Cornell gives serious consideration to applicants who would like to apply after completing only three years of high school. Before submitting an application, however, students must contact the Director of Admissions in the Cornell college or school they are interested in to obtain direct authorization to apply.
Cornell looks for students who have taken the greatest advantage of opportunities available to them within the context of their school, public or private, therefore we feel it is most fair to compare students who are given the same advantages within a single school rather than compare students coming from two very different schools. We do not have a set quota for the number of applicants we accept from any school.
In general, when two students with similar, strong credentials apply to Cornell, the applicant who is a child of a Cornell University alumna/alumnus may have a slight advantage in the admissions process. Please be sure to review the How to Apply page for information about Cornell's admission requirements.
A first-year applicant who was not admitted in either the early decision or regular decision cycles may reapply:
No. Cornell does not track or consider "demonstrated interest" in the admission process. Of course, we encourage prospective students to learn about the university. Exploring our Visit & Connect page, joining our mailing list, and connecting with us on social media are all good ways to learn about Cornell.
Cornell University does not accept the Coalition Application. Prospective students may use the Common Application to apply for admission.
When we receive your application, we will email you about establishing an online Applicant Portal. This email message will be your confirmation that we have received your application. Using your secure applicant portal page, you will be able to track your application materials, upload supplemental materials to your application, and update your contact information as needed. Once you've submitted your application, we will keep you posted on its status.
Students who have previously earned a bachelor’s degree are not permitted to enroll for a second bachelor’s degree at Cornell. If you already have a bachelor’s degree and you wish to pursue further study, please visit the Cornell University Graduate School website or the appropriate academic department for advice about extramural courses or graduate studies.
Admission decisions for first-year, regular decision applicants are released in late March. Admission decisions for early decision candidates are released in mid-December.
Transfer decisions are released on a rolling basis in May and June.
Navigating the admission process can sometimes be confusing, but help is available! Our Contact Us page will help you connect with an admissions representative, contact a Cornell college or school, or reach out to one of our student ambassadors.
