Adult students and veterans don't apply for undergraduate admission through a separate pathway at Cornell. Depending on their academic history, they follow the traditional pathway for first-year applicants (never matriculated at a college and earned fewer than 12 credits after high school) or apply as transfer applicants.
While all potential transfer credits are evaluated, Cornell is not typically able to award credits for military training experiences. For more information about transfer credit at Cornell, please visit the Credit Evaluation Services page within the University Registrar website.
The Yellow Ribbon GI Education Enhancement Program is a provision of the Post-9/11 Veterans Educational Assistance Improvement Act of 2010. Cornell University participates in the Yellow Ribbon program for an unlimited number of eligible undergraduate students. Please submit a copy of your Certificate of Eligibility from the VA to the School Certifying Official (SCO) at vaedben@cornell.edu. Undergraduate students do not need to submit a separate application for the Yellow Ribbon Program.
Cornell is happy to provide application fee waivers for veterans and current members of the military. Please email veteranadmissions@cornell.edu to request an application fee waiver. Note: do not pay the application fee if requesting a waiver, as the fee is non-refundable.
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:
