First-year applicants to Cornell for the fall 2026 semester have two new exciting choices on their application. When you select the College of Engineering or the Jeb E. Brooks School of Public Policy on the “academics” tab of the application, you’ll have the option to be considered for the Global Start Cantabria program or the DC Start program, respectively. Both are established, immersive programs that have welcomed upper-level students for many years; this year, first-year, first-semester students have the opportunity too.

Learn more about these opportunities and decide if one of these programs will be a good fit for you!

DC Start

Students interested in applying to the Brooks School can select the option to be considered for DC Start, which allows first-year students to begin their Cornell undergraduate studies in Washington, DC. Participants spend their first semester learning and living in DC, where they complete coursework toward their public policy or health care policy major before joining their peers in Ithaca for the spring semester. The Brooks School’s Wolpe Center, located in Duponte Circle, offers a truly immersive learning experience for national and international public affairs, with coursework offerings taught by leaders in the field.  

The application includes a question asking interested students to briefly explain (up to 350 words) their interest in the program. This opportunity is currently only open to domestic applicants.  

Global Start Cantabria

Students interested in the College of Engineering can be considered for Global Start Cantabria, which allows first-year students to begin their Cornell undergraduate studies in the beautiful coastal city of Santander, Spain. Applicants will answer a few questions about their experience traveling internationally and their highest level of Spanish in high school (all courses are taught in English). To select students who are the best fit for the program, the application asks interested students to briefly explain (up to 600 words) what prior experiences have prepared them to live and study abroad for their first semester. Students participating in the program will take coursework that aligns with the coursework of their first-semester Engineering peers on the Ithaca campus before joining them for the spring semester.  

International students are encouraged to contact engglobalstart@cornell.edu to inquire about eligibility, which is dependent upon your citizenship and ability to obtain the appropriate visa to study in Spain. This program also requires an additional recommendation letter submitted via Common App as an “Other Recommender” that addresses your ability to benefit from the program.

Learning Away from Campus

With opportunities to study off campus for every college and school and major at Cornell, the university encourages students to explore their global citizenship. These new offerings allow students to prioritize these experiences during their first semester, while preserving the option to return or study elsewhere during their time at Cornell.