Sociology PhD

Cornell University College of Arts and Sciences · Ithaca, NY

Field: Sociology & Anthropology
Degrees: Master's, PhD
Application fee: $105
GRE: Required
Letters: 3 (recommendations)

Deadlines

PhD application (all materials received), fall 2027 entry: Dec. 15, 2026

Essays

Academic statement of purpose (1,000 words)

Please use the Academic Statement of Purpose to describe (within 1000 words) the substantive research questions you are interested in pursuing during your graduate studies, and explain how our program would help you achieve your intellectual goals. Additionally, detail your academic background, intellectual interests, and any training or research experience you have received that you believe has prepared you for our program. Within your statement, please also identify specific faculty members whose research interests align with your own interests.

Personal statement (No length stated; background, experiences and readiness for graduate study)

Your personal statement should describe how your background and experiences have influenced your decision to pursue a graduate degree and your readiness to do so.

Optional addendum to the personal statement (domestic applicants seeking Dean's Excellence Fellowship consideration)

Writing sample (A short paper, published or unpublished; need not be in sociology; co-authored papers discouraged)

CV or résumé

Editor's notes

Cornell's 1,000-word academic statement has a specific prompt: name the research questions you want to pursue, show your preparation, and identify specific faculty whose work aligns with yours, so treat the faculty paragraph as required content rather than an afterthought. The separate personal statement and the writing sample carry real weight, and the committee says co-authored papers are discouraged unless your contribution is clear. GRE scores are required, so plan to test by October to meet the December 15 receipt deadline.