Cornell University

Ithaca, NY · Private · 15,995 undergrads

Admit rate: 8.8% (65,635 applicants)
SAT middle 50%: 1500–1570 (ACT 33–35)
Undergraduates: 15,995 (9.6% international)
Average net price: $28,690 (per year after aid)
Graduation rate: 95% (within 6 years)

Deadlines

Early Decision: Nov. 1, 2026
Regular Decision: Jan. 2, 2027

Essays

Arts & Sciences (650 words)

At the College of Arts and Sciences, your education is yours to shape. Describe an intellectual passion, question, or idea that has captured your attention—whether it emerges from your studies or extends beyond your coursework. What specific aspects of our liberal arts curriculum would you draw on to explore and connect your varied interests?

AAP: Architecture (B.Arch) (650 words)

Describe how your interests connect to architecture. Include an example of a creative project, design experience, or personal passion that sparked your interest in pursuing a 5-year professional degree in architecture. Reflect on how this experience shaped your understanding of the field and your motivation to study architecture.

AAP: Fine Arts (BFA) (650 words)

Submit an artist statement describing your creative interests and practice. Address how your work reflects your artistic voice, influences, and process, and how studying art at Cornell AAP would support and expand your practice. (You will also be prompted to upload a copy to your Slideroom portal.)

AAP: Urban and Regional Studies (650 words)

Describe your interest in urban and regional studies. Discuss experiences, ideas, or issues that have shaped your interest in cities, communities, and regional systems, and explain how URS at Cornell aligns with your academic and career goals.

Brooks School (650 words)

Discuss your interest in pursuing a major in policy at the Cornell Jeb E. Brooks School of Public Policy and what draws you to this field of study. You are encouraged to consider including details related to your personal experiences, values, academic influences, or extracurricular activities that have shaped your perspective and future goals.

Brooks School: DC Start applicants only (350 words)

Please describe why you are interested in being considered for the Brooks School DC Start program.

CALS: your major (350 words)

What interests you about the major you selected? Tell us about experiences (both in and outside of the classroom), questions, and goals that influenced your choice.

CALS: why CALS (350 words)

What draws you to Cornell's College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (CALS)? Reflect on the learning, community, or impact opportunities that matter most to you, and share how they align with Cornell CALS (as you understand it currently).

Human Ecology (550 words)

The College of Human Ecology prepares students to respond to human needs through an education organized around the interconnected issues that profoundly affect individuals, communities, and the institutions that shape our lives. Think about an extracurricular/community engagement/work experience that most closely connects you to the CHE mission and your intended choice of major. Tell us what that experience taught you about your broader community and its needs, and the impact you can make. How will your intended CHE major help you make that impact?

Engineering: why engineering (200 words)

Fundamentally, engineering is the application of math, science, and technology to solve complex problems. Why do you want to study engineering?

Engineering: why Duffield (200 words)

Why do you think you would love to study at Duffield Engineering?

Engineering short answer: joy (100 words)

What brings you joy?

Engineering short answer: your voice (100 words)

What do you believe you will contribute to the Duffield Engineering community beyond what you've already detailed in your application? What unique voice will you bring?

Engineering short answer: one activity (100 words)

What is one activity, club, team, organization, work/volunteer experience or family responsibility that is especially meaningful to you? Please briefly tell us about its significance for you.

Engineering short answer: one award (100 words)

What is one award you have received or achievement you have attained that has meant the most to you? Please briefly describe its importance to you.

ILR School (650 words)

Using your personal, academic, or volunteer/work experiences, describe the topics or issues that you care about and why they are important to you. Your response should show us that your interests align with the ILR School.

SC Johnson College of Business (650 words)

What kind of business student are you? Using your personal, academic, or volunteer/work experiences, describe the topics or issues that you care about and why they are important to you. Your response should convey how your interests align with the school to which you are applying within the Cornell SC Johnson College of Business (the Dyson School or the Nolan School).

Editor's notes

At Cornell you're not applying to Cornell so much as to one college inside it, and the essay is where that shows. Every college's prompt asks some version of why this college and how your interests fit it. Read that college's own admissions page before you write; most list exactly what their readers look for.
Tests are required again. Cornell's CDS rates them as considered, below rigor, essays and recommendations, but you can't skip them. Plan your last SAT or ACT before Nov. 1 if you're applying ED.
Cornell rates level of interest as not considered, so campus visits won't count for you on their own. What counts is a college essay that proves you understand the program you picked.
Pick your college carefully. CALS admits to a major, AAP and some Human Ecology majors require a portfolio on the application deadline itself with no grace period, and SC Johnson wants a résumé.