Cornell University: How to Get in

Mission Statement

Cornell’s mission is to discover, preserve and disseminate knowledge, to educate the next generation of global citizens, and to promote a culture of broad inquiry throughout and beyond the Cornell community. Cornell also aims, through public service, to enhance the lives and livelihoods of students, the people of New York, and others around the world.

Admission Statistics

Cornell received 49,114 applications and 5,453 students were admitted, meaning you have a roughly 1 in 10 chance of being accepted to Cornell. However, these vary by College and you should be aware that the best of the best are applying to Cornell. While this number might seem high it is still very hard to gain an offer of admission to Cornell.

• Admissions Rate: 10.9%
• SAT: 1450-1540 (50% range)
• ACT: 32-35 (50% range)

Cornell’s acceptance rate

Cornell Undergraduate Programs

Cornell offers just under 80 formal majors and over 120 minors for undergraduate studies. They also have several challenging dual-degree programs and a score of interdisciplinary majors that cross traditional departmental boundaries. These areas of study are taught through the following seven main colleges and schools:

1. College of Agriculture and Life Sciences.    
2. College of Architecture, Art and Planning.
3. College of Arts and Sciences.
4. Cornell SC Johnson College of Business.
5. College of Engineering.
6. College of Human Ecology.
7. School of Industrial and Labor Relations (ILR)

Interested in some tips on how to get into an ivy league school? Check out this video:



Eligibility

The main requirements for admission to Cornell are the same as most universities. You have to successfully complete your high school studies and be proficient in English. International students whose native language is not English or who have not attended high school in a country where English is an official language for the four years before their application must take a language proficiency test.

When applying to Cornell undergrad, you have to apply directly to one of the undergraduate schools or colleges, and each one has a specific set of high school subject requirements and recommendations.

Application System

Cornell is one of the many schools that use the common app for their application process. Common Application (also known as the common app) is a centralized online portal for undergraduate college applications. You will need to create an account on the platform and add Cornell University to your list of choices. The platform is divided into different sections. You will be required to enter your personal details and information about your academic background and extracurricular activities. You will also have to answer general questions that apply to all the selected colleges and university-specific questions. It is usually in the university-specific question section that you will find the prompts for the supplemental essays required by the school

Selection Factors

Cornell's admission process is highly individualized, meaning there is no magic formula for getting in. Still, there are a few key elements that this selective school pays special attention to.

GPA and Test Scores

Cornell University does not have a specific “cut-off” GPA or test score for admission. However, their acceptance rate tells us that it is a very selective school. Furthermore, one of the things that the admissions board recommends for prospective students is that they have an outstanding record of academic achievement.

Cornell does not officially disclose the average GPA of its matriculants, but it is worth noting that 84.2% of them were in the top 10% of their graduating class, and 96.4% of them were in the top 25% of their graduating class.

It is worth noting that Cornell has suspended its SAT and ACT score requirement at this time, although you are still required to take one of the tests. You are still free to submit your test scores as part of your application if you feel that they make you a more attractive candidate.

SAT scores range between 1450 to 1540 in the middle 50^th percentile, with more than half of Cornell’s admitted students having an SAT score of 1500 or above.

These numbers confirm that you need to have an impressive academic background to get into Cornell University. If you are hoping to get into college with a low GPA, and you’ve decided on Cornell, then you will need to have an outstanding SAT score and excellent supplementary application components.

Experiences Section

As per their mission statement, Cornell is also very keen on public service and community engagement, and so they look for that too in students' applications. The admissions board wants to see what special talents or interests you have developed through extracurricular activities, community involvement, or the workplace.

You should prioritize quality over quantity for extracurriculars. A list of random or disconnected extracurriculars will not necessarily improve your chances of admissions. Focus on activities that show your passion for public and community service to impress Cornell.

Cornell Essays

When it comes to college essays, Cornell’s essay prompts are based on the specific college that you’re applying to. The questions are subject to change from year to year, but they are listed on the school’s admissions website early in the year. We recommend taking note of them and starting to write six to eight weeks before applications are due.

Because you are provided with specific prompts, you will have a bit less freedom than in other college essays. However, that doesn’t mean you can’t craft an excellent response. Make sure your answer is specific to the College you are applying to and showcases why you are a great fit for Cornell personally.

