If you’re looking to become a student at Big Red, you’re likely wondering how to navigate Cornell University's admissions requirements. Established in 1865 as New York’s land-grant institution, this Ivy League institution counts Ruth Bader Ginsburg and Bill Nye (yes, THE Science Guy) amongst its alumni. It’s nestled in the foodie city of Ithaca, New York, has a storied football rivalry with Dartmouth College, and has coined a term to describe all things associated with the school’s culture (Cornelliana).

Its diverse academic programs include offerings from the renowned College of Arts and Sciences to the esteemed School of Hotel Administration. And while you can certainly explore all kinds of classes at Cornell, Cornell’s admissions requirements are somewhat unique: they ask applicants to apply to specific colleges within the University. This means that you wouldn’t be applying to “Cornell” in general, but to the Cornell College of Engineering, for example. Understandably, most prospective students generally just want to know how to get into Cornell. We get it, and we’re here to help!

In this article, we will guide you through the essential components and key considerations to help you navigate how to get into Cornell University. Let’s dive in!

A quick note on college rankings: we think they’re generally a bad way to think about where you should go to college. We talk about why rankings are bad in greater detail here, but essentially, a lot of college rankings don’t actually tell you whether you and the school would fit well together, or that the school is someplace you’ll thrive. That said, we also understand that many students/families are confused regarding and have questions about aspects of the application process, so we’ve built the post below to hopefully clarify things, so students/families can make informed decisions.

How hard is it to get into Cornell?

It is very difficult to get accepted to Cornell University. The grade point average of people who get accepted to Cornell are at or near the top of their class. People who successfully get into Cornell also tend to have impressive extracurricular activities and college applications essays.

Cornell Acceptance Rate

The Cornell University acceptance rate is 7.3%, making it a highly competitive school. Acceptance rate is an indication of how competitive a school is, but it is also an indication of how popular a school is. To get into a school like Cornell, you will need to excel in almost every major college application factor.

Cornell University Early Decision, Early Action, Regular Decision, and Transfer Acceptance Rate

Cornell’s acceptance rate is 7.3% because it received 71,164 applications and accepted 5,168 students. The University does not release data on how the acceptance rate fluctuates for early decision vs. regular decision applicants; however, it is reasonable to assume the acceptance rate is higher for early decision applicants, versus regular decision applicants. In the 2022-23 admissions cycle, 1,670 students were admitted early decision, and 3,324 students were admitted regular decision.

Cornell’s transfer decision acceptance rate is 13.9% because it received 5,761 applications and accepted 798 students.

GPA Requirements to get into Cornell

The recommended GPA requirements to get into Cornell are between 3.8 and 4.0. You will need a very high GPA and will very likely be graduating in the top quarter of your class in order to get into Cornell University. If your GPA is lower than suggested at the time you apply, you may have to perform above average on your standardized tests. If your grades aren’t as high as they could have been due to life experiences or hardship, you should consider writing about it in your additional information section.

Cornell Unweighted GPA Requirements

Cornell Unweighted Average GPA: 3.9

Cornell University High School Class Rank Distribution	Percent Admitted
Top tenth of high school graduating class	82%
Top quarter of high school graduating class	96%
Top half of high school graduating class	100%
Bottom half of high school graduating class	0%
Bottom quarter of high school graduating class	0%

What GPA is required for Cornell University?

Applicants’ GPA when applying to Cornell University should ideally be between 3.8 and 4.0 to be strong candidates. Having less than this will require compensating by increasing your SAT or ACT score and by having outstanding extracurricular activities or personal statement.

SAT Requirements to get into Cornell

The recommended SAT requirements to get into Cornell are a 1470 to 1550 composite score, combining the reading and writing, and math sections together. You will need a very high SAT score in order to get into Cornell University. If your SAT is lower than suggested at the time you apply, you may have to perform above average on your other standardized tests or have spectacular extracurricular activities to compensate. If your grades aren’t as high as they could have been due to life experiences or hardship, you should consider writing about it in your additional information section.

