Cornell University
The largest Ivy, organized around seven undergraduate colleges — from Engineering to the Agriculture and Life Sciences school.
- Next deadline
- Nov 1, 2026Early Decision
- Essays
- 13Prompts
- Supplement
- Required2026-2027 cycle
- Platform
- Common AppAccepted platform
- Selectivity
- 7.3%Highly selective
- Enrollment
- 15,735Large undergrad
Build your Cornell University application plan
Track the deadline, review every supplemental essay prompt, and shape each response around one clear admissions story.
Application deadlines
Supplemental essay prompts
- Why School500 words2026-2027
Why are you drawn to studying the major you have selected and specifically, why do you want to pursue this major at Cornell CALS? You should share how your current interests, related experiences, and/or goals influenced your choice. (College of Agriculture and Life Sciences)
- Why School650 words2026-2027
How do your interests directly connect with your intended major at the College of Architecture, Art, and Planning (AAP)? Why architecture (B.Arch), art (BFA), or urban and regional studies (URS)? B. Arch applicants, please provide an example of how a creative project or passion sparks your motivation to pursue a 5-year professional degree program. BFA applicants, you may want to consider how you could integrate a range of interests and available resources at Cornell into a coherent art practice. URS students you may want to emphasize your enthusiasm and depth of interest in the study of urban and regional issues.
- Why School650 words2026-2027
At the College of Arts and Sciences, curiosity will be your guide. Discuss how your passion for learning is shaping your academic journey, and what areas of study or majors excite you and why. Your response should convey how your interests align with the College, and how you would take advantage of the opportunities and curriculum in Arts and Sciences.
- Why School650 words2026-2027
Why are you interested in studying policy, and why do you want to pursue this major at Cornell's Jeb E. Brooks School of Public Policy? You should share how your current interests, related experiences, and/or goals have influenced your choice of policy major.
- Why School650 words2026-2027
What kind of a business student are you? Using your personal, academic, or volunteer/work experiences, describe the topics or issues that you care about and why they are important to you. Your response should convey how your interests align with the school to which you are applying within the Cornell SC Johnson College of Business (Charles H. Dyson School of Applied Economics and Management or the Cornell Peter and Stephanie Nolan School of Hotel Administration).
- Supplement200 words2026-2027
[Cornell David A. Duffield College of Engineering — Long Essay 1] Fundamentally, engineering is the application of math, science, and technology to solve complex problems. Why do you want to study engineering?
- Why School200 words2026-2027
[Cornell David A. Duffield College of Engineering — Long Essay 2] Why do you think you would love to study at Cornell Engineering?
- Short Answer100 words2026-2027
[Cornell David A. Duffield College of Engineering — Short Answer 1] What brings you joy?
- Short Answer100 words2026-2027
[Cornell David A. Duffield College of Engineering — Short Answer 2] What do you believe you will contribute to the Cornell Engineering community beyond what you've already detailed in your application? What unique voice will you bring?
- Short Answer100 words2026-2027
[Cornell David A. Duffield College of Engineering — Short Answer 3] What is one activity, club, team, organization, work/volunteer experience or family responsibility that is especially meaningful to you? Please briefly tell us about its significance for you.
- Short Answer100 words2026-2027
[Cornell David A. Duffield College of Engineering — Short Answer 4] What is one award you have received or achievement you have attained that has meant the most to you? Please briefly describe its importance to you.
- Supplement600 words2026-2027
Identify a challenge in your greater community or in the career/industry in which you are interested. Share how the CHE education, your CHE major of choice, as well as the breadth of CHE majors, will help you address that challenge. (College of Human Ecology)
- Why School650 words2026-2027
Using your personal, academic, or volunteer/work experiences, describe the topics or issues that you care about and why they are important to you. Your response should show us that your interests align with the ILR School. (School of Industrial and Labor Relations)
How to approach Cornell University's supplemental essays
Make fit concrete
Name one academic or community reason, then connect it to a scene from your life. The school detail should prove fit, not decorate the paragraph.
Make fit concrete
Name one academic or community reason, then connect it to a scene from your life. The school detail should prove fit, not decorate the paragraph.
Make fit concrete
Name one academic or community reason, then connect it to a scene from your life. The school detail should prove fit, not decorate the paragraph.
Make fit concrete
Name one academic or community reason, then connect it to a scene from your life. The school detail should prove fit, not decorate the paragraph.
Make fit concrete
Name one academic or community reason, then connect it to a scene from your life. The school detail should prove fit, not decorate the paragraph.
Choose a role before you draft
Decide what this essay should add to the application: evidence, range, bridge, or a new window into your life. Avoid repeating the Common App essay in miniature.
Make fit concrete
Name one academic or community reason, then connect it to a scene from your life. The school detail should prove fit, not decorate the paragraph.
Answer fast, then show texture
Start with the answer, then add one detail only you could write. Short answers get stronger when they sound observed instead of summarized.
Answer fast, then show texture
Start with the answer, then add one detail only you could write. Short answers get stronger when they sound observed instead of summarized.
Answer fast, then show texture
Start with the answer, then add one detail only you could write. Short answers get stronger when they sound observed instead of summarized.
Answer fast, then show texture
Start with the answer, then add one detail only you could write. Short answers get stronger when they sound observed instead of summarized.
