First-Year Brooks School Applicants

Improve lives through better policy.

The Cornell Jeb E. Brooks School of Public Policy is training the next generation of policy leaders and scholars. If you want to solve the problems that confront our world, the Brooks School will provide you with the skills to evaluate and shape policy across a range of settings. Brooks also offers a tight-knit community and focused support for your academic journey, encouraging you to take advantage of all the world-class opportunities available at Cornell University.

Choosing a Major

At the Brooks School, you'll choose between two multidisciplinary, social science-based undergraduate majors that prepare students for careers in health care, public health, government, law, business, and beyond. If you have qustions, please contact our admissions team at Brooks_admissions@cornell.edu. 

Public Policy

Students majoring in Public Policy study the effects of government policies on children and families, crime, democracy, education, inequality, the environment, financial markets, technology, and more. The major also allows students to pursue pre-law.

Explore the Public Policy Major

Healthcare Policy

Health Care Policy is a unique major that aims to bridge the gap between policy and health professions while still allowing interested students to build a strong foundation in natural sciences and, if interested, fulfill pre-health/pre-med requirements.

Explore the Healthcare Policy Major

High School Coursework

The Brooks School seeks students who maintain a rigorous high school curriculum; applicants must have a minimum of 16 total units of high school coursework, including:

Required Courses

  • 4 units of English
  • 4 units of mathematics
    • Calculus and/or statistics is recommended.
  • 3 units of science 

Off-Campus Opportunity: DC Start

Begin Your Policy Education in DC

DC Start is a distinctive, first-semester residential experience that gives Brooks School students the opportunity to begin their Cornell education in the heart of Washington, D.C. Offered exclusively to incoming first-year public policy and health care policy majors, DC Start combines foundational Brooks coursework with cultural experiences and an immersive study of policymaking and the political process. Students jump-start their policy education by taking a full semester of coursework, including a course in which they engage in working on specific policy-based projects with a community policy partner. 

If you’re interested in being considered for DC Start, be sure to indicate that interest on your Common Application.

Learn more about DC Start

Application Writing Prompt

All Applicants

650-word limit

Discuss your interest in pursuing a major in policy at the Cornell Jeb E. Brooks School of Public Policy and what draws you to this field of study. You are encouraged to consider including details related to your personal experiences, values, academic influences, or extracurricular activities that have shaped your perspective and future goals.

DC Start Applicants ONLY

350-word limit

Please describe why you are interested in being considered for the Brooks School DC Start program.

Preparing Your Application

Successful Brooks school applicants typically:

  • Have completed rigorous coursework and maintained a strong grade point average throughout high school and into senior year. This includes completing a depth of coursework across a number of subjects and demonstrating exceptional competence in writing and quantitative (i.e., economics, statistics, calculus) coursework.
  • Engage in meaningful extracurricular activities and/or volunteer work that reflects their values and interests. Quality participation in these activities is more important than the quantity of activities.
  • Demonstrate that they have reflected on their personal values and academic goals along with how the Brooks School aligns with both.
  • Clearly articulate why they’re drawn to study public policy broadly and their chosen major specifically.
     

Top Enrollment Resources

Still need help? Look at the Frequently Asked Questions, or contact us.