Will I get rejected because PI cannot show funding? I applied to Cornell's College of Agriculture and Life Sciences for PhD program. I have talked with PI before submitting the application. I have 3.9 GPA from Master , 2 publications and one paper as the lead author under review in a great journal and plenty of research experiences. I think PI really likes me but, he said he doesn't have funding right now. He still asked me to apply for it and is willing to seek out funding options for me. I may be a very strong candidate as the program fits me, my background and future goals like a glove plus competitive academic profile. LORs will be excellent also. I am scared that I will get rejected because PI cannot show the funding this year. He recently got hired so, he is very active academically and applying for funding actively as well. What is the likelihood that I will get rejected? Any advice on anything that I can do?
Actually, in the US it would be unlikely that your application would be rejected only for lack of funding. But you could well be accepted without funding if it comes to that and your background is strong enough. 

In spite of it's association with Cornel, CALS is part of the New York State university system, so NYS rules apply to many things there. 

But there may be other funding open to you than direct funding by the professor. You might be eligible for TA or RA employment. But you might also have to apply for that separately than for admission. 

But work with the professor who will know all of your options.