Cornell University supplemental essays

These prompts are program-specific.

They apply only if you’re applying to the named program or school.

• College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (CALS)Required350 words max

  Your major, explained

  What interests you about the major you selected? Tell us about experiences (both in and outside of the classroom), questions, and goals that influenced your choice.

  How to approach it

  This prompt wants the origin story and the proof, not your resume. Pick the moment the interest became yours. Show one or two things you did about it on your own. Let the school see how you think when nobody assigns the work.

• College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (CALS)Required350 words max

  Why CALS

  What draws you to Cornell's College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (CALS)? Reflect on the learning, community, or impact opportunities that matter most to you, and share how they align with Cornell CALS (as you understand it currently).

  How to approach it

  This is a why-us prompt. The trap is describing the school back to itself. Rankings and a pretty campus read as filler. Name two or three things you’d actually use. A program, a professor’s work, an open curriculum. Then tie each one to something you’ve already done.

• Architecture (B.Arch), College of Architecture, Art, and PlanningRequired650 words max

  Why architecture

  Describe how your interests connect to architecture. Include an example of a creative project, design experience, or personal passion that sparked your interest in pursuing a 5-year professional degree in architecture. Reflect on how this experience shaped your understanding of the field and your motivation to study architecture.

• Fine Arts (BFA), College of Architecture, Art, and PlanningRequired650 words max

  Your artist statement

  Submit an artist statement describing your creative interests and practice. Address how your work reflects your artistic voice, influences, and process, and how studying art at Cornell AAP would support and expand your practice.

• Urban and Regional Studies, College of Architecture, Art, and PlanningRequired650 words max

  Why urban studies

  Describe your interest in urban and regional studies. Discuss experiences, ideas, or issues that have shaped your interest in cities, communities, and regional systems, and explain how URS at Cornell aligns with your academic and career goals.

  How to approach it

  Goals prompts fail when they stay noble and vague. Pick one real problem you care about. Connect it to something you’ve already touched in real life. Make the goal clear enough that a reader could disagree with it. Specific beats impressive.

• Jeb E. Brooks School of Public PolicyRequired650 words max

  Why policy

  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.

  How to approach it

  This is a why-us prompt. The trap is describing the school back to itself. Rankings and a pretty campus read as filler. Name two or three things you’d actually use. A program, a professor’s work, an open curriculum. Then tie each one to something you’ve already done.

• Brooks School DC Start ProgramRequired350 words max

  Why DC Start

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

  How to approach it

  This is a why-us prompt. The trap is describing the school back to itself. Rankings and a pretty campus read as filler. Name two or three things you’d actually use. A program, a professor’s work, an open curriculum. Then tie each one to something you’ve already done.

• SC Johnson College of Business (Charles H. Dyson School of Applied Economics and Management or Peter and Stephanie Nolan School of Hotel Administration)Required650 words max

  Kind of business student

  What kind of 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.

  How to approach it

  This one works best zoomed all the way in. One meeting, one build, one shift, told in detail. The reader already saw your activities list. Show them what it felt like to do the work.

• School of Industrial and Labor Relations (ILR)Required650 words max

  What you care about

  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.

  How to approach it

  This is a why-us prompt. The trap is describing the school back to itself. Rankings and a pretty campus read as filler. Name two or three things you’d actually use. A program, a professor’s work, an open curriculum. Then tie each one to something you’ve already done.

• Cornell David A. Duffield College of EngineeringRequired200 words max

  Why engineering

  Fundamentally, engineering is the application of math, science, and technology to solve complex problems. Why do you want to study engineering?

  How to approach it

  This is a why-us prompt. The trap is describing the school back to itself. Rankings and a pretty campus read as filler. Name two or three things you’d actually use. A program, a professor’s work, an open curriculum. Then tie each one to something you’ve already done.

• Cornell David A. Duffield College of EngineeringRequired200 words max

  Why Duffield

  Why do you think you would love to study at Duffield Engineering?

  How to approach it

  This is the most literal question on the application. Why this training, for your goals. Answer in that order. Name the goal first. Then point to the two or three parts of the program that serve it. Then show one thing you’ve already done that proves the goal is real.

• Cornell David A. Duffield College of EngineeringRequired100 words max

  What brings you joy

  What brings you joy?

• Cornell David A. Duffield College of EngineeringRequired100 words max

  Your unique voice

  What do you believe you will contribute to the Duffield Engineering community beyond what you've already detailed in your application? What unique voice will you bring?

  How to approach it

  Here, specific beats important. A small, true community described from the inside beats a broad label. Write it as someone who was there, not as an observer. End on what you carry into a campus, not on a moral.

• Cornell David A. Duffield College of EngineeringRequired100 words max

  A meaningful commitment

  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.

  How to approach it

  This one works best zoomed all the way in. One meeting, one build, one shift, told in detail. The reader already saw your activities list. Show them what it felt like to do the work.

• Cornell David A. Duffield College of EngineeringRequired100 words max

  An achievement that mattered

  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.

• College of Arts and SciencesRequired650 words max

  An intellectual passion

  At the College of Arts and Sciences, your education is yours to shape. Describe an intellectual passion, question, or idea that has captured your attention—whether it emerges from your studies or extends beyond your coursework. What specific aspects of our liberal arts curriculum would you draw on to explore and connect your varied interests?

  How to approach it

  This prompt wants the origin story and the proof, not your resume. Pick the moment the interest became yours. Show one or two things you did about it on your own. Let the school see how you think when nobody assigns the work.

• College of Human EcologyRequired550 words max

  Your CHE impact

  Think about an extracurricular/community engagement/work experience that most closely connects you to the CHE mission and your intended choice of major. Tell us what that experience taught you about your broader community and its needs, and the impact you can make. How will your intended CHE major help you make that impact?

  How to approach it

  This prompt wants the origin story and the proof, not your resume. Pick the moment the interest became yours. Show one or two things you did about it on your own. Let the school see how you think when nobody assigns the work.

• College of Architecture, Art, and Planning — B.ArchRequired650 words max

  Your creative motivation

  How do your interests directly connect with your intended major at the College of Architecture, Art and Planning (AAP)? 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.

  How to approach it

  This prompt wants the origin story and the proof, not your resume. Pick the moment the interest became yours. Show one or two things you did about it on your own. Let the school see how you think when nobody assigns the work.

• College of Architecture, Art, and Planning — BFARequired650 words max

  Your art practice

  How do your interests directly connect with your intended major at the College of Architecture, Art and Planning (AAP)? 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.

  How to approach it

  This prompt wants the origin story and the proof, not your resume. Pick the moment the interest became yours. Show one or two things you did about it on your own. Let the school see how you think when nobody assigns the work.

• College of Architecture, Art, and Planning — Urban and Regional StudiesRequired650 words max

  Your urban studies interest

  How do your interests directly connect with your intended major at the College of Architecture, Art and Planning (AAP)? URS students, you may want to emphasize your enthusiasm and depth of interest in the study of urban and regional issues.

  How to approach it

  This prompt wants the origin story and the proof, not your resume. Pick the moment the interest became yours. Show one or two things you did about it on your own. Let the school see how you think when nobody assigns the work.