cornell supplemental essays 2021 examples

Cornell Office of Undergraduate Admissions

Search cornell admissions, cornell first-year writing supplement prompts.

In the online Common Application Writing Supplement, 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

In the aftermath of the U.S. Civil War, Ezra Cornell wrote, "I would found an institution where any person can find instruction in any study." For over 150 years, Cornell University has remained deeply committed to Ezra’s vision. Explain how your life experiences will help inform your contributions to a learning community devoted to “... any person … any study.” We encourage you to think broadly about your life experiences, including how local (e.g., family, school, neighborhood) or global communities you’ve been part of have helped shape your perspective. (350 word limit)

College- and School-Specific Essay Questions

College of agriculture and life sciences.

Required: Why are you drawn to studying the major you have selected? Please discuss how your interests and related experiences have influenced your choice. How will an education from the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (CALS) at Cornell University specifically serve to support your learning, growth, and the pursuit of your goals? (650-word limit)  

Instructions: The optional short-answer questions invite you to share additional information about your background, interests, and experiences as they relate to aspects of the Cornell CALS mission. The content of any responses submitted will be included in the holistic review of your application (which is also the case for any optional additional information submitted as part of your Common Application or uploaded through your Cornell Application Portal once you've applied).

Optional: At Cornell CALS, we aim to leave the world better than we found it, so we seek out those who are not simply driven to master their discipline, but who are also passionate about doing so to serve the public good. Please elaborate on an experience where you had a meaningful impact on people, a community, and/or an environment of importance to you. (200-word limit)

Optional: Cornell CALS is dedicated to purpose-driven study of the agricultural, life, environmental, and social sciences and welcomes students with interests that span a wide variety of disciplines. Given our agricultural history and commitment to educating the next generation of agriculturalists, please share if you have a background or interest in agriculture, regardless of your intended major. An "agricultural entity" for the purpose of this question is defined as cultivating soil, growing crops, and raising livestock (e.g., farm, ranch, greenhouse, vineyard, etc.). 

Select all that apply:

• A primary source of income for my parent/guardian(s) comes from ownership of or employment by an agricultural entity.
• My extended family owns or operates an agricultural entity.
• I have experience working in an agricultural entity.
• I have interest in pursuing a career in an agricultural entity.                                           

Please feel free to share additional details (optional). (100-word limit)

College of Architecture, Art, and Planning

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 may want to to consider how they could integrate a range of interests and available resources at Cornell into a coherent art practice. URS students may want to emphasize their enthusiasm and depth of interest in the study of urban and regional issues. (650 word limit)

College of Arts & Sciences

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. (650 word limit)

Cornell Jeb E. Brooks School of Public Policy

Why are you drawn to studying public policy? Drawing on your experiences, tell us about why you are interested in your chosen major and how attending the Brooks School will help you achieve your life goals. (650 word limit)

Cornell SC Johnson College of Business

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 Peter and Stephanie Nolan School of Hotel Administration). (650 word limit)

College of Engineering

Instructions: All applicants are required to write two supplemental essays. Each has a limit of 250 words. Essay 1 is required of all applicants. For Essay 2, you must choose between Question A and Question B.

Essay 1: Required response. (250-word limit)

How do your interests directly connect with Cornell Engineering? If you have an intended major, what draws you to that department at Cornell Engineering? If you are unsure what specific engineering field you would like to study, describe how your general interest in engineering most directly connects with Cornell Engineering. It may be helpful to concentrate on one or two things that you are most excited about.

Essay 2: Choose either Question A and Question B. (250-word limit)

Question A: Describe an engineering problem that impacts your local community. This could be your school, neighborhood, town, region, or a group you identify with. Describe one to three things you might do as an engineer to solve the problem.

Question B: Diversity in all forms is intrinsic to excellence in engineering. Engineering the best solutions to complex problems is often achieved by drawing from the diverse ingenuity of people from different backgrounds, lived experiences, and identities. How do you see yourself contributing to the diversity and/or the inclusion of the Cornell Engineering community? What is the unique voice you would bring to the Cornell Engineering community?

College of Human Ecology

How have your related experiences influenced your decision to apply to the College of Human Ecology (CHE)? How will your choice of major impact your goals and plans for the future? Your response should show us that your interests and aspirations align with CHE and your choice of major. (Refer to our essay application tips before you begin.) (650 word limit)

School of Industrial and Labor Relations

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. (650 word limit)

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An Analysis of the Cornell Supplemental Essays 2021-2022

Padya Paramita

July 12, 2021

After working on multiple essays for each of your applications, you might be surprised to learn that you only have to write one supplemental essay for Cornell University. But it’s a big one! Your response must be as long as your personal statement. Cornell receives thousands of applications from students all over the world who all have unique stories to tell and has become even more competitive over the pandemic, so this part of the application is very important. Standing out isn’t easy, but it’s not impossible either, especially if you can impress the admissions officers through the Cornell supplemental essays 2021-2022 .

In reading your response, admissions officers want to learn about your extracurriculars, character traits, intellectual pursuits, and reasons behind choosing Cornell. The school within Cornell you decide to apply to could end up being the deciding factor behind which supplemental essay question you write about. . So don’t rush to write your response – plan your essay carefully. To guide you through the prompts for the seven Cornell schools, I’ve outlined them, included the do’s and don’ts for your responses, and added more tips to help you tackle the Cornell supplemental essays 2021-2022 .

Prompts for the Cornell University Supplemental Essays 2021-2022

When you add Cornell as one of your schools in the Common Application, you have to pick one of the seven colleges within Cornell, instead of applying to the university as a whole. These are: 

College of Agriculture and Life Sciences

College of architecture, art, and planning, college of arts and sciences.

• Charles H. Dyson School of Applied Economics and Management
• School of Hotel Administration

College of Engineering

College of human ecology.

• School of Industrial and Labor Relations (ILR)

Each college asks you to answer one 650-word supplemental essay question. When writing the other essays, your response should be tailored to the school you’ve chosen, and demonstrate an unquestionable passion for the field and knowledge of a particular program at Cornell. Without further ado, let’s look at the prompts for each school and the approaches you should - and shouldn’t - take when it comes to your essay.

In the online Common Application Writing Supplement, please respond to the essay question below (maximum of 650 words) that corresponds to the undergraduate college or school to which you are applying.

Why are you drawn to studying the major you have selected? Please discuss how your interests and related experiences have influenced your choice. Specifically, how will an education from the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (CALS) and Cornell University help you achieve your academic goals?

Since CALS is an undergraduate institution unique to Cornell, there are many Cornell-specific programs and opportunities you can draw from to portray your interest in CALS. You can choose from its 20 program offerings in the life sciences - from Animal Science to International Agriculture and Rural Development - and dive straight into studying the discipline of your choice on day one. These majors are more niche, so the reader must take away a demonstrated fit for the particular program through your writing. 

The key to your answer lies in showing that you have done thorough research on the major that you’ve chosen, and convincing admissions officers that CALS is the perfect school for you. Why are you certain that the CALS Food Science or Landscape Architecture program is what you want over what other schools have to offer? You could highlight your commitment by making a clear connection between the work you’ve done in the particular field and your choice of CALS major. Why is CALS the place to explore your passion for life sciences rather than the Biology or Environmental & Sustainability departments at the College of Arts and Sciences?

Avoid general statements about how exceptional CALS is – admissions officers already know that – and instead reflect instead on ways your interest has grown, what your goals are, and how CALS fits into it all. The more specifically tailored your essay, the better the reader can understand your perspective.

Check out all supplemental essay prompts here!

What is your “thing”? What energizes you or engages you so deeply that you lose track of time? Everyone has different passions, obsessions, quirks, inspirations. What are yours?”

This prompt diverts from what the majority of Cornell prompts look for by asking you to elaborate on a topic of interest that engages you like no other. Think about what gets you out of bed in the morning, or a topic that you could give a five-minute presentation on at any moment with zero preparation. If you’re out of ideas, ask your friends or family members what they see as your obsessions. Don’t choose broad issues that you can’t cover in 650 words. You shouldn’t go for common topics that many of your peers might choose either. Think about a topic you’re passionate about which might be more nuanced than others realize. Let the admissions officers know that you’re a perceptive and curious candidate. 

Students in Arts and Sciences embrace the opportunity to delve into multifaceted academic interests, embodying in 21st century terms Ezra Cornell’s “any person…any study” founding vision. Tell us about the areas of study you are excited to explore, and specifically why you wish to pursue them in our College.

In writing this essay, you must display your knowledge regarding the liberal arts approach taken by the College of Arts and Sciences. The school prides itself on encouraging openness, course diversity, and allowing students to design their own curriculum. Focus your essay on how being able to explore your options and have more freedom over your course selection is ideally suited to your learning style. Your anecdotes should focus less on the origin of your interests, and more on how you might respond to a relatively open curriculum. For example, outlining a situation where you took advantage of having agency in course selection can be an effective way to drive your point home.

While you might be excited by the extracurricular opportunities that complement your major selection, the prompt strictly asks you to focus on the curriculum. How can you benefit from two majors in completely different areas? How can your goals be inspired by the courses, lectures, and facilities that the College of Arts and Sciences offers? Remember that many schools take a liberal arts approach. Admissions officers want to know why you’re applying specifically to Cornell’s School of Arts and Sciences over other colleges, so be as specific in talking about your goals and interests as possible.

Cornell SC Johnson College of Business:

What kind of a business student are you? The Cornell SC Johnson College of Business offers two distinct business programs, the Charles H. Dyson School of Applied Economics and Management and the School of Hotel Administration. Please describe how your interests and ambitions can be met through one or both of the Schools within the College.

Like any other “why this school” essay, the Johnson School prompt wants to know why you’ve chosen Johnson over other undergraduate business schools , and how you would be an asset to the incoming class. In other words, you have to elaborate on what makes the Dyson model ideally suited to your learning style, or the School of Hotel Administration perfect for your future career, and explain the reasons why you will be a valuable addition. 

If you’re applying to Dyson:

If you’re applying to Dyson, you have to show that you’ve done your research on facilities and opportunities exclusive to Dyson. One of the key ways of doing so is to demonstrate your understanding of the unique Economics and Management B.S or ask yourself how you’d benefit from this degree over a B.S. in economics from another school, for example. What features will prepare you for a career as an entrepreneur or financial analyst?

Don’t forget to leave space for how your experiences have prepared you to contribute to Dyson. If you’re planning to apply to this school, you should already have ventured into the world of business. Talk about any entrepreneurial initiatives you’ve taken, business-related summer programs you’ve attended, and mention if you have any unusual goals that can distinguish you from other prospective business students. Expand on the skills and values you picked up on the way. Dyson students are allowed to double major with a major at CALS so if your passion for business has a life sciences aspect to it, you should include that in your essay!