Choose a role before you draft
Decide what this essay should add to the application: evidence, range, bridge, or a new window into your life. Avoid repeating the Common App essay in miniature.
Make fit concrete
Name one academic or community reason, then connect it to a scene from your life. The school detail should prove fit, not decorate the paragraph.
Use this as a blank structure for a Cornell University why-school response, then replace every bracket with your own specifics.
- Open on [specific scene, object, problem, or conversation].
- Show what [choice/action/constraint] reveals about how you think.
- Connect that trait to [school program, community, lab, class, or value].
- End with the contribution you want to make at Cornell University, not a compliment.
Need more help with this application?
Use our guides to plan your supplement, sharpen your Why Us research, and review your draft before you submit.
Frequently asked questions
How many supplemental essays does Cornell University require?
Cornell University has 13 supplemental essays listed for the 2026-2027 application cycle, in addition to the shared application essay.
Does Cornell University accept the Common Application?
Yes — Cornell University accepts the Common Application.
What is Cornell University's acceptance rate?
Cornell University's most recently reported acceptance rate is 7.3%.
When is Cornell University's next application deadline?
Cornell University's next listed application deadline is the Early Decision round on November 1, 2026.
What is Cornell University's "Why are you drawn to studying…" prompt (#1, 500 words)?
Why are you drawn to studying the major you have selected and specifically, why do you want to pursue this major at Cornell CALS? You should share how your current interests, related experiences, and/or goals influenced your choice. (College of Agriculture and Life Sciences)
What is Cornell University's "How do your interests directly connect…" prompt (#2, 650 words)?
How do your interests directly connect with your intended major at the College of Architecture, Art, and Planning (AAP)? Why architecture (B.Arch), art (BFA), or urban and regional studies (URS)? B. Arch applicants, please provide an example of how a creative project or passion sparks your motivation to pursue a 5-year professional degree program. BFA applicants, you may want to consider how you could integrate a range of interests and available resources at Cornell into a coherent art practice. URS students you may want to emphasize your enthusiasm and depth of interest in the study of urban and regional issues.
What is Cornell University's "At the College of Arts and…" prompt (#3, 650 words)?
At the College of Arts and Sciences, curiosity will be your guide. Discuss how your passion for learning is shaping your academic journey, and what areas of study or majors excite you and why. Your response should convey how your interests align with the College, and how you would take advantage of the opportunities and curriculum in Arts and Sciences.
What is Cornell University's "Why are you interested in studying…" prompt (#4, 650 words)?
Why are you interested in studying policy, and why do you want to pursue this major at Cornell's Jeb E. Brooks School of Public Policy? You should share how your current interests, related experiences, and/or goals have influenced your choice of policy major.
What is Cornell University's "What kind of a business student…" prompt (#5, 650 words)?
What kind of a business student are you? Using your personal, academic, or volunteer/work experiences, describe the topics or issues that you care about and why they are important to you. Your response should convey how your interests align with the school to which you are applying within the Cornell SC Johnson College of Business (Charles H. Dyson School of Applied Economics and Management or the Cornell Peter and Stephanie Nolan School of Hotel Administration).
What is Cornell University's "[Cornell David A. Duffield College of…" prompt (#6, 200 words)?
[Cornell David A. Duffield College of Engineering — Long Essay 1] Fundamentally, engineering is the application of math, science, and technology to solve complex problems. Why do you want to study engineering?
What is Cornell University's "[Cornell David A. Duffield College of…" prompt (#7, 200 words)?
[Cornell David A. Duffield College of Engineering — Long Essay 2] Why do you think you would love to study at Cornell Engineering?
What is Cornell University's "[Cornell David A. Duffield College of…" prompt (#8, 100 words)?
[Cornell David A. Duffield College of Engineering — Short Answer 1] What brings you joy?
What is Cornell University's "[Cornell David A. Duffield College of…" prompt (#9, 100 words)?
[Cornell David A. Duffield College of Engineering — Short Answer 2] What do you believe you will contribute to the Cornell Engineering community beyond what you've already detailed in your application? What unique voice will you bring?
What is Cornell University's "[Cornell David A. Duffield College of…" prompt (#10, 100 words)?
[Cornell David A. Duffield College of Engineering — Short Answer 3] What is one activity, club, team, organization, work/volunteer experience or family responsibility that is especially meaningful to you? Please briefly tell us about its significance for you.
What is Cornell University's "[Cornell David A. Duffield College of…" prompt (#11, 100 words)?
[Cornell David A. Duffield College of Engineering — Short Answer 4] What is one award you have received or achievement you have attained that has meant the most to you? Please briefly describe its importance to you.
What is Cornell University's "Identify a challenge in your greater…" prompt (#12, 600 words)?
Identify a challenge in your greater community or in the career/industry in which you are interested. Share how the CHE education, your CHE major of choice, as well as the breadth of CHE majors, will help you address that challenge. (College of Human Ecology)
What is Cornell University's "Using your personal, academic, or volunteer/work…" prompt (#13, 650 words)?
Using your personal, academic, or volunteer/work experiences, describe the topics or issues that you care about and why they are important to you. Your response should show us that your interests align with the ILR School. (School of Industrial and Labor Relations)
Sources and verification
We prioritize Cornell University's official admissions pages for school-specific prompts and deadlines, then use application-platform and federal sources as cross-checks. This record was last verified on July 19, 2026 for the 2026-2027 cycle.
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