Cornell University Registrar

First-Year Applicant

First-year domestic applicants will complete high school during the current academic year and hold one of the following United States citizenship or residency statuses:

• U.S. Citizenship
• U.S./Dual Citizenship
• Permanent Residency (approved — not pending)
• Undocumented Students with and without DACA
• Refugee/Asylee
  • Students whose permanent resident status is pending are considered international students. If your pending status changes to approved during the application process, please let us know and we will update your status.

Students enrolled in concurrent high school and college courses are considered first-year candidates. 

Students who graduated from high school but have earned fewer than 12 credits at a college or university are considered first-year candidates. If you have earned 12 credits or more, you should see our instructions for how to apply as a transfer student here. For domestic students, Cornell University practices need-blind admissions and meets the full demonstrated financial need of admitted students. 

International applicants can find instructions for how to apply here.

Early Decision 

Early Decision is a binding commitment for students who have selected Cornell as their first choice. Students may initiate applications to other colleges under nonbinding plans but must withdraw those applications if admitted to Cornell. Students who apply Early Decision submit their application and $80 application fee or fee waiver by November 1, submit supporting materials by November 15, and will learn their admissions decision by mid-December.

Cornell’s Early Decision Agreement is on the Common Application under Cornell University > Application > Questions > General. Students do not need to submit a separate agreement from their counselor.

All admission decisions are final. There are three possible admission outcomes from Early Decision:

• Admit: Admitted applicants must withdraw all other college applications, may not submit any additional applications after accepting the offer, and must accept Cornell's offer of admission by submitting an enrollment deposit by early January.
• Defer: Deferred applicants are reconsidered in the Regular Decision pool and are no longer subject to the Early Decision binding commitment.
• Deny: Denied applicants will not be considered in the Regular Decision pool.

Those admitted under Early Decision who demonstrate financial aid eligibility and submit all required materials by the deadline will receive a financial aid award at the time of admission. Students may be eligible to be released from the early decision agreement if the financial aid award does not make a Cornell education affordable for applicants and their families.

Cornell University will honor any required commitment to matriculate that has been made to another college under an Early Decision plan.

Regular Decision 

Regular Decision is a non-binding decision plan. Students who apply in Regular Decision submit their application fee and $80 application fee or fee waiver by January 2, submit supporting materials shortly after that date, 2 and learn their admissions decision by early April.

All admission decisions are final. There are three admission outcomes from Regular Decision; the admission committee will:

• Admit: Admitted applicants must submit an enrollment deposit by May 2 if choosing to enroll at Cornell.
• Waitlist: Applicants who are offered a place on the waitlist may elect to be considered for admission if space in the class becomes available.
• Deny: Denied applicants can re-apply as transfer candidates in future admissions cycles.

Those admitted under Regular Decision who demonstrate financial aid eligibility and submit all required materials by the deadline will receive a financial aid award at the time of admission.

Homeschooled Applicants

Cornell welcomes applications from students who have been homeschooled. Homeschooled students have the same application requirements and review process as all applicants and are expected to complete the same curriculum requirements as students from traditional high schools. Each homeschooled applicant is encouraged to provide clear, detailed documentation of their curriculum, assessment tools, and learning experiences. Homeschooled students are encouraged to submit a curriculum description and list of educational texts and materials used.

Letters of Recommendation

All applicants, including homeschooled students, must submit the School Report (Counselor Letter of Recommendation) and two Teacher Evaluations. Cornell recommends someone not related to the student complete at least two of the three required letters of recommendation. 

Transcripts

We understand that your transcript may look different from a traditional high school one. However, your transcript should include a list of courses by grade level and performance indicators (such as letter grades or GPA).

If you have completed coursework at one or more traditional high schools, colleges, or universities, submit an official transcript from each institution.

Native and Indigenous Applicants

Native and Indigenous students as well as their advocates, supporters and communities are encouraged to reach out to the Diversity Outreach team to connect with us and learn more about the living and learning opportunities and networks for support available to undergraduate students at Cornell University.

You can reach your point of contact within Undergraduate Admissions at diversity@cornell.edu.

Cornell University Land Acknowledgement

Cornell University is located on the traditional homelands of the Gayogo̱hó:nǫ' (the Cayuga Nation). The Gayogo̱hó:nǫ' are members of the Haudenosaunee Confederacy, an alliance of six sovereign nations with a historic and contemporary presence on this land. The confederacy precedes the establishment of Cornell University, New York state and the United States of America. We acknowledge the painful history of Gayogo̱hó:nǫ' dispossession, and honor the ongoing connection of Gayogo̱hó:nǫ' people, past and present, to these lands and waters.