If you’re applying to the School of Hotel Administration:

The School of Hotel Administration is the most prestigious hotel school in the world. Conduct your research and think about the main reasons behind your application to this exceptional college - look at the faculty listing, research opportunities, electives, and concentrations. What have been some key factors in your curiosity towards the intersection of business and hospitality? How does a certain program - such as the minor in Real Estate - fit in with your ten-year plan? Don’t just name SHA resources - talk about how they would be beneficial to your goals. You have to be as specific as possible. Due to the school’s higher acceptance rate compared to other Cornell colleges, many students apply through SHA to try and receive a Cornell acceptance. This makes it critical that your essays demonstrate your authentic and specific interest in hospitality and the related fields. 

While you should mention how your academics and extracurriculars have contributed to your career goals in the hotel business, you must also consider the more human side of the occupation. Do you have the qualities it takes to work in hotel administration, such as empathy, ability to communicate, cultural awareness, and teamwork skills? Provide examples and add any anecdotes that will help admissions officers both understand your interest in the hospitality industry and showcase your potential to thrive after you leave Cornell. 

Tell us about what excites you most about Cornell Engineering and/or studying engineering at Cornell University. How do you see yourself becoming a part of the Cornell Engineering community?

Like the other prompts, this question asks you to think about why you have specifically chosen Cornell Engineering as the place to pursue your engineering education. However, this time they want to see what you will add to the community, rather than only focus on what you get out of the school. Since the prompt emphasizes your excitement towards studying engineering, your essay should too. Think about how your interest in the field originated, what issues matter most to you, and how you can make an impact at the Cornell School of Engineering.  

Narrow your focus by thinking about the major within Cornell Engineering that you wish to pursue. How would a degree in Material Science and Engineering or Biological Engineering from Cornell help you build on what you’ve worked on so far? If you’ve prepared through a rigorous STEM-heavy course load or an extracurricular initiative you’ve implemented to specialize in the area, this is the place to talk about it. Upon reading your response, admissions officers should be confident that you are not only a strong candidate for an engineering degree, but also that you’re specifically geared for success as a future Cornell-educated engineer. The university wants your answer to the Cornell supplemental essays 2021-2022 to reflect your strongest personal attributes , and this essay is an effective way of showing what you care about while demonstrating knowledge of Cornell’s engineering offerings. 

How has your decision to apply to the College of Human Ecology been influenced by your related experiences? How will your choice of major impact your goals and plans for the future?

The College of Human Ecology prompt asks to see connections between the development of your interests and your choice of major and career aspirations. The tricky thing about this prompt is that the College of Human Ecology happens to cover quite a few different fields that don’t necessarily have obvious relationships to each other. It’s probably a good idea that you know what “human ecology” actually means and are fully informed about programs such as Nutritional Sciences or Apparel Design before sitting down to write your essay. 

You need to focus more on your commitment to the specialized department you’re interested in rather than human ecology as a whole since that is too broad of a topic. How have your courses and extracurricular efforts prepared you for undergraduate study in Fashion Design or Design and Environmental Analysis? From reading your response to the Cornell supplemental essays 2021-2022 , admissions officers must understand that you are applying because you’re actually passionate about the field instead of deciding on a whim because you suddenly like the sound of designing clothing.

School of Industrial and Labor Relations

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.

Just like with other prompts for Cornell supplemental essays 2021-2022 , you need to build a narrative showing how your interests overlap with Cornell’s offerings. Since you have plenty of space in this essay, you should draw on anecdotes that affirm your interest in people and policy in the workplace. Conduct research and think about how your goals can benefit from taking certain electives or working with a distinguished professor. 

Highlight what sparked your interest in the industry – was there one particular incident or did your concern for topics related to workforce policies develop over time? Was there a high school club or internship that contributed to expanding your knowledge of employment policies? Moreover, think about why you want to attend a school that specializes in Industrial and Labor Relations rather than major in economics at the College of Arts and Sciences. By narrating a unique story that shows why this is the perfect college for you, you can help admissions officers gain a clearer picture of your passion for exploring work, employment, and labor policy issues over the next four years.

Additional Tips for the Cornell Supplemental Essays 2021-2022

• Keep the Specific School in Mind - It’s not unheard of for students to apply to a less competitive Cornell school such as the College of Arts and Sciences in hopes of later transferring to Dyson or Cornell Engineering. Make sure your essays don’t leave admissions officers doubting whether your interest in the school that you’ve applied to is authentic. Don’t write about your love for life sciences or chemical engineering if you’re applying for an English major at the College of Arts and Sciences! Make sure your essay reflects your particular school choice and its unique offerings.
• Don’t Repeat Your Personal Statement - Your answers to the Cornell supplemental essays 2021-2022 are supposed to provide admissions officers with more context on your background and passions. That might be difficult to execute if your supplemental essay covers the same topic as your personal statement. It could be tricky to find a new angle - especially when the prompt for the College of Architecture, Art, and Planning is very similar to one of the Common Application personal statement prompts - “Describe a topic, idea, or concept you find so engaging that it makes you lose all track of time.” If you’re applying to the AAP school and you’ve picked this prompt for your Common App, you have to come up with something completely different. Cornell will not appreciate two 650-word essays that overlap in content.
• Avoid Generic Statements At All Costs - Cornell received the most applications out of the Ivy League schools this year. And the number isn’t getting any smaller. In order to excel in your Cornell supplemental essays 2021-2022, you have to connect all the factors that make a Cornell education appealing to you. Specifics will allow admissions officers to understand what makes you unique. Stating general facts about the facilities won’t help your case since admissions officers already know that great resources exist at their university!

Your answers to the Cornell supplemental essays 2021-2022 should convey how you would benefit from a degree from one of its specialized undergraduate schools and the ways in which your experiences thus far have prepared you to contribute to the university’s academic environment. No matter which college within Cornell you’re applying to, make sure that your essays reflect an understanding of the curriculum and highlight any relevant experience so that admissions officers know you’re not just applying for the sake of attending an Ivy League school!

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How to write the cornell supplemental essays 2020-2021: the amazing guide.

Cornell University has an acceptance rate of 15% and is known as one of America’s top schools with Ivy League status. Beyond stellar academic programs, the school boasts architecturally breathtaking buildings, a sprawling quad, and diverse social activities and dining.

It is no wonder that Cornell receives an incredible number of applications every year.

Along with many other Ivy League institutions, Cornell allows students to apply for admission via the Common Application . When applying online, students are asked to complete a school-specific writing supplement . Only one supplemental essay is required, however, the question will depend on what school you’re applying to.  In addition, some schools also have short answer questions.

Cornell Supplemental Essay Requirements

The word count for Cornell’s supplemental essay can be up to 650 words. The prompt you will answer is based on the college that houses your selected major.

These are the prompts:

College of Agriculture and Life Sciences : Why are you drawn to studying the major you have selected? Please discuss how your interests and related experiences have influenced your choice. Specifically, how will an education from the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (CALS) and Cornell University help you achieve your academic goals? College of Architecture, Art, and Planning : What is your “thing”? What energizes you or engages you so deeply that you lose track of time? Everyone has different passions, obsessions, quirks, inspirations. What are yours? In addition, the school asks, “What three words best describe you?” College of Arts and Sciences : Students in Arts and Sciences embrace the opportunity to delve into multifaceted academic interests, embodying in 21st century terms Ezra Cornell’s “any person…any study” founding vision. Tell us about the areas of study you are excited to explore, and specifically why you wish to pursue them in our College. Cornell SC Johnson College of Business : What kind of a business student are you? The Cornell SC Johnson College of Business offers two distinct business programs, the Charles H. Dyson School of Applied Economics and Management and the School of Hotel Administration. Please describe how your interests and ambitions can be met through one or both of the Schools within the College. College of Engineering : Tell us about what excites you most about Cornell Engineering and/or studying engineering at Cornell University. How do you see yourself becoming a part of the Cornell Engineering community? In addition, the school asks, “What three words best describe you?” and “What are three words you would use to describe Cornell Engineering?” College of Human Ecology : How have your experiences influenced your decision to apply to the College of Human Ecology. How will your choice of major impact your goals and plans for the future? School of Industrial and Labor Relations : 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.

It is significant that the university requires only one essay with a generous word limit. They want students with a demonstrated passion for the school they choose. So, don’t let the length of the prompts fool you: They’re actually quite simple. In other words, the essay you choose is another permutation of the “ Why This College ” essay. 

• Even for the College of Architecture, Art, and Planning, which has the quirkiest prompt listed, Cornell wants to know what about your personality makes you qualified for the school.

Because each prompt is directly related to the college for which you apply, it’s vital that you write an essay with a razor-sharp focus. Support your thesis with details and examples from your life that show how prepared you are to study at Cornell. 

That means it all comes down to brainstorming.

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How to craft an excellent cornell supplemental essay.

The beauty of choosing any one of these essays is that Cornell, quite literally, tells you what they want to hear. College supplemental essays often want you to show, not tell. Luckily, Cornell specifically says they want to hear about your interests, experiences, background, and goals. They are giving you the blueprints to show, not tell.

When writing this essay, stay focused. 650 words is a lot, so it’s easy, and tempting, to veer off track and give too much background to your story and interests. However, this is not the time. Your Common App essay should have explored your character, values, and themes already, so they do not need to be repeated in the supplemental essay. Here are some tips to keep in mind:

• For this essay, be specific and answer the prompt with what they ask.
• Telling a story is completely fine, but the story must have only a limited introduction .
• If you so choose, begin your essay with a short story or anecdote that details the spark that ignited your passion for the field.
• Cover a story and topic that your Common App essay does not touch upon.

After introducing your essay, you will likely focus on the following topics. Remember, although the prompts are different, they all ask many of the same things:

• What you would like to major in?
• How have your past academic and work experiences influenced your choice?
• How have your past extracurricular and intercommunity pursuits prepared you for Cornell?
• How will Cornell help you further your academic interests?
• How will studying at Cornell will set you up for your career?

To help your brainstorming along, the colleges give you some guidance. For example, if you are applying to the SC Johnson College of Business, Cornell asks that you respond to the following instructions:

• What kind of a business student are you?
• The Cornell SC Johnson College of Business offers two distinct business programs, the Charles H. Dyson School of Applied Economics and Management and the School of Hotel Administration. Please describe how your interests and ambitions can be met through one or both of the Schools within the College.

These specific questions give you a direction for the topics to discuss , such as what kind of business student you are and how one, or both or the schools will help you achieve your goals. 

What to Include in Your Supplemental Essay

In this essay, Cornell is indirectly asking you to provide work and academic experiences that have influenced your decision to pursue a particular academic interest. During your brainstorming process, make sure that they are relevant and timely . These questions may help:

• What first inspired you to pursue a particular career? Don’t try to make up a grandiose story, just be true to yourself.
• How have you explored that career since then? Focus on more recent experiences, ideally in the last few years of high school.
• What was your favorite moment exploring this academic interest? What makes it so memorable to you?

Whatever the specific experience may be, make sure your evidence is not only relevant but relates to high school.

