In the online Common Application Writing Supplement for those applying for Fall 2027 entry, students will complete only the essay(s) that correspond to the undergraduate college or school to which you are applying.

College of Agriculture and Life Sciences

• Question 1: 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. (350-word limit)
• Question 2: 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). (350-word limit) 

College of Architecture, Art, and Planning

• B.Arch Applicants: 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. (650-word limit)
• BFA Applicants: 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.) (650-word limit)
• URS Applicants: 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. (650-word limit) 

College of Arts and Sciences
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?  (650-word limit)

Cornell Jeb E. Brooks School of Public Policy

• All Applicants: 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. (650-word limit)
• DC Start Applicants only: Please describe why you are interested in being considered for the Brooks School DC Start program.(350-word limit)

Cornell SC Johnson College of Business
What kind of a 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 (Charles H. Dyson School of Applied Economics and Management or the Cornell Peter and Stephanie Nolan School of Hotel Administration). (650-word limit)

Cornell David A. Duffield College of Engineering
Long Essays (200-word limit each)

• Question 1: Fundamentally, engineering is the application of math, science, and technology to solve complex problems. Why do you want to study engineering?
• Question 2: Why do you think you would love to study at Duffield Engineering? 

Short Answer Responses (100-word limit each)

• Question 1: What brings you joy?   
• Question 2: 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? 
• Question 3: 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.
• Question 4: 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.

College of Human Ecology
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? (Refer to our essay application tips as you write your essay.) (550-word limit)

School of Industrial and Labor Relations
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. (650-words)

Cornell University's SAT code is 2098, and our ACT code is 2726. Please review the Standardized Testing Policy to learn more.

First-year domestic applicants are students who will complete high school during the current academic year and hold one of the following United States citizenship or residency statuses:

• U.S. Citizenship
• U.S./Dual Citizenship
• Permanent Residency (approved—not pending)
• Undocumented Students with and without DACA who graduate from a U.S. High School
• Refugee/Asylee

You are considered an international student if you do not hold U.S. citizenship or approved permanent resident status (green card). Students whose permanent resident status is pending are considered international students. If your pending status changes to approved during the application process, please let us know, and we will update your status.

Cornell reads applications based on where you currently attend school rather than by your citizenship status; we will read your application with others from your school and those from the same state (U.S.) or country.

If a student has enrolled as a full-time student at another institution, they must apply as a transfer.  

The Cornell SC Johnson College of Business houses two undergraduate schools. One of them, the Dyson School of Applied Economics and Management, is a New York State contract school, which means that students from New York State pay in-state tuition.

The other school, the Nolan School of Hotel Administration, is an endowed school.

SAT or ACT scores are required of all first-year applicants but are neither required nor expected for transfer applicants. Applications will be reviewed using unofficial or self-reported scores in many cases, but official test scores will be required for all matriculating students. There is no minimum required test score that must be achieved to be reviewed for admission. However, we do seek students who show strength in quantitative coursework and testing. For more information regarding testing, review the Standardized Testing Policy.