All applicants for matriculated undergraduate study at Cornell are categorized as either first-year applicants or transfer applicants. We do not have a separate process through which non-traditional students apply for admission.
Students should submit their application using the Common Application, which can be completed and submitted online. To learn more, please see the How to Apply webpage
Students who have been schooled at home are welcome to apply for admission to Cornell. To learn more about the application process and the items that are required, please read the information for homeschooled applicants on our How to Apply page. Note that each homeschooled applicant is encouraged to provide clear, detailed documentation of their curriculum, assessment tools, and learning experiences.
Applicants who do not have recent teachers, instructors, or professors to write their recommendations are advised to have supervisors, mentors, and/or coaches write on their behalf. Current or former members of the military can utilize a recommendation from an appropriate member of their chain of command for this purpose.
Cornell prefers recommenders submit their letters of support through the Common Application using the official forms and instructions provided. Recommenders can also mail their letters directly to:
A basic preparation for Cornell University includes these high school courses:
4 years of English
3 years of mathematics
3 years of science (at least 2 lab sciences)
3 years of a foreign language
3 years of social science (history, social studies)