Cornell is a “Test Optional” school, meaning it does not require standardized test scores, but will consider them if submitted. It’s up to you whether to submit your scores or not. There are a number of factors to consider as you make this decision, and you can read more about them here.

Cornell Average SAT Composite Score: 1510

SAT Score Distribution	Reading %	Math %
700-800	84.42%	92.01%
600-699	14.37%	6.98%
500-599	1.08%	1.01%
400-499	0%	0%
300-399	0%	0%
200-299	0%	0%

What SAT score is required for Cornell?

Applicants should score between 1470 to 1550 on their SAT to be strong candidates for admission to this school. Having less than this will require compensating by using a substitute ACT score or having an above-average GPA.

ACT Requirements to get into Cornell University

The recommended ACT requirements for Cornell University are a 34 composite score combining all English, mathematics, reading, and science sections. You will need a very high ACT score in order to get into Cornell University. If your ACT is not what you’d hoped by the time you apply, you may have to make it up by getting above-average scores on the SAT and having an above-average grade point average. If your ACT wasn’t as high as you’d like because of difficulties or hardship, you should consider writing about it in your additional information section.

Cornell University Average ACT: 34

ACT Score Range	Composite Score %
30-36	95.16%
24-29	4.84%
18-23	0%
12-17	0%
6-11	0%
Below 6	0%

What ACT score is required for Cornell?

Applicants should score between 33 and 35 on their ACT to be strong candidates for admission to this school. Having less than this will require compensating by using a substitute SAT score or having an above-average GPA.

Cornellis a “Test Optional” school, meaning it does not require standardized test scores, but will consider them if submitted. It’s up to you whether to submit your scores or not. There are a number of factors to consider as you make this decision, and you can read more about them here.

What does Cornell look for in students?

The biggest thing Cornell focuses on is how a student and the school fit together—they’ve directly stated that that is what drives their selection process. Yes, having competitive grades and test scores is important. But most students who get rejected from Cornell have those kinds of scores—you need to show how you and the school will make a great team.

How do you know if you and Cornell fit together? And how do you demonstrate to the school that you think you do?

Start by exploring Cornell’s mission and values, both through its mission statement and through what it outlines in its discussion of its core values. Notice, for example, how often the focus is on education and public engagement: Cornell wants to work with students who want to apply their knowledge to benefit society, and who want to “promote a culture of broad inquiry throughout and beyond the Cornell community”

How do you see yourself aligning with this mission and these values? What parts of your story demonstrate that you have already worked toward these things, and that Cornell is the place for you to take your next steps? How will you and the Cornell community make great partners in trying to benefit society?

How else can you demonstrate that you and Cornell fit together? Think about your answers to these questions:

How have you collaborated with others in the past, and how can you help Cornell admissions readers see that?
Where have you taken initiative in your education, and how will you continue to do so?
Where have you taken risks and learned resilience?
Where and how have you explored your creativity?
How and why do you value community?
And where do you find balance in life?

Cornell University Application Deadlines

The Cornell application deadline for regular decision is January 2. Cornell also provides an alternative form of application in addition to regular decision: early decision. The application deadline for Cornell’s early decision is November 1. Below is a table showing the deadlines for each of the steps of the Cornell University admissions process.

Notification Plan	Application Material	Application Deadline
Early Decision	Submit Application	November 1
	Submit Supporting Material	November 15
	Admissions Decisions Released	Mid-December
Regular Decision	Submit Application	January 2
	Submit Supporting Material	January 2
	Admissions Decisions Released	Early April

Cornell’s Early Decision Policy

Early Decision is a binding commitment for students who have selected Cornell as their first choice. Students may initiate applications to other colleges under nonbinding plans but must withdraw those applications if admitted to Cornell.

Cornell University Supplemental Essay Prompts

To complete Cornell’s supplemental essay requirements, applicants must apply to a specific school within Cornell, and respond to that school's 650 word essay, and some other questions depending on the college. The prompts for each school are below and the Cornell University supplemental essay guide that they were sourced from can be found here. Here are the supplemental Essay Prompts for Cornell University.