Think About Initiative and Action

When choosing a story to write about, it should not be something that you stumbled upon. You want to demonstrate initiative and your ability to take action, not how privileged you are or your ability to fulfill academic requirements that are true for everyone. 

As an example, you might be interested in marine biology. Describing how taking biology inspired this interest is relevant, but it’s also a requirement at many schools. It would be much better to discuss how you applied to an internship program at the local aquarium because it shows that you’re both qualified to succeed on Cornell’s campus and hungry enough to utilize its resources.

Don’t be discouraged if you don’t have experience with official outlets. If you created something meaningful and grew it during high school, tell the admissions officers about it. Here is an example of a potential project that would fit this prompt:

• You combined your love for Indian folk dancing with your interest in business and entrepreneurship.
• Recruiting nine kids from your neighborhood, you created a dance group and taught them choreography after school.
• The group performed at charity events, helping raise $3000 over three years.
• As a result, your group grew to 20 kids by the end of your junior year.
• Altogether, you learned about scaling a business, recruiting students, and keeping them interested enough to attend practice.

Including Cornell in the Essay

Now that you have a potential idea in mind, it’s crucial that you do your research on the academic programs at Cornell University because your writing should demonstrate your understanding of the program you are interested in pursuing. This could include details about the program, potential career opportunities, or even the culture.

Beyond academics, you should also check out other opportunities, such as student clubs and study abroad programs. The goal is for you to have a well-rounded vision for how Cornell University will help you to achieve your career goals. This needs to be specific. Your essay should not be able to be copied and pasted to another university’s application.

Once you have done this research, think about how you can incorporate it into your essay. Do not try and mimic the same exact language that is used on their website. Not only is it plagiarism to copy and paste, but Cornell also knows what they have online and aren’t interested in reading it again. They want to know you understand.

Use specific examples that are relevant to your interests. For example, if you are interested in pursuing business or hotel administration, you could mention that Cornell has top programs, as well as a vast network that will allow you to fully ascertain what you would like to do post-graduation in pursuit of a career. However, both of these are true of other schools too. You’d be better off mentioning specific professors, projects, grants, fellowships, or programs that will take your learning to the next level. Show Cornell that you care enough to do your research, as this indicates that you will likely contribute to the campus and your class.

Share your excitement for the opportunities Cornell offers, and describe how you envision your future as a student, and perhaps graduate, of the university. Consider looking at:

• Academic offerings
• Professors and their research
• Out-of-classroom-academic immersions
• Fellowship opportunities

Make the admissions officers really think about how admitting you will continue to build a positive reputation for Cornell.

What Do I Write About If I’m Undecided?

If you’re undecided about your major or the direction for your future, that’s okay! There are many students who enter college hoping to find their direction in the first few years. However, this is the time to think about your interests and talents , and how those relate to potential majors and careers.

In your essay, don’t write about why you might be interested in pursuing each of the six different colleges. Writing about too many possibilities will water down the power of your essay, cause it to lose focus, and waste your word count. Instead, try to narrow it down to one possible college, potentially with multiple different majors, as the colleges offered at Cornell have a variety of degrees offered under the general umbrella.

This is not a contract for your entire future. Simply be honest about what attracts you to this college, and describe how Cornell will help you realize your passion and goals. If you’re really feeling at a loss, here are two things for you to consider:

• There are multiple different free career-assessment quizzes . While these definitely do not have perfect algorithms, you might be surprised to learn more about your personality and what careers are attractive to you.
• If you have several careers of interest, do some job shadowing or interview professionals in those fields. You can talk to a friend or family member for help finding an opportunity, but also consider calling or emailing a company to ask if someone would be willing to meet with you.

Whatever you decide to explore while in high school, it won’t be a waste. Every experience is a potential essay, especially when you’re trying to explore a career. 

Cornell Supplemental Essay Example

We added this essay to give you a visual on what a strong Cornell supplemental essay looks like. Remember, never plagiarize.

As I reflect on my commitment to pursuing neuroscience, I see that my journey started with Great Tennis, an organization which teaches neurologically and physically disabled children tennis. Initially expecting the students at Great Tennis to be mostly reclusive and inactive, I was surprised on my first day to see kids who were no less outgoing than many others their age. However, as I stepped out onto the tennis courts, I quickly realized the reality of the disabilities they faced daily. I saw kids who needed assistance to perform even basic tennis drills. Unable to relate to being hindered by such difficulties, I really began to empathize with them. I stopped viewing them as people I was helping for the sake of volunteering. Rather, I had connected with them on a more personal level, having my own desire to help them in any way possible. Passionate to understand more about their disabilities, I participated in the Mind Challenge, a neuroscience competition for teens, in my junior year of high school. I had the opportunity to learn about neurology and neurological disorders, spending numerous hours studying neuroanatomy, neurological disabilities, and analyzing MRIs. Through this participation, I began to appreciate the intricate and intimate relationship the brain has with the numerous other bodily systems. I was genuinely intrigued that even a small error in this highly complex structure could lead to some of the severe diseases I saw at Great Tennis, ranging from Down Syndrome to Rett Syndrome. Wanting to further this growing passion, I sought out the opportunity to work as a neurobiology research intern at the University of Tennessee. First tasked with collaboratively writing a review article, I came across recent studies detailing an intriguing biochemical pathway that had implications in gliomas, or brain cancer. Curious to explore this pathway, I eventually found a particular unexplored bio-molecule that I believed had great potential for treatment. The process of discovering this molecule, creating and designing a project, and proposing this concept with eventual approval, invigorated my interest in neuroscience. Getting exposure to the biological aspects of the brain, along with seeing their potential therapeutic implications through research, helped develop and solidify my passion for neuroscience. At TDSP, I hope to follow my intellectual curiosity for the brain by joining the Department of Neurobiology and Behavior. I am excited to take courses such as “Molecular and Genetic Approaches in Neuroscience,” that would provide me with background knowledge in the biology behind the genetic diseases some of the Dream Court athletes faced. I plan to supplement my curricular work in neurobiology with undergraduate research by joining the TDSP Research Honors program. Specifically, I hope to conduct research under the guidance of Dr. Halls, where I can gain a deeper understanding of the neural mechanisms behind reward and motivation. My interests in neuroscience expand beyond just studying the biological and molecular aspects of the brain. I am also particularly interested in understanding the intersection of neuroscience and economics to see how aspects such as emotions and cognitive function could affect financial behavior, as well as understanding the ethical implications associated with this field. At Cornell, as part of the Dyson Business Minor For Life Sciences Majors, I will gain the necessary knowledge of and exposure to this relationship so I can gain insight into human decision-making and behavior. Given my diverse interests, I am excited to further explore the interdisciplinary areas of neuroscience at Cornell, delving deep into their implications for research pertaining to neurological illnesses, as well as their applications with other fields like economics. This experience at TDSP will help me honor the commitment to helping the kids at Great Tennis, who first motivated me to embark on this path and sparked my interest in the field.

Conclusion: How to Write the Cornell Supplemental Essay

Before submitting your supplement through the Common App, go back to the prompt. You’ll want to ensure you:

• Answered all the parts of the question
• Conveyed enthusiasm for the program and the school
• Relate your academic and career interests with not only your major but also with Cornell

If you feel this is true of your essay, you are ready to submit it and be one step closer to admission to Cornell University!

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How to Write the Cornell University Essays 2020-2021

Cornell University is the largest of the eight Ivy League schools. The university’s seven undergraduate colleges and 80 majors allow students to pursue many fields of interest.

Cornell University accepted only 10.6% of applicants for the 2018-2019 applications cycle. It opted not to report its acceptance rate for the 2019-2020 cycle. It’s no secret that Cornell is selective though, so you will need more than stellar grades and high test scores to stand out to the admissions committee. Well-written essays allow you to showcase passions or interests that may not come through in traditional application materials. 

Cornell requires all applicants to submit a supplemental essay in addition to their Common Application piece. The student’s selected college determines the prompt they will complete. All of the supplemental prompts have a 650 word limit. Let’s break these supplements down! Want to know your chances at Cornell? Calculate your chances for free right now.

Want to learn what Cornell University will actually cost you based on your income? And how long your application to the school should take?  Here’s what every student considering Cornell University needs to know.

Jump to the Different College Prompts

College of agriculture and life sciences, college of arts and sciences, college of engineering, cornell sc johnson college of business, college of human ecology, college of industrial and labor relations, college of art, architecture and planning, why are you drawn to studying the major you have selected please discuss how your interests and related experiences have influenced your choice. specifically, how will an education from the college of agriculture and life sciences (cals) and cornell university help you achieve your academic goals (650 words).

The College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (CALS) is the second-largest school at Cornell with majors ranging from communication to entomology. Even if you decide to apply as an undeclared major, you need to have potential areas of interest in mind to fully address the essay prompt.

The first half of this prompt follows the “ Why This Major ” format that will become familiar as you apply to more colleges. You should use your current experiences to explain why you want to study the major you selected. A longitudinal approach lends itself well to this portion of the essay. 

For example, if you want to study animal science, you could begin by explaining how you always loved going to the zoo growing up. You can then transition into describing how this love of animals led you to volunteer at the local animal hospital, and conclude your essay by explaining that your time at the animal hospital inspired your desire to become a veterinarian. 

The second half of this prompt asks you to explain why you want to study your intended major through CALS and Cornell. You need to provide college-specific examples that directly relate to your interest in major. Find courses, clubs, or research opportunities that would be difficult to find at another university. 

For example, a prospective Viticulture and Enology major could discuss the field practicum course that allows students to gain hands-on vineyard management experience. A prospective Development Sociology major could talk about the international trips that would allow them to see socioeconomic development firsthand. Don’t be afraid to discuss relevant programs in colleges outside of CALS as well, as CALS is interdisciplinary. 

Students in Arts and Sciences embrace the opportunity to delve into multifaceted academic interests, embodying in 21st century terms Ezra Cornell’s “any person … any study” founding vision. Tell us about the areas of study you are excited to explore, and specifically why you wish to pursue them in our College. (650 words)

Arts and Sciences (A&S) is by far the most interdisciplinary college at Cornell. Students can study topics ranging from information science to Africana studies, and the College houses multiple programs that allow students to design their own major. A&S looks for students with clear passions and goals that can find their place within a broad community. 

Try to connect any diverse interests into a singular goal. Cornell’s motto “any person, any student” fully reiterates the university’s desire to provide students with a platform to explore novel connections between seemingly unrelated subjects. For example, if your interests are math and Asian studies, you could discuss how you plan to use statistics or other mathematical models to gain social insight into the Asian-American experience. 

Establish your interests by linking them to your present experiences. If you are a government major, write about your time on Model UN. If you are a biology major, write about your success in Science League. Use your present experiences to illustrate the depth and range of your personal interests. 

