Preparing for Your Cornell Application
Cornell University’s application is open for Fall 2027 applicants! As you head into an exciting but busy school year, read our advice below for first-year applicants. If you have questions about applying as a transfer applicant, please review the transfer applicant webpage for deadlines, required materials, and more.
Cornell offers two application plans—Early Decision and Regular Decision. Early Decision may be right for you if Cornell is your first choice and you’re ready to make a binding commitment. Early Decision applicants receive their admissions decision in mid-December.
Regular Decision is not binding, and applicants will receive their admission decision in late March.
If you’re applying to Cornell through QuestBridge, be sure to review the application process and timeline.
When you apply to Cornell, you’ll apply to a specific college or school within the university. We encourage you to explore by major or academic area of interest to find the college or school that’s the best fit.
In the Cornell supplement, you’ll write one or more short essays that are specific to the college or school you’re applying to. The supplement is a separate, second submission within the Common Application. Make sure you’ve submitted both the application and the Cornell supplement when you apply.
There’s a lot to consider when applying to college—finalizing the list of schools you plan to apply to, tracking dates and deadlines, writing essays, and more. If you’re planning to apply to Cornell, please make note of the required application materials. Depending on your intended major, you may need to submit additional materials, so be sure to review the specific requirements for the college or school you’re applying to before you begin working on your application.
Your deadlines will depend on which application plan you choose:
Be sure to provide your recommenders with ample time to prepare their recommendations and make sure to request that your official transcript be sent to Cornell in a timely manner.
Regardless of which application plan you choose, we encourage interested applicants to use Cornell’s financial aid calculators and apply for aid by the relevant deadlines.
Your Applicant Portal is where you’ll receive important application-related updates and access your application checklist. The login information for this portal will be sent to the email address used in your application. Please ensure that you have access to this email address and that your inbox filters allow emails from engage@admissions.cornell.edu.
It’s ok to ask for help! Our website has many helpful FAQs, and we encourage you to carefully read our policy about receiving help with your application. We’re always happy to answer any additional questions you may have.
No two students bring the same background, perspectives, and interests to our community, and our admission process is highly individualized. We consider each part of your application to evaluate your fit for Cornell’s academics, culture, and philosophy. The result is an incredibly vibrant mix of students to further Cornell’s mission of educating the next generation of global citizens.
We can’t wait to get to know you through your application and wish you luck as you begin the application process!