ALL UNDERGRADUATE APPLICANTS

In the aftermath of the U.S. Civil War, Ezra Cornell wrote, "I would found an institution where any person can find instruction in any study." For over 150 years, Cornell University has remained deeply committed to Ezra’s vision. Explain how your life experiences will help inform your contributions to a learning community devoted to “...any person…any study.” We encourage you to think broadly about your life experiences, including how local (e.g., family, school, neighborhood) or global communities you’ve been part of have helped shape your perspective. (350 words)

COLLEGE OF ARTS & SCIENCES

At the College of Arts and Sciences, curiosity will be your guide. Discuss how your passion for learning is shaping your academic journey, and what areas of study or majors excite you and why. Your response should convey how your interests align with the College, and how you would take advantage of the opportunities and curriculum in Arts and Sciences. (650 words)

COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURE AND LIFE SCIENCES

1. (Required) Why are you drawn to studying the major you have selected? Please discuss how your interests and related experiences have influenced your choice. How will an education from the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (CALS) at Cornell University specifically serve to support your learning, growth, and the pursuit of your goals? (650 words)

Instructions: The optional short-answer questions invite you to share additional information about your background, interests, and experiences as they relate to aspects of the Cornell CALS mission. The content of any responses submitted will be included in the holistic review of your application (which is also the case for any optional additional information submitted as part of your Common Application or uploaded through your Cornell Application Portal once you’ve applied).

2. (Optional): At Cornell CALS, we aim to leave the world better than we found it, so we seek out those who are not simply driven to master their discipline, but who are also passionate about doing so to serve the public good. Please elaborate on an experience where you had a meaningful impact on people, a community, and/or an environment of importance to you. (200 words)

3. (Optional): Cornell CALS is dedicated to purpose-driven study of the agricultural, life, environmental, and social sciences and welcomes students with interests that span a wide variety of disciplines. Given our agricultural history and commitment to educating the next generation of agriculturalists, please share if you have a background or interest in agriculture, regardless of your intended major. An “agricultural entity” for the purpose of this question is defined as cultivating soil, growing crops, and raising livestock (e.g., farm, ranch, greenhouse, vineyard, etc.) Students select from check boxes (all that apply):

A primary source of income for my parent/guardian(s) comes from ownership of or employment by an agricultural entity.
My extended family owns or operates an agricultural entity.
I have experience working in an agricultural entity.
I have interest in pursuing a career in an agricultural entity.
then are offered the prompt “Please feel free to share additional details below.” (100 words)

COLLEGE OF ARCHITECTURE, ART, AND PLANNING

What three words best describe you? (30 characters per word)How do your interests directly connect with your intended major at the College of Architecture, Art and Planning (AAP)? Why architecture (B.Arch), art (BFA) or urban and regional studies (URS)? B.Arch applicants, please provide an example of how a creative project or passion sparks your motivation to pursue a 5-year professional degree program. BFA applicants may want to consider how they could integrate a range of interests and available resources at Cornell into a coherent art practice. URS students may want to emphasize their enthusiasm and depth of interest in the study of urban and regional issues. (650 words)

SC JOHNSON COLLEGE OF BUSINESS

What kind of 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 (the Charles H. Dyson School of Applied Economics and Management or the Cornell Peter and Stephanie Nolan School of Hotel Administration). (650 words)

BROOKS SCHOOL OF PUBLIC POLICY

Why are you drawn to studying public policy? Drawing on your experiences, tell us about why you are interested in your chosen major and how attending the Brooks School will help you achieve your life goals. (650 words)

COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING

1. What three words best describe you?What three words would you use to describe Cornell Engineering?

2. All Engineering applicants are required to write two supplemental essays. Each has a limit of 250 words. Essay 1 is required of all applicants. For Essay 2, you must choose between Question A and Question B.
How do your interests directly connect with Cornell Engineering? If you have an intended major, what draws you to that department at Cornell Engineering? If you are unsure what specific engineering field you would like to study, describe how your general interest in engineering most directly connects with Cornell Engineering. It may be helpful to concentrate on one or two things that you are most excited about. (250 words)Choose either Question A or Question B:

A. Describe an engineering problem that impacts your local community. This could be your school, neighborhood, town, region, or a group you identify with. Describe one to three things you might do as an engineer to solve the problem.
B. Diversity in all forms is intrinsic to excellence in engineering. Engineering the best solutions to complex problems is often achieved by drawing from the diverse ingenuity of people from different backgrounds, lived experiences, and identities. How do you see yourself contributing to the diversity and/or the inclusion of the Cornell Engineering community? What is the unique voice you would bring to the Cornell Engineering community?

COLLEGE OF HUMAN ECOLOGY

How have your related experiences influenced your decision to apply to the College of Human Ecology (CHE)? How will your choice of major impact your goals and plans for the future? Your response should show us that your interests and aspirations align with CHE and your choice of major. (650 words)

COLLEGE 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)

How to get into Cornell University—Essay Tips

At first glance, all of those prompts might leave an aspiring Cornellian wondering how they could possibly write that many essays. Here’s the good news—you only have to write the essay(s) for the undergraduate school you’re applying to. The other good news is that you have a spacious 650 word limit. We’ll go over big-picture guidance for these Cornell prompts here, and if you want more in-depth guidance, you should check out our comprehensive guide on Cornell’s supplemental essays. Okay, here we go!

It might seem like each prompt is asking slightly different things, but they essentially boil down to these questions:

What excites you intellectually and extracurricularly?
How do your experiences reflect that excitement?
How will you bring those skills or experiences to Cornell?

These questions are the hallmarks of the classic “Why Us” supplemental essay prompt. This means that while you should definitely tailor your essays to the specific school you’re applying to, you should probably answer this key question no matter which school you choose: “why are you and X undergraduate school a perfect fit for one another?”

Some students see a “Why Us” prompt and think they need to write about why a school is The Greatest School of All Time. These kinds of responses are missing a key element admission officers want to learn more about: the writer. It’s great to know about all the reasons you think a school is awesome, but you should be sure to describe how you fit into that awesome-ness.

Given that you have 650 words for this Cornell Essay, it’s important that you don’t repeat what you’ve already written in your personal statement. Instead, consider the prompt as an opportunity to reveal specific details from your life that don’t come through in other parts of your application. Maybe your interest in Agriculture stemmed from that time you collected eggs as a volunteer on a farm. Or maybe your interest in engineering was sparked by the time you accidentally shocked yourself while trying to reinstall a smoke detector. Examples that are specific and personal help admissions officers build a clear picture of “you” (and, importantly, of your interest in Cornell).

So as you can see, one key aspect of your essay will be the specific details about you that inform your interest in Cornell. Another key aspect are the specific details about Cornell that inform your interest (i.e., what do you know about Cornell that makes you want to go there?).

With those Cornell-details, you’ll want to be genuine and precise. As an ivy league school, you can bet that Cornell Admissions officers have read a lot of essays where the writer was simply trying to hide that they were interested because of the school’s prestige. Don’t get us wrong, a school’s reputation can certainly be one aspect of your interest in it, but it really shouldn’t be the sole reason you’re hoping to get into Cornell.

You may be asking—well if I shouldn’t focus on the fact that I just really want to go to an ivy league school, what do I write about? Good question. Let’s talk about it.

Firstly, you’ll want to be sure to do your research on the school. It’s one thing to tell an admissions officer that you’re really interested in Agriculture, and quite another to say that you’re attracted to a program in Animal Sciences that centers Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion work. See the difference there? Specificity in your examples helps prove to admissions officers that you’ve put some thought into your interest in Cornell, and just might help you stand in the applicant pool.

If you want more guidance on writing the supplementals for the specific Cornell College that you’re interested in, be sure to check out our comprehensive guide!

How to get into Cornell + Admission Requirements 2023

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