You also need to explain how A&S specifically would provide you learning opportunities. Cornell has an open course catalog, so you can research interesting courses. Do not select common courses such as General Chemistry. Instead, focus on classes that are unique to the university. For example, Cornell offers a class called the Death Penalty in America that is taught by top capital punishment scholars. This connection point would enrich the essay of a government or policy analysis major. 

Tell us about what excites you most about Cornell Engineering and/or studying engineering at Cornell University. How do you see yourself becoming a part of the Cornell Engineering community? (650 words)

Due to the breadth of the College of Engineering, your essay should clearly convey what area of engineering you want to study. Are you interested in biomedical engineering or computer science? Do you want to design your own major that allows your to integrate various engineering elements into one cohesive piece?

Connect your intended area of study to your current activities in high school. For example, if you want to study computer science, you could discuss your AP coursework or a recent programming project. Providing a brief personal history allows your interests to come across as more genuine. 

You also need to clearly explain how Cornell Engineering will provide you with the tools to succeed within your given field of study. Cornell’s semester-long externship program and project teams are cornerstones of the college that are not found as easily at other schools. Discussing these programs makes your interest in Cornell feel more school-specific. 

Your reasons for attendance should be directly connected to your goals. If you want to study aerospace engineering, you could talk about the Cornell Mars Rover Program. You could then connect your desire to work on this project team to your ultimate goal of eventually working at NASA.

The prompt also specifically asks how you see yourself becoming part of the Cornell engineering community. You should point out specific opportunities that allow you to collaborate with other engineering students, such as Cornell University Sustainable Design. Through this group, you’ll be able to contribute to projects impacting the Cornell community and beyond. One current project is “Solarize,” which aims to help Cornell become carbon-neutral by transitioning to solar energy.

What kind of a business student are you? The Cornell SC Johnson College of Business offers two distinct business programs, the Charles H. Dyson School of Applied Economics and Management and the School of Hotel Administration. Please describe how your interests and ambitions can be met through one or both of the Schools within the College. (650 words)

The SC Johnson College of Business is made up of two schools: The Dyson School of Applied Economics and Management, and the School of Hotel Administration. Our breakdown will focus on these two schools separately, but keep in mind that you can write about both in your essay, especially if your interests and goals are best served by both schools.

Dyson School of Applied Economics and Management

The Dyson School is known as one of the most competitive at Cornell. In order to stand out among the tough competition, you will need to clearly explain why your goals and interests align with Dyson’s unique program. 

Your choice to apply to Dyson should extend beyond a basic interest in economics or management. Dyson’s program is interdisciplinary in nature, and the school encourages its students to study various disciplines outside of AEM. Having a distinct interdisciplinary focus such as agro-economics is a great way to stand out in your supplemental essay. 

Your reasons for applying to Dyson should be supported by your present interests and activities. For example, a student discussing agricultural economics could discuss leadership roles in a local 4H club, or efforts to learn more about agricultural economics through recent journals and news pieces. 

Aim to be as detailed as possible when discussing your future goals and clearly connect them to Dyson’s offerings. The agricultural economics student could talk about how Dyson’s flexible curriculum would also allow them to take agriculture classes.

Be sure to include your post-college goals and how the College of Business would help you achieve them. For example, our hypothetical agro-economics student might be interested in starting an organization to eliminate food deserts, by diverting food that would’ve otherwise gone to waste. They could mention the course HADM 4315: Nonprofit Social Enterprise and Food Justice  in the School of Hotel Administration (remember that you can talk about both schools in the College of Business!). This would allow the student to learn “management best practices for leading nonprofit food service organizations.”

School of Hotel Administration

SHA consistently ranks as the best hotel school in the United States, and applicants should have a clear, demonstrated interest in hospitality-related careers. In addition to relevant experience, SHA looks for the interpersonal skills required to be successful in the hospitality industry.

Your hospitality experiences should directly show why you chose to apply to SHA and why you are interested in hospitality management. For example, instead of simply listing your duties as a bellhop at a local hotel, describe how the integration of many fast-paced movements at a hotel invigorates you.

Connect these experiences to your long-term plans and aspirations, and explain how the Hotel School will provide you with the tools you need to achieve these goals. If you want to manage a hotel one day, explain how SHA will provide the hands-on experiences and practical skills you will need to run an establishment.

SHA is the only college at Cornell that requires an admissions interview, which focuses on the applicant’s interpersonal skills. While describing your experiences within hospitality, make sure to highlight personal attributes such as your empathy or adaptability, especially through anecdotes. Perhaps a hotel client once lost his dog, and you went above and beyond to help them make missing dog signs, even putting them up across the city. Maybe the hotel’s fitness center yoga instructor called in sick last-minute once, and you stepped in with your knowledge of yoga, leading the class instead. These details allow an admissions counselor to see that you would thrive at SHA. 

How have your experiences influenced your decision to apply to the College of Human Ecology. How will your choice of major impact your goals and plans for the future? (650 words)

The College of Human Ecology (HE) centers around exploration of human connection and the human experience. HE is interdisciplinary by nature with strong roots in research and public engagement. Your supplemental essay should reflect these themes while also explaining your interest in your intended major.

Use your high school classes and extracurriculars to explain why you applied to HE. If you would like to study nutritional sciences, you could discuss your role in the Health Club at your high school. Make sure to explain why your intended career path interests you. Maybe you are a runner and are fascinated by how diet impacts physical performance. Connecting these experiences to a broader desire to improve the human experience — and potentially adding interdisciplinary elements — will help deepen your connection to the College of Human Ecology. 

The next aspect of this prompt asks how your major specifically will contribute to your plans for the future. Be as specific as possible. For example, instead of broadly stating that studying fashion design and management will help prepare you for the fashion industry, discuss how the studio-based classes will provide you with both a strong physical skill set and a portfolio of work for job applications. Or, if you want to start your own sustainable fashion brand, mention how the courses in Fiber Science will allow you to learn about innovative ways to create eco-friendly fibers and dyes.

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. (650 words)

The College of Industrial and Labor Relations (ILR) studies the world of work, and the intellectual interests you write about should also involve labor and human capital. The ILR community has a strong drive for public service, so making social service the focus of your essay will help explain your choice in ILR.

Given the specificity of the prompt, it is imperative that you provide concrete examples of how experiences relate to your intellectual interests. For example, you can discuss how studying disability rights in your American History class made you want to become an advocate, or how volunteering in a local lawyer’s office helped you find your passion for labor law. 

Your essay should also explain why you are interested in your chosen subject matter to fully address what makes it exciting to you. Does the ability to advocate for others inspire your passion for disability rights in the workplace? Your reasons can be more personal, too; maybe you have a friend or relative with a disability, and have witnessed how many workers with disabilities are underpaid and taken advantage of. Or, perhaps you’re interested in labor law because you want to defend workers from minority groups facing discrimination.

Choose ILR-specific programs to explain why the school is the right fit for you. For example, a future law student could mention ILR’s intensive legal writing seminars. They could also discuss the Labor & Employment Law Program in NYC, which focuses on managing repositories for documents related to work discrimination acts. 

What is your “thing”? What energizes you or engages you so deeply that you lose track of time? Everyone has different passions, obsessions, quirks, inspirations. What are yours?

Art, Architecture, and Planning (AAP) is the smallest college at Cornell. Most AAP classes are studio-intensive and involve hands-on projects. As a result, your essay should demonstrate that you are secure in your major decision and ready to engage with a nontraditional learning experience. 

The “thing” you suggest should relate to your intended major. Choosing a particular sub-discipline will also help to show your familiarity and passion for the subject matter. For example, if you are applying to the art school, your “thing” should not be microbiology unless you have a particularly compelling way to integrate the two subjects. However, writing your essay about your love of fifties pop art would demonstrate your knowledge and love of art. 

There are two ways to structure this essay: a longitudinal method or a moment-in-time method. To organize the information in a longitudinal way, describe how your passion unfolded over time. For example, discuss the first time you encountered photography and how you grew more passionate about it. You could discuss crucial memories like getting your first high-quality camera, or your first interaction with your favorite photographer. 

Alternatively, you emphasize one key moment. You could discuss your first time walking through a gallery of your favorite artist’s works or the moment you took your favorite photograph. Use this key point to fully illustrate what you love about your “thing.”

Make sure to elaborate on how your “thing” inspires what you do currently, and how it might impact your future goals. Maybe your “thing” is living a zero-waste lifestyle, and you’re a prospective Architecture major. Your love for sustainability might inspire you to study and develop eco-friendly buildings that interact with nature and the surrounding ecosystems, such as apartment buildings with green roofs. 

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How to write an outstanding cornell essay (cas) | guide & examples, 2022-2023, school supplements.

Brad Schiller

Cornell has quite the tangled knot of an essay prompt for you — it’s a little bit “what do you want to study?” (Hard!); a little bit “Why Us?” (Also hard!); with a strange lead that’s a little philosophical for an essay prompt and can be difficult to follow. 

Take a look, and, if you want clear guidance for untangling the pieces and making this essay prompt easy to ace, join us for step-by-step suggestions below: 

Students in Arts and Sciences embrace the opportunity to delve into multifaceted academic interests, embodying in 21st century terms Ezra Cornell’s “any person…any study” founding vision. Tell us about the areas of study you are excited to explore, and specifically why you wish to pursue them in our College. (650 words)

PS: this is the prompt for Cornell’s College of Arts and Sciences , which is the most popular of its 8 undergraduate colleges , each of which has its own essay requirements. 

(For help with all aspects of your college application, head to our College Essay Help Center .)

Decoding “any person, any study:” it means “Show you’re an interesting person who will pursue their academic interests wherever they lead”

Let’s start off confident and strong. Don’t get tripped up by this prompt’s unusual intro. 

History time : The "...any person... any study" motto is derived from founder Ezra Cornell's 1868 speech at the university's dedication. The full quotation was:

" I would found an institution where any person can find instruction in any study. " 

The university has shortened it to place emphasis on the two most important elements: any person, and any study.

Interpretation time : We believe the mission statement boils down to:

• Any person — that Cornell is open to people from all walks of life, all income levels, races, religions, and genders.
• Any study — that Cornell is a place that offers the freedom to pursue academic interests wherever they lead.

What this means for your essay : To us essay coaches , this means that your essay should showcase three things:

• Your interesting, unique personality and interests, and how they intersect with
• Your intellectual curiosity and particularly
• How your interests will be a great match for Cornell. 

Cornell wants to know if you’ll be a good fit for their campus and likely enroll 

Alright. This essay question is just a “Why us” essay dolled up with the any person/any study piece.

We’ve written a detailed article that you should read right now: The Simple “Why Us” Essay Strategy that Works . It covers everything you need to know in more detail than we will here.

But the highlights are:

• The point of this essay is to show Cornell you really want to go there and will likely enroll (see also Demonstrated Interest: Why Showing Colleges You Like Them Gets You In ).
• Though it looks like one, this isn’t a “Why major” essay , which requires a different technique. 
• You’ll need to articulate your college-related interests and
• Show how they match what Cornell has to offer (aka get Googling).
• Write it all up straight-forwardly. 

