Informational Bulletins
International Students: Deadlines
Regular Admissions: Students applying from abroad should submit the Common Application and Cornell Supplement (with essays) as soon as possible. Freshman applicants are strongly encouraged to file their applications in advance of published deadlines and during the appropriate filing periods:
Filing Period for Regular Decision: September 1 – January 1
Filing Period for Early Decision: September 1 – November 1
Cornell takes into account the time that overseas mail can take, and we'll accept applications and supporting materials postmarked by January 1 for regular decision admission consideration. To expedite the process and so we may better serve you, we strongly recommend that you submit the Common Application, Cornell University Supplement (with Cornell-specific essays), and the application fee online. All other application materials that cannot be submitted electronically will need to be mailed.
Early-Decision Plan: If you are a U.S. citizen or permanent resident, a Canadian citizen or permanent resident, or a Mexican citizen, you may apply under the Early-Decision Plan if Cornell is your first choice. If you want to apply for early decision financial aid consideration, complete and submit the Cornell Freshman Financial Aid Application. Early decision financial aid estimates are sent in mid-December; awards are finalized in April on the basis of the CSS PROFILE, the FAFSA (U.S. citizens and permanent residents only), and federal tax returns.
If you are not a citizen or permanent resident of the U.S., Canada, or Mexico, you may only apply under the Early-Decision Plan if Cornell is your first choice and you will not be applying for financial aid. Financial aid decisions for international students are not made until March.
If you’re accepted at Cornell under the Early-Decision Plan, you must withdraw any applications sent to other schools and send us your acceptance deposit by the deadline in early January.
For early-decision, plan to take the SAT before November, or the ACT by October. Take the SAT Subject Tests no later than November, as the scores are used in the early-decision process.
We’ll notify early-decision applicants of our admission decision by mid-December.
Transfer students: Applications for transfer admission are due during the filing periods:
Filing Period for Fall Transfer Admission: February 15 – March 15
Filing Period for Spring Transfer Admission: October 1 – November 1
For more details about transfer policies, credit evaluation, and housing, please go to transfer student information.
Spring admissions: Cornell does not offer spring admission to first-year or transfers from overseas institutions.
