Informational Bulletins
Transfer Students: Application Instructions
Transfer Students: Application Instructions
Before starting your transfer application to Cornell, please be sure to read through the complete Transfer Application Instructions. It will be very important to note the college-specific admission requirements (see Special Requirements for Transfer Students grid and the Admission/Financial Aid Timetable for Transfer Admission/Contact Information). Once you have read these materials, you are ready to begin your transfer application to Cornell. Here is the basic information that you will need:
Submitting Transfer Common Application and the Transfer Supplement
- Use the online version at www.commonapp.org to submit the Transfer Common Application and the Cornell Transfer Supplement. All other application materials (official transcripts, instructor evaluation, college official’s report, financial aid application, etc.) should be sent to the Transfer Admissions P.O. Box below.
- Use the paper copy application ( download). Neatly handwritten, printed, or typed responses to the questions are acceptable. Send all materials to: Transfer Admissions, Cornell University, P.O. Box 6411, Ithaca, NY 14851-6411
We strongly recommend that you apply online to expedite the processing of your application and better serve you. Whichever method you choose, you must submit all components the same way. Students who submit the Transfer Common Application online must pay the application fee online (unless requesting a fee waiver), and must submit the Cornell Transfer Supplement online. Students who submit their Transfer Common Application on paper must pay the application fee by check or money order and must submit the Cornell Transfer Supplement on paper as well.
All application fee waiver requests and other required application materials (official transcripts, instructor evaluation, college official’s report, financial aid application, etc.) should be sent to Transfer Admissions, Cornell University, P.O. Box 6411, Ithaca, NY 14851-6411.
It is important to submit your Transfer Common Application as early as you can for several reasons:
- You will avoid delays in the processing of your application. Cornell receives applications from more than 2,900 prospective transfer students each year. Spring applicants will hear back from us in December. Fall applicants should know that it can take 4-6 weeks to process and review each application from the time of receipt.
- When we receive your Transfer Common Application and application fee (or waiver), we will e-mail you with the information you need to establish an online application status account on Cornell’s web site. Receiving this information via e-mail is your confirmation that we have received your application. Please note: The Admissions Office does not issue application status accounts to spring transfer applicants. Spring applicants will receive written notification regarding missing application materials.
Your application must be postmarked by November 1 for Spring 2008 transfer admission, or by March 15 for Fall 2008 transfer admission.
Application Fee/Fee Waiver
Cornell’s application fee is $70, and you are required to submit it with your online/paper Common Application. Please note that we cannot process your application without the fee or fee waiver. You can apply for an application fee waiver by (1) sending in the College Board Fee Waiver form or (2) submitting a letter from a transfer counselor or representative of a social service/community agency stating that the fee would cause financial hardship. If you cannot apply for a waiver by one of these methods, please contact the Undergraduate Admissions Office (607 255-5241) for further information. To request a fee waiver when submitting the online Common Application, check the fee waiver box on the payment page and mail your fee waiver request to: Transfer Admissions, Cornell University, P.O. Box 6411, Ithaca, NY 14851-6411.
The Cornell Transfer Supplement
Submitting the Cornell Transfer Supplement is required as it provides us with essential information about your academic interests. The admissions staff carefully reads and evaluates your response to the college interest essay. The information you provide helps us determine how good a match exists between your intellectual goals and the Cornell college or school to which you are applying.
The Cornell Transfer Supplement must be submitted online if your Transfer Common Application was submitted online. If you are submitting your application on paper, please submit your Cornell-specific essays to the Cornell Transfer Supplement form. You can submit this information with your Transfer Common Application or separately. Be sure to include your name, home address, and date of birth on all documents that you attach to the Cornell Transfer Supplement.
College Instructor Evaluation
Transfer applicants to Cornell are required to submit one College Instructor Evaluation. A copy of the College Instructor Evaluation form can be downloaded at www.commonapp.org. If you desire to send additional instructor recommendations, you may download and print additional forms. Be sure to remind individuals writing letters for you to include your full name and date of birth on all pages. Instructor evaluations should be mailed to: Transfer Admissions, Cornell University, P.O. Box 6411, Ithaca, NY 14851-6411.
College Official’s Report
The College Official’s Report is a required part of the Cornell transfer application. A dean, registrar, or other college official who has access to your academic record and your disciplinary record must complete this report. The official should complete the form to the best of their ability and the sections regarding academic standing and disciplinary record are required. The College Official’s Report from can be downloaded at www.commonapp.org and completed forms should be mailed to: Transfer Admissions, Cornell University, P.O. Box 6411, Ithaca, NY 14851-6411.
The Midterm Report
The Midterm Report is a required part of the Cornell transfer application, and we ask that applicants submit this form as close to midterm as possible (download Midterm Report form). Completed Midterm Reports should be mailed to: Transfer Admissions, Cornell University, P.O. Box 6411, Ithaca, NY 14851-6411.
College/Secondary School Transcripts and Standardized Tests
You will need to submit an official transcript of coursework completed at each college/university you have attended. In addition, Cornell requires a final secondary school transcript. If you have previously taken the SAT or ACT, then you should have an official score report sent to Cornell. It is not necessary to take the SAT or ACT if you have not previously done so.
Supplemental Music Submissions
Before submitting supplemental music tapes and CDs for evaluation by the music department at Cornell, please review the submission criteria and instructions for labeling and mailing. Supplemental music materials should be submitted by November 1 for early decision and by January 1 for regular decision.
Helpful Application Tips
We realize that you may approach the application with some apprehension. That’s understandable, but we do want to encourage you to see it as an opportunity to think about yourself and about what’s important to you.
- Give careful thought to the questions asked, but don’t try to write the answers that you think we want to hear; give us the answers that tell us about you. We ask about your intended field of study at Cornell, as well as the honors you have received, extracurricular activities, work experience, and educational and family backgrounds.
- In your Transfer Common Application essay, try to write a piece that will help us understand your thoughts and feelings about something that is important to you. We are interested in the topic you choose, how you develop your idea, and how well you express yourself.
- Give yourself enough time before the deadline to complete the application thoughtfully and thoroughly. Remember, our deadlines are the postmark dates for your materials.
- Pages can get separated, so include your full name and date of birth on every page.
- For groupings of multiple pages for mailing, use of paperclips is recommended (do not staple).
- After completing your application and supplement, make a copy for yourself.
- Set up your online application status account by following the instructions you receive after submitting the Common Application.
