Did you get pushed back to the regular admission round for Cornell University‘s 2028 class after applying early? It might feel disappointing to not get in right away after committing early in November. But hey, it’s not the end of the world—you could’ve been flat-out rejected. So, what does this deferral mean for your chances, and how can you boost your odds for regular admission?
Cornell Early Decision Admission Rates Over 20+ Years
Here are Cornell‘s Early Decision admission numbers for the last twenty years.
We haven’t seen the data for the Class of 2028 yet, but we’re staying tuned to updates from the Cornell admissions office. Word is, there’s been a small uptick in Early Decision applications for the Class of 2028.
Also, Cornell might accept fewer students this time around, following suggestions from the University’s Presidential Task Force on Undergraduate Admissions.
| Cornell Class Year | Early Decision Applications | Early Decision Acceptances | Early Decision Acceptance Rate |
| Class of 2028 | Not Yet Published | Not Yet Published | Not Yet Published |
| Class of 2027 | Not Yet Published | 1,670 | Not Yet Published |
| Class of 2026 | 9,555 | 1,831 | 19.2% |
| Class of 2025 | 9,017 | 1,930 | 21.4% |
| Class of 2024 | 6,630 | 1,594 | 24.0% |
| Class of 2023 | 6,159 | 1,395 | 22.6% |
| Class of 2022 | 6,319 | 1,533 | 24.3% |
| Class of 2021 | 5,384 | 1,378 | 25.6% |
| Class of 2020 | 4,882 | 1,340 | 27.4% |
| Class of 2019 | 4,560 | 1,196 | 26.2% |
| Class of 2018 | 4,775 | 1,325 | 27.7% |
| Class of 2017 | 4,193 | 1,237 | 29.5% |
| Class of 2016 | 3,609 | 1,180 | 32.7% |
| Class of 2015 | 3,456 | 1,228 | 35.5% |
| Class of 2014 | 3,594 | 1,175 | 32.7% |
| Class of 2013 | 3,405 | 1,249 | 36.7% |
| Class of 2012 | 3,095 | 1,139 | 36.8% |
| Class of 2011 | 3,017 | 1,103 | 36.6% |
| Class of 2010 | 2,849 | 1,110 | 39% |
| Class of 2009 | 2,572 | 1,072 | 41.7% |
| Class of 2008 | 2,550 | 1,119 | 43.9% |
| Class of 2007 | 2,729 | 1,110 | 40.7% |
Cornell Early Decision Deferral Rates
Cornell doesn’t delay as many students as some similar schools. Although Cornell hasn’t shared its deferral rate since the Class of 2024, the table below displays the percentage of Early Decision applicants who were deferred for the Classes of 2024, 2023, and 2022:
| Cornell Class Year | Deferral Rate |
| Class of 2028 | Not Yet Published |
| Class of 2027 | Not Yet Published |
| Class of 2026 | Not Yet Published |
| Class of 2025 | Not Yet Published |
| Class of 2024 | 21.7% |
| Class of 2023 | 24.3% |
| Class of 2022 | 22.9% |
5 Steps to Take After Being Deferred by Cornell
If Cornell has told you to wait, here are five things you should do:
1. Contact with Essay Embassy to learn how we help students to get their admission essay written.
2. Do the Essay Embassy’s PostMortem. Contact college advisors they’ll tell you what went well, what didn’t, and what you should focus on in your letter. Plus, you’ll learn what mistakes to avoid when you apply to other colleges in two weeks.
3. Essay Embassy can help you write a strong Letter of Continued Interest to Cornell. Don’t wait too long to write it; you need to send it quickly. But just sending a letter won’t necessarily increase your chances of getting in. It’s what’s in the letter that counts. Basically, Essay Embassy’s applications are unique, and that’s why they work so well.
4. After you send the letter, focus on your other college applications. You can’t change your Cornell application, but you can update any other applications you haven’t finished yet.
5. In the new year, give your letter to your school counsellor and ask them to call Cornell for you. This way, they’ll represent you in the same way you did in your letter. While some counsellors might not want to make the call, good ones will always pick up the phone. It’s their job to support you in getting admitted.
Cornell Deferral FAQ
Does Cornell accept, defer, or deny most Early Decision candidates?
Cornell turns down most people who apply for Early Decision. Even though the school hasn’t shared its Early Decision acceptance rate since the Class of 2026, it’s likely less than 20%. In recent years, around 21.7% to 24.3% of applicants have been put on hold, while most have been denied admission completely.
Why has Cornell been withholding their Early Decision admissions statistics in recent years?
Cornell seems to think that keeping its admissions stats private will make the application process less stressful. They believe that by not showing the low admission rates, applicants won’t feel discouraged from applying, which could improve the school’s ranking in lists like US News.
However, we at Essay Embassy don’t agree that hiding these numbers makes the process easier for anyone. We think Cornell keeps this information private to benefit itself and its ranking.
Do deferred Cornell candidates really have a shot of getting in?
Yes, if you applied to Cornell early but got deferred, you still have a good chance of getting in during the regular admissions process. This is because many people who apply early to Cornell don’t get accepted.
Can deferred Cornell candidates be waitlisted in Regular Decision?
Cornell has a history of deferring people who apply early, only to consider them again later and possibly put them on a waiting list.
We think it’s unfair to put deferred applicants on a waiting list, but it happens often at colleges. Harvard University, which is similar to Cornell, also puts a lot of deferred applicants on waiting lists. You might expect admissions committees to have enough time between early and regular admissions to make a final decision about these students, but sometimes they delay the decision again.
Can deferred Cornell candidates receive guaranteed transfer offers in Regular Decision?
Yes, in the past, Cornell has promised deferred applicants the chance to transfer after the Regular Decision process. The policy says that a student has to go to another college for a year, get certain grades, stay out of trouble, and then they’re guaranteed a spot at Cornell in the fall.
We think this transfer option is not a good idea because Cornell is essentially sending a student to another school temporarily. This student might not feel as motivated to make friends or get involved at the new college since they know they’re going back to Cornell later on. It’s not fair to the student or the college they go to in their first year.
Essay Embassy’s Help with Cornell Admission Essay
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