Step 1: Brainstorm detail on your academic/career-related interests

Again, we go into more detail in our “Why Us” article, but your starting place for this essay has to be you. Spend time brainstorming and researching your own interests — in particular, what fields of study interest you, what extracurriculars you love, what careers you are drawn to, and where your intellectual curiosity takes you.

You can brainstorm 3-5 of these, giving yourself good detail to use in your essay, by asking questions like: 

• What most fascinates you about the interest?
• What first got you interested in it?
• How does this interest relate to your ambitions (if any)?
• Are there classes related to this interest that you’d like to take at college? 
• What big questions do you have about this interest? 
• What are you most curious about within it? 

Note that you can organize your thoughts for free in the Dashboard using our guided Why Us Brainstorming module (after creating an account ).

At the end of this process, you should have 2-3 great interests with lots of detail that you can use as fodder for this essay. 

Note, the question asks for your “areas of study.” That’s “areas” plural, meaning at least two. If you really, really only have one, that’s probably okay if you do a fabulous job writing it up. But aim for at least two. 

We broadened the brainstorming piece to include “extracurriculars” and “careers that appeal to you” because that should help you think broadly and get to your very best interests. But, once you’re choosing between interests, it’s best to stick as close to the exact prompt wording as you can, if you can. 

Step 2: Get into detective mode and figure out what Cornell has to offer that matches your interests

For each of your interests, dive deep so you can paint a detailed picture of how you’d pursue that interest on campus. 

Your primary research will be on Google, but you can also include information from the campus newspaper, campus visits, any admissions people who came to your high school, any friends you know who go there, or anything else at all.

Mostly, your research should involve two things:

• looking into the course catalogs , particularly more advanced, more interesting and unique classes, as well as 
• at department news sites , talking about what students and professors have achieved. 

Step 3: Put the two pieces together using a straightforward, clear style (Example)

Don’t get fancy with clever metaphors or philosophical musings.

Talk about what your academic interests are and how you’ll pursue them on campus, using your research. That’s it. As simple and clear as you can be. If you don’t have a college essay coach , get someone to review your work for clarity only (not content). 

I'm an English history nerd and an entrepreneur. You might be wondering how those two things go together. The answer is that I create "History Book Princess" greeting cards which I sell on Etsy. (I’ve almost reached my goal of being able to cover the cost of a hostel in London this coming summer.)

These two interests are why I’m so eager to go to Cornell. As a history nerd, I’m drawn to the depth of Cornell’s undergraduate history program. As an entrepreneur, I’m excited by the ability to combine my history major with a business minor. The College of Arts and Sciences will allow me to pursue my passion for the past while exploring opportunities that will help me develop business skills.

I got into History — specifically, Tudor History — because of Cate Blanchett. I loved the clip of her in Elizabeth: The Golden Age that we watched in History class, showing her leading a victory against the Spanish Armada. That led me to the full movie, which led me to reading three (yes, three) books on Elizabeth’s life (I’ve since read even more), which led me to becoming a Tudor fanatic, branching out to learn more about Henry VIII, his wives, Mary Queen of Scotts, and more. 

I’m even doing my senior project as a research paper on Elizabeth’s poetry and how it balances portraying herself as a “mother” to her subjects and a “prince” willing to defend her realm. 

As for the greeting cards, they started with an eight-year-old I regularly babysit. She told me princesses were only in Disney, not in real life. As a semi-joke, the next time I came to babysit, I had drawn three images of real-life princesses doing amazing things — one of them was Elizabeth I leading her army against the Spanish. The concept grew from there. 

At Cornell, I’m equally excited to go even deeper into my Tudor obsession by focusing on Medieval Studies, but also to gain new perspectives on more and more varied cultures, thanks to Cornell’s academic distribution requirements. Finally, given my business’s mission of showing real-life examples of female heroism, I love the idea of being involved with the Public History Initiative , showing how history can help us imagine and create the world we want. 

In addition, I’d love to continue pursuing entrepreneurial knowledge by taking advantage of the SC Johnson College of Business minor, joining Entrepreneurship Club, and seeing how my Etsy shop evolves as I encounter new ideas and follow new interests. 

• This is 416 words.
• The essay has lots of specificity in 3 areas:

1. What intellectual passions the student has pursued,

2. How they developed those passions,

3. What Cornell has to offer and how the student would take advantage.

• The essay shows a dynamic student who pursues intellectual curiosity , takes initiative , and has a strong contribution ethic — these are 3 of the 5 Traits that colleges look for in applicants. 

Helpful info on all the “other” stuff you’ll consider as you apply to Cornell (and other schools)

A few helpful resources for the non-supplement parts of your application:

Common App : Cornell uses the Common App ; read our guide to acing everything to do with writing your Common App application . 

• Activities list: here’s how to write your activity list descriptions so they really impress. 
• Applying early or regular : Cornell offers “ Early Decisions” as well as “Regular Decision .” Read our guide to early/regular decisions — it's a great overview of this decision at any school.  
• Whether to submit test scores: Cornell’s CAS program is test-optional . Read our test-optional article to learn how to think about submitting scores or not. 

BTW, here’s our guidance for approaching any college supplement + here’s where you can find our guides for almost every college’s supplements . 

Feeling inspired? A great place to start is at our College Essay Help Center . 

More articles on Prompt.com’s admissions-boosting methods:

• Work with a college essay coach
• Strong essays increase your chance of admission by up to 10x
• Don’t let influencers influence your college essays
• Should I apply test-optional?
• Early admissions: Everything you need to know
• College Essay Help Center

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• November 5, 2021

How To Write The Cornell University Supplemental Essays (2021-2022)

Welcome to the Cornell supplement for the 2021-2022 application cycle! For Cornell, you only need to write one supplemental essay, but it’s a rather long one. Depending on what school or program you’re applying to (the College of Arts and Sciences, Dyson, the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, etc.), the question is phrased differently. You can find a complete list of Cornell’s “College Interest Essays” here .

All of these prompts are essentially asking the same thing, however. Cornell wants to know why you are interested in X, and why you want to pursue it at Cornell and beyond. For you, X may be Heraclitus, or it may be hotel administration.

I’m only going to tackle the prompt for the College of Arts and Sciences here, but my advice is fundamentally the same for all these prompts.

Students in Arts and Sciences embrace the opportunity to delve into multifaceted academic interests, embodying in 21st century terms Ezra Cornell’s “any person…any study” founding vision. Tell us about the areas of study you are excited to explore, and specifically why you wish to pursue them in our College. (650 words max)

First, a word about word count. This piece of writing is just as long as your college essay. If you’re dreading writing such a long response, keep in mind that the admissions officers at Cornell are dreading reading a great number of long, unremarkable, essays.

Your job is to stand out from the pack and hold your reader’s attention. To do this, tell a personal story. Narratives are compelling and hold our attention. It’s why more people enjoy Gone With The Wind than Un Chien Andalou. The first film tells a story. The second is a creepy, disjointed string of plotlessness. Even though Gone With The Wind is almost four hours long, we remain engaged. For most people, Un Chien Andalou , which lasts for only twenty minutes, seems interminable.

Crafting a narrative here means connecting your academic and extracurricular interests to a personal experience or anecdote. Begin your essay by telling us your intellectual/leadership origin story. Describe a formative experience that has informed your achievements. We had a student who wrote about humiliating himself in a political argument with an older student when he was in 9th grade, and how the experience made him go and read the federalist papers in his free time, and then decide he was all about politics. This anecdote related to his most impressive academic and extracurricular achievements. The origin story serves as a guiding thread for the entire essay, and everything that you discuss (your prospective major, the organizations you want to join on campus, etc.) should relate to this story.

As with any “Why This College?” question, you need to do your research. You can’t recycle the essays you wrote for Brown or Penn . If your reasons for applying to Cornell are the same as your reasons for applying to Brown and Penn (i.e. it’s an Ivy League university), you need to dig deeper.

Make sure you’re being specific: you’re declaring a major (even if you’re undecided), you’re listing some upper-level classes you’d like to take, some professors you’d like to work with, and some clubs you’d like to join. I can’t tell you what major, classes, professors, and clubs you should mention. You have to go see what opportunities are available, and see what fits best with your profile.

When the prompt asks: “Tell us about the areas of study you are excited to explore,” Cornell is actually begging you to tell them what you’re going to major in. Highly-selective schools like Cornell are not looking for students who are exploring their options, or even well-rounded students, for that matter. They want well-rounded classes made up of “pointy” students — students with one or two specific passions, and a clear direction. So you don’t want to say: “I really like biology, but I also really like Latin.” Choose a major (just for the sake of this essay — you can change your mind once you’re at Cornell) that aligns best with your past accomplishments.

Everything you write about here should be based on your past accomplishments. For college admissions officers, the best indicators of future success are past achievements. So whether you’re discussing your major, the classes you want to take, the professors you want to work with, or the student organizations you want to be a part of, make sure you’re discussing the experiences that inform these choices and aspirations.

Make sure everything relates to the origin story, and that you return to the origin story at the end of the essay in a creative way. Avoid: “In conclusion, my passions relate to my origin story.” Find an original way to recall your opening anecdote in order to remind your readers where we started.

As always, our Ivy League college consultants are here to help. Don’t hesitate to reach out .

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How to Write an Outstanding Program-Specific Supplement Essay for Cornell

Our best advice for impressing cornell's admissions officers, no matter which college you're applying to..

At Cornell, you choose to apply to a particular school within the University. Their essay supplement very simply asks: why that one?

But a simple prompt doesn’t necessarily make for simple answers. In our experience at Prompt helping applicants succeed, here are our best tips for making these essays both easier to write and more powerful:

• Tip #1: Research. All these questions require you to spend time on the website, so you can give specifics about Cornell — courses, professors, programs, clubs. Write about the things that genuinely interest you, and you should have a strong essay.
• Tip #2: Zoom out. Ultimately, Cornell wants know: Will you succeed spectacularly in Cornell and beyond? Will you make an exciting contribution, while also being a good person? Even as you answer the specific prompts within your question, have this larger lens in mind as you construct and refine your answer.
• Tip #3: The best writing requires feedback. Ask the people who now and love you for some. And if you like the idea of personalized guidance from people who’ve done this thousands of times, get started here .

