The major (such as Computer Science or Biological Sciences) is exactly the same regardless of which college you attend: the major requirements, professors, classes, rigor, and research opportunities are all the same. The difference is in the requirements outside of the major, as each college has different distribution requirements.
At CALS, you will dive into your major as soon as you set foot on campus. As a result, all students must apply to a specific CALS major and are chosen based upon their academic and personal fit for that course of study.
To prepare for studying within CALS, each academic major has key foundation courses that competitive transfer candidates need to complete or have in progress at the time of their application. View the required coursework and other transfer resources on the Transfer Applicant webpage. As with first-year applicants, we conduct a holistic admissions process for transfer applicants.
Overall, as an incoming first-year student, the maximum number of transfer credits that you would be able to bring in is 15. These credits can take many forms, including CEEB AP Exams and various international credentials such as International Baccalaureate (IB) Exams, GCE A-Level Exams, French Baccalaureate Examinations, Cambridge Pre-University Examinations, as well as college coursework that has been completed at another accredited institution. In all cases, specific criteria must be met in order for transfer credit to be earned.
Students interested in pre-vet or pre-med complete the preparatory coursework for graduate programs in veterinary or human medicine while pursuing the academic discipline that interests them most as undergraduates. We encourage you to apply to the major that best fits your academic interests, knowing that you will receive the support needed to apply to medical or veterinary school successfully. Additional information may be found on our Pre-Professional Programs website.
We conduct a holistic admissions process for all applicants. During our review, we are considering whether candidates have the academic backgrounds (rigor, coursework and grades) to be successful at Cornell CALS; whether the personal attributes and extracurricular experiences shared demonstrate a solid connection with the CALS approach and mission; and that thoughtful fit is expressed for the candidate’s desired major, within Cornell CALS.
Some of the undergraduate colleges at Cornell ask applicants to report the highest calculus class they will complete by the time they graduate from high school. If you are applying to the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (CALS), the College of Arts and Sciences, the Cornell Duffield College of Engineering, the Cornell Jeb E. Brooks School of Public Policy, or the Cornell SC Johnson College of Business, you will be required to answer this question. Here are some guidelines that may be helpful in doing so:
