A growing number of high-achieving students originally planning to apply Early Decision to Cornell University have withdrawn their applications entirely, according to a college adviser speaking to The Post. The shift reflects broader concerns among applicants about the selectivity and financial pressures of top-tier institutions. Advisers report that families are reconsidering their strategies amid rising tuition costs and uncertainty over admissions outcomes. The trend highlights how evolving priorities—from academic fit to affordability—are reshaping college application trends for the upcoming cycle.
“All seven of the college applicants we work with for 2027 who planned to apply Early Decision to Cornell have decided not to apply at all," one college adviser told The Post.