In addition, we have specialized posts for nailing your essay to the following three schools:

• College of Arts and Sciences essay guide
• College of Human Ecology essay guide
• College of Engineering essay guide

Cornell writing supplement 2020-2021

650 word limit:

• College of Agriculture and Life Sciences: Why are you drawn to studying the major you have selected? Please discuss how your interests and related experiences have influenced your choice. Specifically, how will an education from the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (CALS) and Cornell University help you achieve your academic goals?
• College of Architecture, Art, and Planning: What is your "thing"? What energizes you or engages you so deeply that you lose track of time? Everyone has different passions, obsessions, quirks, inspirations. What are yours?
• College of Arts and Sciences: Students in Arts and Sciences embrace the opportunity to delve into multifaceted academic interests, embodying in 21st century terms Ezra Cornell’s “any person…any study” founding vision. Tell us about the areas of study you are excited to explore, and specifically why you wish to pursue them in our College.
• Cornell SC Johnson College of Business: What kind of a business student are you? The Cornell SC Johnson College of Business offers two distinct business programs, the Charles H. Dyson School of Applied Economics and Management and the School of Hotel Administration . Please describe how your interests and ambitions can be met through one or both of the Schools within the College.
• College of Engineering: Tell us about what excites you most about Cornell Engineering and/or studying engineering at Cornell University. How do you see yourself becoming a part of the Cornell Engineering community?
• College of Human Ecology: How has your decision to apply to the College of Human Ecology been influenced by your related experiences? How will your choice of major impact your goals and plans for the future?
• School of Industrial and Labor Relations: 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.

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The Ultimate Guide to Acing the Cornell Supplemental Essays 2021/22

When you apply to Cornell, you will complete one supplemental essay (maximum 650 words). Each of Cornell’s colleges has its own essay topics. The topic of the essay depends on which college within the university you apply to. The majority of the prompts are a variation of: (1) Why do you have an interest in your intended field? (2) Why will Cornell help you explore that interest? Three colleges do not use this general structure. These include the College of Architecture, Art, and Planning, College of Human Ecology, and College of Engineering.

How to stand out in your cornell supplemental essays for 2021/22.

Although Cornell’s supplemental essay prompts have a higher word limit, it’s still important to choose your words wisely. Does each sentence of your essay add value to your application? Are you writing original answers no other applicants will have in their essay? If your answer to these questions is no, go back and revise. However, do not add superfluous content just to hit the word limit. It’s ok if your essay is well-written and slightly less than the word limit.

How Crimson Can Help You Stand Out

Crimson takes a personal approach when it comes to helping students with their supplemental essays. Advisors get to know their students by talking with them about their dreams, aspirations, goals, and any aspect of their story that’s unique.

Crimson student Max was recently admitted to Cornell. Dave admitted that having someone ‘in the know’ as to how to craft a successful personal statement was key to creating a piece of writing that resonated with admissions officers and made him proud to have written. Check out the video below to learn more about Max’s story!

How Crimson Student Max Got Into Cornell

Need help with your Supplemental Essays? Crimson Education is the world’s leading university admission consulting company. Our expert admission strategist can help you narrow down your ideas and word choice to help you craft the perfect essay prompt response. Get your essay reviewed today!

What are the Cornell essay prompts for 21/22?

College of agriculture and life sciences.

Why are you drawn to studying the major you have selected? Please discuss how your interests and related experiences have influenced your choice. Specifically, how will an education from the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (CALS) and Cornell University help you achieve your academic goals?

College of Architecture, Art, and Planning

What is your “thing” what energizes you or engages you so deeply that you lose track of time everyone has different passions, obsessions, quirks, inspirations. what are yours, college of arts and sciences.

Students in Arts and Sciences embrace the opportunity to delve into multifaceted academic interests, embodying in 21st century terms Ezra Cornell’s “any person…any study” founding vision. Tell us about the areas of study you are excited to explore, and specifically why you wish to pursue them in our college.

Cornell SC Johnson College of Business

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(s) to which you are applying within the Cornell SC Johnson College of Business (Charles H. Dyson School of Applied Economics and Management and/or the Peter and Stephanie Nolan School of Hotel Administration).

College of Human Ecology

How has your decision to apply to the college of human ecology been influenced by your related experiences how will your choice of major impact your goals and plans for the future, school of industrial and labor relations.

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.

College of Engineering: Instructions

Applicants must write responses to two of the three essay options. They may choose which two prompts they write about—their choice. Each response is limited to a maximum of 200 words.

Essay Option 1

Engineering is inherently collaborative. what does collaboration mean to you what strengths do you bring to the collaborative process, essay option 2, for you, what makes cornell engineering special why do you want to attend cornell engineering, essay option 3, diversity in all definitional forms is intrinsic to excellence in engineering. indeed, devising the best engineered solutions to complex problems is often achieved by drawing from the diverse ingenuity of people from broadly different backgrounds, lived experiences, and identities. how do you see yourself contributing to the diversity and inclusion of the cornell engineering community what is the unique voice you would bring to the cornell engineering community.

How to answer the essay prompts that ask about your interest in a specific field and why you want to attend Cornell

Applicable to prompts for College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, College of Arts and Sciences, College of Business, and School of Industrial and Labor Relations.

Think about your interests and passions

Before you begin writing your essay, think about your genuine interest or passion and how you came to realize it.

• Was there a specific experience that got you interested in this area?
• Were you inspired by a teacher or other figure in your life?
• Was it forged due to a challenge you had to overcome?
• How has your interest evolved over time?

Begin your essay by telling the story of how your interest came to light or how it has evolved. Telling the reader a story about your interest rather than stating it will make the essay more compelling. Make sure you communicate why it’s meaningful to you. How do you want to contribute to the world in this field given your life experiences?

Show how your interest connects with Cornell’s mission

Next, show how your interest or passion connects with Cornell’s mission and, specifically, the college to which you are applying. You can only find these connections through research. Read Cornell’s website , connect with students and alumni who were part of the same college, and scour the Internet to learn as much as you can about your specific college and area of interest. Check out our university profile on Cornell and our blog on the Ivy League Schools to learn more.

Questions to ask yourself:

• Are there specific classes that are unique and align perfectly with your interests?
• Does a professor do research that focuses on your interest?
• Will being part of the larger Ithaca community further your interest?

Connecting your interest to Cornell is critical. Your essay shouldn’t look like you copied it from another application or so generic you could have sent it to any school.

Adapt your writing style

Lastly, because each college’s prompt has slight variations, make sure to adapt your format to fit the college’s specific requirements.

How to Answer the College of Architecture, Art, and Planning Essay Prompt

This question is similar to those above as it asks for your passions and inspirations, but it does not ask how Cornell will further your goals . That means you will have more space to describe your “thing,” so get creative!

This question helps the Admissions Committee get to know you and your passion . Ask yourself, what do I care the most deeply about?

If you enjoy creating elaborate sidewalk chalk murals more than reading about classic architectural styles, write about creating sidewalk murals.

Do you lose track of time trying to complete 2,000-piece jigsaw puzzles of your favorite Star Wars characters?

Don’t pick a passion or quirk that you think will look the most impressive to the Admissions Committee . An honest supplemental essay describing your true passion will come across as more sincere and further engage the reader. You can even write about two passions if space permits.

Once you choose your passion, you must present it in an engaging way.

• You can talk about how you developed that passion and how it evolved over time.
• Tell a story about your passion.
• Describe a particularly difficult mural you were attempting to draw and how you persevered through the struggles to complete it.

While writing your story, keep in mind what the story is saying about your personality .

• Does it highlight positive traits?
• Does it show how you’re highly motivated, a problem solver or you work well in teams?

The best stories will tell the Admissions Committee something about you that they don’t already know, so make sure what you write about differs from your Common App response .

How to Answer College of Human Ecology Essay Prompt

This prompt is similar to the other prompts in that it asks about your motivations and passions and why Cornell is the best place for you to pursue them. However, they also want to know what you intend to do with your passion .

To answer the first part of the question, use the format previously described above:

• Identify your passion/motivation.
• Tell a story of how it came to be or has developed over time.
• Describe why Cornell will help you further those interests.

The slight difference in these questions is that you need to connect them to your future aspirations .

Describe how Cornell’s unique program will help you achieve your ultimate goal. Be specific and articulate what you hope to contribute to your local community and the world. Also, talk about what you hope to personally accomplish with a degree from their program.

How to Answer College of Engineering Essay Prompt

The second question is similar to those described throughout this post. The first and third questions diverge from others discussed in this post. These questions help the Admissions Committee understand how you are in relationships with others .

Start by freewriting on the following questions:

• How do you work with others in a team setting?
• What do you value?
• What personal qualities do you contribute?

Be as specific and honest as possible.

• Are you a leader?
• If so, what’s your style?
• Are you a listener?
• How does this support your team?
• What do you do when things don’t go the way you want?
• Do you adapt well and prioritize the needs of the group?

As always, stories help convey who you are in a way that feels authentic to readers. If you have a short anecdote that displays your best collaborative qualities, don’t forget to include it. It’s a great jumping-off point to discussing your collaboration strengths.

The third question is about diversity and differences .

Try to answer the following:

• What unique identities or life experiences do you bring to the table?
• How do they shape your point of view and how you work with others?
• How do you relate to people who are different from you?
• How do you make sure you include others?
• What unique perspectives can you bring to the engineering community?

Be personal and honest, and include a story if you have one that feels relevant.

Final Thoughts

Everyone loves a good story, especially if it reveals more about who you are as a person and how you’re the perfect fit for Cornell. Your unique answers will set you apart from those who cut and paste from other essays.

Key Resources & Further Reading

• Acing your College Application Essay: 5 Expert Tips to Make it Stand Out from the Rest
• MIT Supplemental Essay 2021/22
• Harvard Supplemental Essay 2021/22
• Columbia Supplemental Essay 2021/22
• Princeton Supplemental Essay 2021/22
• University of Chicago Supplemental Essays
• How to Tackle Every Type of Supplemental Essay
• 2021-22 Essay Prompts Common App Essay Prompts
• What are the Most Unusual US College Supplemental Essay Prompts?

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How to Write the Cornell Supplemental Essays

Reviewed by:

Former Admissions Committee Member, Columbia University

Reviewed: 8/3/23

You’ll want to present your best self through the Cornell supplemental essays to make a lasting impression on the admissions committee, and this guide will tell you exactly how to do so!

Cornell requires all of its students to answer supplemental essays specific to their program. These essays offer a unique opportunity to showcase your passion, goals, and alignment with Cornell's values, so it’s essential you dedicate an adequate amount of time and effort to them!

The hardest part is starting! Knowing what values and experiences to highlight and how to prove your candidacy can seem overwhelming, especially when Cornell is a highly competitive Ivy League school ! 

Rest assured; this guide will ease some of your worries by providing you with in-depth tips on how to write each of the Cornell University supplemental essays !

Cornell University Supplemental Essay Prompts

Depending on the program you apply to, you’ll be required to write one or two essays and may be given the option to answer additional short answers.

College of Agriculture and Life Sciences

Students applying to the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences will be required to answer the following prompt:

Why are you drawn to studying the major you have selected? Please discuss how your interests and related experiences have influenced your choice. How will an education from the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (CALS) at Cornell University specifically serve to support your learning, growth, and the pursuit of your goals?

