this year and admitting about 40% of them, Cornell College has now welcomed 380 students from over 43 states and a number of different countries to campus.  Twenty-one percent of the incoming students are students of color, resulting in one of the most ethnically diverse classes Cornell has seen, and within the class is a representation of a variety of different academic and extracurricular interests.  It’s bound to be a very successful first year for these individuals and the Office of Admission wishes them the very, very best! 

The Office of Admission is now getting geared up for our “travel season”, where representatives from the office travel all over the country to visit with prospective students at high schools and college fairs.  We also offer Off-Campus Interview events in over 40 cities!  Check out the “Travel Schedules” link at the top of this blog to find your admission counselor’s tentative travel schedule.  (Updates will be made as travel continues to be scheduled.) 

You can also find more information on visiting campus or visiting us at Off-Campus Events on our website here.  We look forward to visiting with you over the next year and to seeing how the next exciting incoming class shapes up!

There’s this great blog article on the NY Times education page that you may all appreciate at this point in your college search.  We live in a world where name recognition is still important, yet you want to find the best college fit for you.  I remember when I applied to Cornell College my friends and family were confused because they had either never heard of it or they confused it with the other Cornell.  It’s beneficial for you to learn more about a school than just its name and its application deadlines.  Get to know its philosophy, its environment, its ethos… visit campus.  Explore its rankings, and then discover it for yourself by asking questions that pertain to your college search.  We’re here to help, so let us know when you need it. 

Links you’ll appreciate:

• NY Times Article: “Tip Sheet: “On the Wisdom and Merits of Exploring ‘Less Visible’ Colleges”
• Cornell College Profile: National Recognition
• Just for fun… : We’re Not in Ithaca
• Cornell College Admission on Facebook: “Cornell College: Let Me In! (Official Admission Page)”

Hope you’re enjoying the rest of your summer!  We are diligently planning our fall travel schedules here at the Office of Admission and look forward to seeing you at your high school or a nearby college fair.  Stay tuned for all of our travel details.

Summer is a great time to start visiting the colleges you are interested in applying.  Cornell College offers a variety of Preview Day and individual visit options.  If you would like to schedule a visit or learn more, check our website here.  Call our office at (800) 747-1112 or email our visit coordinator Karen Kleinsmith at kkleinsmith@cornellcollege.edu.

We look forward to working with you more throughout your college search!