Greetings from Cornell University!

As the fall semester comes to a close, we want to thank you for everything you do to support your students through the college admissions process. We couldn't do our work without you! We also want to share some important information and updates with you.

Financial Aid
While significant changes are happening this year with the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), it's important to reiterate that Cornell meets full demonstrated need for all admitted students. If your students have questions about applying for financial aid, please encourage them to review our Financial Aid website and contact us with questions. Here are a few important financial aid-related reminders: 

• Admitted Early Decision students who have submitted the appropriate financial aid materials will receive a preliminary aid estimate at or shortly after admission, with a corresponding official aid offer tentatively available in March. If the information provided in a student's CSS Profile is accurate, their aid estimate should be a reliable indicator of their official aid offer. 
• Admitted Early Decision students are encouraged to submit their FAFSA soon after it opens on December 31.
• For U.S. students applying for Regular Decision, the priority date to apply for financial aid is February 15. U.S. students include U.S. citizens, eligible non-citizens such as refugees or asylees, and undocumented students who attended and graduated from a U.S. high school, with or without DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals) status. Admission review for these students is need-blind.
• For international students applying for Regular Decision, the deadline to apply for financial aid is January 2. These students must meet this deadline to be considered for financial aid at Cornell. Admission review for international students is need-aware.

For families who want to learn more about financial aid at Cornell, please encourage them to register for and attend our upcoming Financial Aid Information Session on Wednesday, December 13.

Early Decision
Admission decisions for Early Decision applicants will be available online on Thursday, December 14, at 7:00 p.m. ET. Here are a few things to keep in mind about Early Decision:

• We received nearly 10,000 Early Decision applications this year.
• Early Decision applicants who didn't submit all required materials will be moved to Regular Decision consideration and will no longer be subject to their Early Decision agreement. Affected applicants will be notified of this change on December 12.
• Early Decision applicants not offered admission cannot be reconsidered during Regular Decision.
• If a student admitted in Early Decision would like to defer their admission, they'll need to complete their Enrollment Response Form by January 16 and then the Deferral Request Form by March 1; both forms are available via the student's Application Status Page.
• If admitted students wish to be released from their Early Decision agreement due to financial reasons, they should contact us at uao-director@cornell.edu. We expect these students to have completed their financial aid application and fully engaged with the financial aid appeal process before submitting their request.

Cornell is now using Slate.org to share applicant information with school counselors. You can use this tool to view application checklists and admissions decisions that your students have viewed. To register for Slate.org or if you have any questions, please contact info@slate.org. 

Regular Decision
Cornell's Regular Decision application deadline is January 2. As long as we've received the student's application and application fee (or fee waiver) by January 2, additional materials can be submitted by January 10. Applicants are encouraged to use their Application Status Page to ensure we've received all materials. Please note that it can take 3-5 business days for their checklist to be updated after an item is received.

Winter Break Closure
Cornell will be closed for Winter Break from December 25 through January 1, and we will not be responding to emails or phone calls during this time. The Undergraduate Admissions Office will reopen on Tuesday, January 2.

We look forward to working with you and your students during this busy time. If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to contact us at admissions@cornell.edu or 607-255-5241. All the best in 2024!

Sincerely,

Cornell University Undergraduate Admissions