Cornell University is a private Ivy League university that bridges the liberal arts college experience with the resources and state-support of a major research university. Its main upstate New York campus consists of seven undergraduate schools with roughly 16,000 students, and seven graduate schools. Cornell’s academic offerings are as varied as they are renowned. 62 Nobel Laureates have been affiliated with Cornell in some capacity. Faculty have included novelist Vladimir Nabokov, philosopher John Rawls, and Nobel Prize-winning physicist Richard Feynman. Notable Cornelian alumni include late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Bill Nye (the science guy!), and Pulitzer Prize-winning novelist Toni Morrison (who has recently been commemorated on campus with Toni Morrison Hall).

While there are several secondary campuses in NYC and Qatar, the main Cornell campus is located in Ithaca, NY, a small college town resting on the waterfront of scenic Cayuga Lake. Considering Cornell houses the top architectural school in the country, it should come as no surprise that its campus is consistently ranked as one of the prettiest in the nation. The Ithaca campus is known for its architectural diversity and physical beauty, housing Collegiate Gothic, Neoclassical, Modernist, and Victorian styles against the verdant backdrop of New York’s Finger Lakes Region.

The undergraduate community is home to over 1,000 student organizations, including the Cornell University Glee Club, founded in 1868, which is the oldest student group on campus. Roughly ⅓ of the student body participates in Greek Life.  Those who seek alternative residential housing may choose between a wide selection of cooperative, affinity-based, and off-campus housing arrangements. Cornell undergraduates are an active bunch, with athletics and outdoor education playing a major role in student life. Annual traditions include Dragon Day, in which the first-year architecture students create a giant dragon float that is paraded around campus, and Slope Day, an end-of-year music festival.

Across the many undergraduate schools, admission is very competitive. For admission to the Class of 2027, Cornell received 58,331 applications and admitted 3,688, for an acceptance rate of 7.9%. While the applicant pool data was not released for the Classes of 2028 or 2029, given the number of admits (5,139 and 5,824, respectively) and recent trends in Ivy League admissions, we would imagine there was a similarly low acceptance rate in more recent cycles. In order to get into Cornell, it is important to demonstrate your commitment to innovation, research, and academic excellence on the application. Here at New Ivies, we are committed to helping you show your commitment!

The undergraduate division of the university includes the privately-endowed College of Arts and Sciences, the College of Engineering, the College of Architecture, Art and Planning, and the College of Hotel Administration. Cornell also operates undergraduate and graduate schools specializing in business, biomedical research, law, computer and informational science, public policy, and continuing education. Prospective applicants should take note: the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, the College of Human Ecology, the School of Industrial and Labor relations, and the College of Veterinary Science are termed “contract colleges” because they are essentially state-funded and Cornell-run. Each school and college maintains autonomy in admissions, financial aid, and academics from the rest of the university.

Founded in 1865 by Ezra Cornell and Andrew Dickson White, Cornell has been a trailblazer in American higher education for generations. Its admissions have been co-educational and nonsectarian since its inception, serving as a model for similar policies at Stanford University, which was referred to as the “Cornell of the West” during its founding in 1891. Throughout the twentieth century, Cornell was known as a research powerhouse in space exploration, car safety, and physics. Cornell faculty played pivotal roles in the Manhattan Project, early missions to Mars, and early advancements in computer science.

What are Cornell University looking for?

Your Intellectual Potential

Have you challenged yourself with the highest-level courses? How have you demonstrated your passion for learning?

Your Character

Honesty. Open-mindedness. Initiative. Empathy. Your values are important to Cornell. Do your application essays and recommendations reflect your strongest personal attributes?

Your Involvement

Extracurricular activities. Community involvement. Workplace experience. Leadership. What special talents or interests have you developed?

Your Reasons for Choosing Us

Whether you have decided on a major or not, how do you plan on taking advantage of the exceptional learning environment at Cornell? Why is it the right place for you?

Admissions Statistics

ADMISSION INFORMATION

APPLICATION DATES & DEADLINES

Additional essay questions of the application.

In the online Common Application Writing Supplement for those applying for Fall 2026 entry, please respond to both the Cornell University essay question and the essay prompt that corresponds to the undergraduate college or school to which you are applying.

Cornell University Essay Question

We all contribute to, and are influenced by, the communities that are meaningful to us. Share how you’ve been shaped by one of the communities you belong to.

Define community in the way that is most meaningful to you. This community example can be drawn from your family, school, workplace, activities or interests, or any other group you belong to. (350 word limit)

College- and School-Specific Essay Questions