Your response should not exceed 650 words. You may also answer the following optional short-answer questions:

1. At Cornell CALS, we aim to leave the world better than we found it, so we seek out those who are not simply driven to master their discipline, but who are also passionate about doing so to serve the public good. Please elaborate on an experience where you had a meaningful impact on people, a community, and/or an environment of importance to you (200-word limit).

2. Cornell CALS is dedicated to purpose-driven study of the agricultural, life, environmental, and social sciences and welcomes students with interests that span a wide variety of disciplines. Given our agricultural history and commitment to educating the next generation of agriculturalists, please share if you have a background or interest in agriculture, regardless of your intended major. An "agricultural entity" for the purpose of this question is defined as cultivating soil, growing crops, and raising livestock (e.g., farm, ranch, greenhouse, vineyard, etc.). 

Select all that apply:

• A primary source of income for my parent/guardian(s) comes from ownership of or employment by an agricultural entity.
• My extended family owns or operates an agricultural entity.
• I have experience working in an agricultural entity.
• I have interest in pursuing a career in an agricultural entity.                                           

Please feel free to share additional details (100-word limit).

College of Architecture, Art, and Planning

Applicants hoping to join Cornell’s College of Architecture, Art, and Planning are only required to answer one essay question and aren’t given any optional short answers:

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 may want to consider how they could integrate a range of interests and available resources at Cornell into a coherent art practice. URS students may want to emphasize their enthusiasm and depth of interest in the study of urban and regional issues.

College of Arts & Sciences

Cornell’s College of Arts & Sciences is one of its largest undergraduate colleges . Thousands of applicants apply each year, and each of them must answer the following prompt:

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 majors or areas 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.

Cornell Jeb E. Brooks School of Public Policy

Applicants that chose a major at Cornell’s School of Public Policy will be expected to answer the following supplemental essay prompt:

Why are you drawn to studying public policy? Drawing on your experiences, tell us about why you are interested in your chosen major and how attending the Brooks School will help you achieve your life goals.

Cornell SC Johnson College of Business

To all business enthusiasts hoping to join Cornell’s renowned business school, the admissions committee wants to know what’s important to you and the kind of student you hope to be. To evaluate these factors, you’ll be asked to answer this prompt:

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 Peter and Stephanie Nolan School of Hotel Administration).

College of Engineering

Engineering is often cited as one of the most challenging majors at Cornell. Considering this, it should come as no surprise that Engineering majors have to write two Cornell supplemental essays:

How do your interests directly connect with Cornell Engineering? If you have an intended major, what draws you to that department at Cornell Engineering? If you are unsure what specific engineering field you would like to study, describe how your general interest in engineering most directly connects with Cornell Engineering. It may be helpful to concentrate on one or two things that you are most excited about (250-word limit).

Applicants are given the option to choose between two topics for the second essay:

• Describe an engineering problem that impacts your local community. This could be your school, neighborhood, town, region, or a group you identify with. Describe one to three things you might do as an engineer to solve the problem. 
• Diversity in all forms is intrinsic to excellence in engineering. Engineering the best solutions to complex problems is often achieved by drawing from the diverse ingenuity of people from different backgrounds, lived experiences, and identities. How do you see yourself contributing to the diversity and/or the inclusion of the Cornell Engineering community? What is the unique voice you would bring to the Cornell Engineering community? 

You are given a 250-word limit for this essay as well.

College of Human Ecology

Students applying to the College of Human Ecology will need to answer one essay question:

How have your related experiences influenced your decision to apply to the College of Human Ecology (CHE)? How will your choice of major impact your goals and plans for the future? Your response should show us that your interests and aspirations align with CHE and your choice of major.

School of Industrial and Labor Relations

Last but not least, applicants hoping to join Cornell’s School of Industrial and Labor Relations are required to respond to the following essay prompt:

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.

Now that we’ve gone over all of the Cornell supplemental essays, we’ll provide you with tips on how to ace each one to help you confidently navigate your essay(s) and show the committee just how extraordinary you are! 

Let’s begin with how to approach the essay:

• Research your major and CALS : Thoroughly research the major you're interested in and the specific offerings of the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences at Cornell. Identify unique programs, faculty members, research opportunities, or campus resources that align with your interests and goals. 
• Make it highly personal : Share personal anecdotes and experiences that led you to choose the major you've selected. Avoid generalizations; provide specific examples of how certain events, classes, or interactions influenced your interest in the field.
• Show passion and enthusiasm : Demonstrate enthusiasm for the major you've chosen. Admissions officers want to see that you are genuinely excited about your academic pursuits. Share what excites you about the subject and how it aligns with your long-term goals.
• Be specific about CALS' impact : When discussing how CALS will support your learning, growth, and goals, be specific. Don't just list the general benefits of attending Cornell; instead, focus on how the college's resources and opportunities will directly contribute to your academic and personal development.

Above all, be true to yourself. Write an essay that reflects your genuine interests, motivations, and aspirations! Where do you hope your major will take you? What will it help you accomplish?

Short Answers

If you choose to answer the short answers, the second one is rather straightforward. If any of the options apply to you, provide a brief explanation of how. Stick to the facts and keep it concise. 

The first short answer is a little trickier, so here are some features to incorporate into your response to ensure it meets the admissions committee’s expectations: 

• Choose the right experience : Do not worry about picking an experience you think will impress the admissions committee. Choose one that stands out in your memory and is most meaningful to you. Ensure you can also connect it back to CALS’ mission of making a positive impact.
• Set the scene : Begin your essay by providing context for the experience. Describe the people, community, or environment involved and explain its significance to you. Help the reader understand why this particular experience was important and why it had a lasting impact on you.
• Use vivid language : Make your essay engaging by using descriptive language and vivid storytelling. Show the reader the impact of your actions through specific examples and anecdotes rather than simply stating it.
• Emphasize the impact : Focus on the positive outcomes and the impact your actions had on the people, community, or environment involved. Use evidence and examples to demonstrate the tangible changes or improvements that occurred as a result of your efforts.
• Reflect on the lessons learned : Share your personal reflections and insights gained from this experience. Discuss how it shaped your understanding of the world, your values, and your commitment to serving the public good. Admissions officers are interested in your self-awareness and growth.
• Connect to your future aspirations : Explain how this experience has influenced your future aspirations and how it fits with your academic and career goals. Show the admissions committee that you have a clear vision of how you want to continue making a positive impact in the future.

Remember, you’ll only have 200 words to implement all of these tips, so keep your ideas succinct and to the point!

Don’t feel overwhelmed by the length of this essay question! While it may seem complex, at its core, you’re being asked to explain your motivation behind pursuing your major. Let’s break it down further:

B. Arch Applicants

Tell a compelling story that shares a specific anecdote that showcases how a creative project or passion ignited your interest in architecture. Don’t be afraid to think outside of the box! The project doesn’t have to be directly related to architecture.

Describe the project, its context, and how it impacted your desire to pursue a 5-year professional degree. Emphasize your acknowledgment of the difficulty of this extended program and your motivation to join it nonetheless. 

Ensure you also highlight your vision and discuss how the creative project aligns with your career aspirations.

BFA Applicants 

For your essay, you’ll want to demonstrate adaptability. Show how you can integrate multiple interests and utilize the diverse resources at Cornell to develop a cohesive and unique art practice. Do your research to mention specific resources and elaborate on how these resources will enrich your artistic exploration.

It would also be wise to mention your interest in working with peers, particular faculty members, and other artists to expand your horizons, as collaboration is a major part of the BFA program! 

URS Applicants 

URS applicants need to not only express their passion and enthusiasm for studying urban and regional issues but should demonstrate their wealth of knowledge on the topic. 

Think about specific issues you hope to address throughout your career. Take a forward-looking approach by discussing how the URS program can aid you in working towards resolving these issues and making a positive impact on the world. 

You should also discuss any relevant experiences, coursework, or extracurricular activities that have fueled your interest in this field. 

Follow these tips to craft a compelling Cornell supplemental essay for the College of Arts and Sciences:

• Mention the key traits : The admissions committee will expect you to pick up on the key traits emphasized in this prompt: curiosity, passion, and intent. Ensure you highlight all of these qualities in your essay.
• Avoid vagueness : Be specific about the majors or areas that excite you. Share personal anecdotes or experiences that sparked your interest in these subjects. Show the admissions committee that your enthusiasm for these fields is authentic and deeply rooted.
• Provide evidence of your initiative : If you have already pursued academic opportunities outside of your regular coursework, such as research projects, independent studies, or attending seminars, mention them. This demonstrates your proactive approach to learning and your commitment to intellectual growth.
• Make connections to your past experiences : Draw connections between your current academic interests and any related experiences you've had in the past. This could include research projects, extracurricular activities, internships, or even personal experiences that shaped your intellectual curiosity.
• Tie your interests to the college's resources : Explain how the College of Arts and Sciences' resources, such as state-of-the-art laboratories, research funding, or study abroad opportunities, will support your academic pursuits and enhance your learning experience.
• Reflect on your potential contributions : Share how you envision making a positive impact within the Cornell community and beyond. Discuss how your unique perspective and interests can contribute to the intellectual and cultural diversity at Cornell.
• Show your long-term vision : Discuss your long-term goals and how studying at Cornell's College of Arts and Sciences will position you to achieve them. Explain how the academic opportunities, faculty mentorship, and networking connections will be instrumental in your success.

Fortunately, all you need to do to write a successful response to this question is follow the instructions! Of course, you’ll need to add in some of your personality, an interesting anecdote or two, and some engaging descriptions, but the core elements you need to include are right in the prompt! 

Unlike the lengthier Cornell supplemental essays, this prompt is concise and straightforward. Its purpose is to simply gauge your interests and motivations. To make your response stand out, consider the following tips:

• Start with a strong hook : Begin your essay with a captivating hook that immediately grabs the reader's attention. Consider using a thought-provoking question, an engaging anecdote, or a powerful personal quote, not an overused, impersonal one.
• Showcase your passion for public policy : Clearly convey your passion for public policy and why it resonates with you. Share personal experiences, events, or real-world issues that sparked your interest in this field.
• Connect your experiences to your chosen major : Draw connections between your past experiences and your chosen major in public policy. Explain how these experiences have shaped your understanding and influenced your decision to pursue this field of study.
• Highlight the school's distinctiveness : Not many universities have a public policy school, so you should highlight its uniqueness. Research your program and mention specific aspects that set it apart from other institutions. Talk about unique courses, research opportunities, or other features that excite you.
• Emphasize practical applications : Discuss how the Brooks School's approach to public policy education will prepare you with practical skills and knowledge to make an impact on society. Mention any hands-on experiences, internships, or case studies offered at the school.
• Use concrete examples : Support your claims with specific examples and evidence. Share instances where your passion for public policy has led to meaningful contributions or actions.

By following these tips, you can create an essay that showcases your genuine passion for public policy, your alignment with the Brooks School's values, and your vision for achieving your life goals through this educational journey!

