A letter to Cornell’s Class of 2021

Dear Class of 2021,

Welcome to the Big Red family! You’ve spent the past twelve years (possibly even more) trying to get this point, and you’re finally here! Whether you checked your decision in the heavy silence of a quiet, solitary corner or in a room with your friends and family, it must have been a harrowing minute, waiting for the applicant portal to load. That being said, congratulations! All the anxiety is finally over, and you can take a breather before the insanity of college sets in (and believe you me, it gets pretty crazy).

Don’t forget that you made it!

You were selected from the largest early decision applicant pool in Cornell’s history. The admissions office clearly looked at your applications and could see you as Cornell students. They saw your promise and potential for growth as students (although that was a big part of it) and as leaders, athletes, volunteers, and musicians. But more than anything, they saw your potential to grow as people and members of society. They chose you because you were the best, and because you earned it.

Welcome to your home for the next four years! (And yes, it always looks this nice, even during prelim season.)

Enjoy the rest of high school

Let me start off by saying that these next few months are going to be some of the best. While the rest of your peers are still slaving away over the last of their college apps, you, my friend, are done and free as a bird. Take a breather and enjoy the feeling of  having no pressure (or perhaps less pressure) to get stellar grades. Really enjoy the rest of high school because (let me be real with you), this might be the last time that you see a lot of your classmates.

Don’t screw up your grades

Since you got into Cornell, I’m assuming that you’ve had outstanding grades throughout high school, with maybe a handful of B’s, tops. You definitely don’t need straight A’s anymore, but don’t fail any classes either. Make sure you maintain a solid 3.0 GPA so you don’t get rescinded (and let me tell you, if you think senioritis is real now, just wait until April or May). Relax, but don’t completely let go and lose what you’ve worked so hard for.

Study for those AP tests

Okay, real talk. Cornell might not waive requirements based on AP exams, but you will be able to place out of the introductory classes if you get solid (and by that I mean a 5 in most cases) scores. The credits are the same across the board, so no matter if you’re in HumEc or the Ag School, you receive the same placement as any other student would for the same score.

Say thanks to those who deserve it

This could be anyone, from your teachers to your friends, but especially your parents. While you are the one who got in, you’re not the only one who put in effort to get you to where you are today. Give them a hug, write them a card, just make sure you acknowledge the time and dedication that so many people have put in. You deserve the recognition, but so do they.

In short…

Congratulations! This is your moment, so make the most of it. If you can, visit campus during Cornell Days, and we cannot wait to see you during O-week, Class of 2021!