For the next class of applicants, these are the essay prompts that have been provided:

Not sure how to write a college essay? This video provides you with few tips. Check it out:

Recommendation Letters

Cornell requires different forms of recommendation letters. Make sure you familiarize yourself with the different components and that your referees (in particular your school counselor) knows what needs to be submitted to Cornell.

Here are the components:

1. School Report - This form will be made available to you through the common app. It will need to be filled out by your counselor or another designated school official. They also need to be the ones who send it to the school.
2. Counselor Recommendation - A written statement from your high school counselor or college advisor.
3. Teacher Evaluations - Cornell requires that you submit two college recommendation letters from your teachers. If your teachers are mailing these letters, you should ensure that each letter includes your name and date of birth on all pages.
4. Midyear Report -Cornell asks that your school counselor or school official submit a Midyear Report as soon after the application deadline as possible. Students with schools on trimesters are exempt from this as they may not have any new grade information to report at the time of submission. 

Cornell Admissions Interviews

Students who applied to the architecture program will be required to participate in a college admissions interview during this waiting period. Applicants to the Department of Art or Urban and Regional Studies are not required to do the same, but they are strongly encouraged to do so. This interview will be informal and can be scheduled virtually or in-person. You should bring in portions of your portfolio to the interview and be prepared to answer any questions about your portfolio.

If you're applying to one of these colleges, we recommend visiting the college's website to book your interview as soon as you submit your application and start preparing by reviewing Cornell interview questions and some common college admissions interview questions.

Acceptance & Waitlist

After submitting your application, you will receive an email from Cornell with instructions on how to keep track of your application on the school’s portal. For those who applied under Early Decision, there are three possible outcomes:

• Accepted: This outcome means that your place is secure, pending the completion of your senior year. You must withdraw your application from any other university.
• Deferred: This outcome means that your application will be reviewed again within the context of the regular decision pool of applicants. It is almost equivalent to being waitlisted.
• Denied: If you are denied admission under Early Decision, your application has been rejected. You may not reapply under the Regular Decision plan during that same year, but you are welcome to try again next year.

Regular decision applicants will be notified of the admission board's decision by the end of April. Admitted students will have to notify the school of their decision to enroll on May 1^st at the latest.

Cornell Application Timeline

To give you an idea of what to expect, here is a timeline showing the deadlines that you will need to keep in mind for your application. Keep in mind that these can change, so remember to check the school’s website for the most up-to-date information. It would also be ideal to keep deadlines in your calendar so that you can keep track of them.  

Tuition and Debt

In-state Tuition: $68,380

Out-of-state Tuition: $46,056

Cornell states it is “a university where any person can find instruction in any study” and that they will provide financial assistance to all those who need it to study. Approximately half of Cornell Undergraduates receive some sort of financial aid in the form of Cornell Grants, which do not need to be repaid. 

For more information see Cornell’s Financial Aid Website.

Notable Alumni and Faculty

Cornell has many notable alumni and distinguished faculty members. Among its alumni are U.S. Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, author Toni Morrison, and computer scientist Vint Cerf, who is considered one of the "fathers of the Internet". Current notable faculty include Steven Strogatz, a renowned mathematician known for his work in chaos theory and complex systems, and Ray Jayawardhana, an astrophysicist

Campus and Faculty

Cornell’s campus is located in Ithaca, New York and spans over 2,300 acres. It is renowned for its striking natural beauty and architectural diversity. The campus features a mix of historic and modern buildings, with highlights such as the iconic McGraw Tower, the neo-Gothic Sage Hall, and the cutting-edge Bill & Melinda Gates Hall. The campus is enriched with natural features including cascading gorges, waterfalls, and the scenic Beebe Lake, providing a serene environment for study and recreation. Cornell is the perfect campus for you if you want natural beauty and a traditional small-town campus atmosphere.

Contact Information

• Cornell University Website
• Cornell University Undergrad contact form
• Email: [email protected]

FAQs

To your success,

Your friends at BeMo

BeMo Academic Consulting

Disclaimer: BeMo does not endorse or affiliate with any universities, colleges, or official test administrators. The content has been developed based on the most recent publicly available data provided from the official university website. However, you should always check the statistics/requirements with the official school website for the most up-to-date information. You are responsible for your own results.  

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