Dec 6, 2025
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By Justin Neiman, Former Ivy League Admissions Officer
If you applied Early Decision to Cornell and were deferred, don’t panic — it doesn’t mean you’re out. Your application is still in the running and will be reviewed again during Regular Decision. Here’s what that means and what you can do next.
If you applied ED to Cornell, there are three possible decisions:
• Accepted under Early Decision
• Deferred to Regular Decision
• Denied
Cornell has not publicly released Early Decision acceptance rates for the Classes of 2030, 2029, or 2028. The most recent available figure comes from the Class of 2027, when the Early Decision acceptance rate was approximately 17.5 percent.
A rejection from Cornell ED is final. There is no appeals process, and your application will not be reconsidered in Regular Decision.
If you still wish to attend Cornell, you can apply again as a transfer student after completing at least one year of college coursework.
A Cornell ED deferral means your application will undergo a full review in the Regular Decision round.
Submit a Letter of Continued Interest (LOCI):
Reaffirm your interest in Cornell and explain why the university remains your top choice. Keep it focused, authentic, and specific.
Share Significant Updates:
If you’ve had new developments since submitting your application, share them. Examples include:
• A notable academic or extracurricular award
• New and improved test scores
• Progress on a research project or publication
• A leadership role that has expanded meaningfully
Submit Your Midyear Report:
Cornell places real value on senior-year coursework. Strong first-semester grades can make a difference in the RD round.
A deferral offers an opportunity to re-evaluate everything you plan to submit in January. Before RD deadlines:
• Review your essays — do they reflect your strongest voice and most compelling story?
• Refine your supplementals — add more school-specific detail and strengthen your “why Cornell” reasoning for other institutions.
• Ensure your college list is balanced across reach, match, and likely categories.
• Update your activities section with any new accomplishments.
A deferral is not a rejection—it’s an invitation to stay in the game. Keep excelling academically, remain proactive, and use this as an opportunity to refine your strategy. Remember, many successful students use setbacks as fuel for future success.
I like to share this quote from a past student to just offer some perspective:
“If I hadn’t been deferred in the early round, I wouldn’t have realized how much my application needed improvement. I made changes and ended up getting into all of my top schools during regular decision. It was a blessing in disguise.”
If you’d like support with your LOCI or your Regular Decision applications, feel free to reach out.
If you applied Early Decision to Cornell and were deferred, don’t panic — it doesn’t mean you’re out. Your application is still in the running and will be reviewed again during Regular Decision. Here’s what that means and what you can do next.
If you applied ED to Cornell, there are three possible decisions:
• Accepted under Early Decision
• Deferred to Regular Decision
• Denied
Cornell has not publicly released Early Decision acceptance rates for the Classes of 2030, 2029, or 2028. The most recent available figure comes from the Class of 2027, when the Early Decision acceptance rate was approximately 17.5 percent.
A rejection from Cornell ED is final. There is no appeals process, and your application will not be reconsidered in Regular Decision.
If you still wish to attend Cornell, you can apply again as a transfer student after completing at least one year of college coursework.
A Cornell ED deferral means your application will undergo a full review in the Regular Decision round.
Submit a Letter of Continued Interest (LOCI):
Reaffirm your interest in Cornell and explain why the university remains your top choice. Keep it focused, authentic, and specific.
Share Significant Updates:
If you’ve had new developments since submitting your application, share them. Examples include:
• A notable academic or extracurricular award
• New and improved test scores
• Progress on a research project or publication
• A leadership role that has expanded meaningfully
Submit Your Midyear Report:
Cornell places real value on senior-year coursework. Strong first-semester grades can make a difference in the RD round.
A deferral offers an opportunity to re-evaluate everything you plan to submit in January. Before RD deadlines:
• Review your essays — do they reflect your strongest voice and most compelling story?
• Refine your supplementals — add more school-specific detail and strengthen your “why Cornell” reasoning for other institutions.
• Ensure your college list is balanced across reach, match, and likely categories.
• Update your activities section with any new accomplishments.
A deferral is not a rejection—it’s an invitation to stay in the game. Keep excelling academically, remain proactive, and use this as an opportunity to refine your strategy. Remember, many successful students use setbacks as fuel for future success.
I like to share this quote from a past student to just offer some perspective:
“If I hadn’t been deferred in the early round, I wouldn’t have realized how much my application needed improvement. I made changes and ended up getting into all of my top schools during regular decision. It was a blessing in disguise.”
If you’d like support with your LOCI or your Regular Decision applications, feel free to reach out.
Former Admissions Officer, Harvard University
Former Assistant Dean, Stanford University
As a College Counselor I help students navigate the college admissions process. My goal is to help students stand out and get accepted to their top-choice schools.
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