As an aspiring business major, you’ll be expected to have impeccable communication skills. To ensure you start on the right foot by submitting a stellar supplemental essay, keep these suggestions in mind:

• Start with introspection : Before you begin writing your first word, reflect on your personal, academic, and volunteer/work experiences related to business. Think about what you’re passionate about and what interests you. Ask yourself who you are as a person, a student, and a larger member of society.
• Narrate a personal experience : Begin your essay by recounting a specific personal experience that sparked your interest in business and sustainability. Maybe it was a moment of realization during an event, a class, or a project that ignited your passion for these topics.
• Focus on a core theme : Choose a central theme or aspect of business and sustainability that you are deeply interested in. It could be circular economy initiatives, ethical sourcing, community-based tourism, or any other niche area that excites you.
• Highlight your experiences : Relate your chosen topics or issues to real-life experiences you've had. Provide examples of projects, academic courses, or extracurricular activities where you actively engaged with these subjects.
• Demonstrate your commitment : Showcase how you've pursued your interests beyond just academics. Describe any initiatives you've taken, such as joining business-related clubs, participating in relevant competitions, or undertaking personal projects.
• Showcase your uniqueness : Share what sets you apart from other business students because Cornell has thousands. Maybe you have a multicultural background that gives you a unique perspective on sustainable business practices or a specific skill set that can contribute to the field.

If you implement these tips into your essay, you should be able to create a powerful response that showcases exactly what kind of business student you are and how you will contribute to and benefit from the Cornell SC Johnson College of Business!

Crafting thoughtful responses to the Cornell supplemental essays is crucial for Engineer majors aiming to make a strong impression on the admissions committee. Here are some tips to help you in your writing journey:

Your answer to essay one should be concise and focused. Clearly articulate your interests in Engineering and your future aspirations. Consider these tips to elevate your essay:

• Relate your interests to real-world impact : Demonstrate how your interests in engineering have practical applications and potential real-world impact. Discuss how your passion for a particular engineering discipline can contribute to solving pressing global challenges or advancing technology.
• Draw on specific faculty research : Research the work of faculty members within Cornell Engineering who are conducting research in your areas of interest. Discuss how their research inspires you and how you hope to collaborate with them in the future.
• Discuss future goals : Outline your long-term goals in engineering and show how Cornell's engineering program is the ideal stepping stone to achieve them. Whether it's pursuing graduate studies, launching a startup, or working on groundbreaking projects, convey how Cornell will prepare you for success.
• Connect your past experiences : Describe how your past experiences, whether through coursework, projects, internships, or extracurricular activities, have influenced your interest in engineering. Highlight moments that sparked your curiosity and ignited your desire to pursue engineering at Cornell.

Despite having a 250-word limit, you can still include a brief anecdote to open your essay. This will make it more personal and engaging!

If you choose to answer prompt A, here are some suggestions to follow:

• Provide concrete and relevant details : Use specific examples, data, or personal experiences to illustrate the issue's significance. Whether it's a lack of clean drinking water, traffic congestion, or inadequate waste management, ensure the reader understands the problem's real impact on people's lives.
• Propose innovative engineering solutions : Demonstrate your creativity and problem-solving skills by outlining one to three actionable engineering solutions. These solutions should be feasible, innovative, and tailored to address the specific problem you've identified. 
• Discuss community impact : Highlight the importance of community engagement in your proposed solutions. Describe how you would collaborate with others to ensure your engineering initiatives align with the community's needs. Discuss the potential long-term impact of your solutions as well. 

If you choose to answer prompt B, keep these tips in mind:

• Highlight your diverse perspective : Share specific aspects of your background, identity, or lived experiences that make your perspective unique. Discuss how these elements have shaped your worldview and problem-solving.
• Discuss past contributions : Describe instances where you have actively contributed to promoting diversity and inclusion in your previous academic or extracurricular settings. Demonstrate your dedication to fostering an inclusive environment.
• Prove your strengths in collaboration : Showcase how you excel in collaborating with individuals from diverse backgrounds. Discuss how your open-mindedness, empathy, and respect for others' perspectives enable you to work effectively in diverse teams.
• Showcase your passion for impact : Convey your genuine enthusiasm for making a positive impact within the Cornell Engineering community. Discuss how your unique voice and contributions can lead to greater creativity, collaboration, and, ultimately, excellence in solving complex engineering challenges.

Remember, there are various ways to show your diversity! Get creative and dig deep. Think about what makes you unique and what you can offer the Cornell community! 

To create a unique and compelling response to the Cornell supplemental essay for the College of Human Ecology (CHE), consider the following tips: 

• Get to know the college : Spend some time researching the CHE to better understand how your interests fit with its offerings and learning environment. Demonstrate a genuine understanding of what the CHE stands for and how your aspirations align with their values.
• Illustrate your problem-solving abilities : Emphasize your problem-solving mindset and how it fits with CHE's emphasis on finding innovative solutions to human-related issues. Provide examples of situations where you've demonstrated creativity and adaptability in solving problems.
• Demonstrate a holistic view : The CHE takes a holistic approach to its education. Discuss the importance of this and how it will allow you to approach complex issues more efficiently. Explain how this specialization aligns with your broader goals and plans for the future.
• Prove your potential : Share specific areas within your major where you see opportunities for research, innovation, or community engagement. Show how your contributions will further CHE's mission and make a difference in the world.

Use your essay to demonstrate your knowledge of human ecology and how you will be a valuable member of the Cornell community!

Lastly, for students applying to the School of Industrial and Labor Relations, here’s how to tackle your supplemental essay:

• Research the ILR School : Begin by thoroughly researching the ILR School's programs, values, and offerings. Understand its unique focus on labor, employment, workplace issues, and commitment to social justice. Identify specific courses, professors, and extracurricular opportunities that interest you. 
• Identify your key topics or issues : Reflect on your personal, academic, or volunteer/work experiences and identify the topics or issues that have profoundly impacted you.
• Tell your story : Share engaging anecdotes that showcase your connection to the topics or issues you care about. Draw the reader into your experiences, illustrating why these matters are important to you on a deep and personal level. Use storytelling techniques to evoke emotions and make your essay memorable.
• Explain your passion : Clearly convey why these topics or issues matter to you. Discuss the values and beliefs that underpin your passion for addressing them. Describe how your interests have grown and evolved over time and how they have influenced your career aspirations.
• Link to ILR's values : Connect your interests to the ILR School's values and mission. Explain how ILR's focus on labor relations, social justice, and making a positive impact aligns with your own passion for addressing workplace and societal challenges.
• Highlight relevant skills and experiences : If you have engaged in relevant research, internships, or projects related to your interests, highlight them in your essay. Showcase any leadership, teamwork, or problem-solving skills that are relevant to ILR's focus.
• Address your long-term goals : Discuss how pursuing a degree at the ILR School will help you achieve your long-term career goals. Explain how the education and opportunities provided by ILR will enable you to make a meaningful impact in your chosen field.

You’ll notice none of the Cornell supplemental essays except for the CALS-specific and Engineering ones have word counts. However, you should keep your answers concise, so we suggest you aim for your essays to be around 500-600 words. 

Cornell University Supplemental Essay Examples

Now that you know how to write the Cornell supplemental essays, let’s solidify these tips and tricks with a sample essay! Considering a large percentage of applicants apply to the College of Arts & Sciences, here’s an essay that responds to this school’s prompt. 

"World's best big sister" was splayed across a bright pink shirt that my parents handed to me with gleaming eyes and hearts full of anticipation. It was a shirt I proudly wore until I had to play tug-of-war with its seams. Now, the shirt sits framed above the mantle in our living room, right between the dozens of collages of the same few pictures of my sister and her tiny urn. There are only so many pictures you can have of someone that barely lived till their second birthday. 

The shirt serves as a poignant reminder of the precious moments we shared and the profound impact her battle with brain cancer had on shaping my path towards becoming an oncologist. 

But, it wasn’t an immediate revelation. Losing my sister at just seven years old, he thought of being anything other than a firefighter was lost to me in my innocence. I dreamt of donning a firefighter's uniform, bravely saving lives, and heroically extinguishing blazing flames. Little did I know that life had a different calling for me, a calling that would emerge years later and fuel my unwavering determination to confront cancer head-on.

It was during a seemingly ordinary day, years after my sister's passing, when the return of fear to my mother's eyes brought memories flooding back. On that fateful day, my mother had a panic attack and sat shaking on the bathroom floor after feeling what she thought was a lump in her breast. My heart raced, and I found myself reliving the fear that had relentlessly shadowed us when my sister battled cancer. In that moment, I knew I had to transform my grief into purpose.

Fueling my passion for science and discovery, I sought out STEM internships during every summer break of high school, eager to gain hands-on experience and contribute to the ever-evolving landscape of biomedical advancements. As a testament to my commitment to the cause, I have been gratefully selected to partake in the esteemed University of Pennsylvania's Biomedical Research Academy this upcoming summer, a prestigious opportunity that will undoubtedly enrich my understanding and propel my aspirations even further.

As I look to my future at the College of Arts and Sciences, curiosity will be my guide. I yearn to delve into the intricacies of biology, genetics, and medical advancements, seeking the knowledge and expertise needed to combat cancer on both a cellular and systemic level. I am excited about exploring the intersection of science and empathy, understanding that treating cancer requires not only medical expertise but also compassion and understanding for the patients and families facing this harrowing journey.

The opportunity to major in Biology at the College of Arts and Sciences excites me profoundly. I envision utilizing this foundation to unravel the complexities of cancer biology, with the ultimate goal of contributing to groundbreaking research that can revolutionize cancer treatment and improve patient outcomes.

Additionally, I am drawn to the college's commitment to interdisciplinary studies. As an aspiring oncologist, I recognize that addressing cancer's multifaceted challenges requires collaboration across disciplines. I eagerly anticipate collaborating with faculty and fellow students from diverse backgrounds, exchanging ideas, and approaching cancer research from different perspectives.

Beyond academics, I am eager to take advantage of the college's robust extracurricular offerings. By participating in research opportunities and internships at renowned medical institutions, I hope to gain hands-on experience in oncology and further hone my skills.

Armed with curiosity, empathy, the unwavering love of a sisterless big sister, and a fervent desire to make a difference, I am ready to embrace the opportunities at Cornell and spend my life contributing to the fight against cancer.

We also provide more Cornell sample supplemental essays if you’re interested.

FAQs: Cornell Essays

For any remaining questions about the Cornell supplemental essays, read on to find your answers.

1. Does the Cornell Essay Have to Be 650 Words?

The CALS supplemental essay has a limit of 650 words, but it does not have to reach this maximum. Do not try to fill in your essay with unnecessary words, as it will reduce the efficacy of your writing! Focus on quality and ensure your essay stays focused. 

The other essays, aside from the Engineering ones, do not have word counts, but 500-600 words should suffice. 

2. How Many Essays Does Cornell Require?

Every program, except for Engineering, requires one supplemental essay. Engineering majors are required to write two short essays.

3. How Much Does Cornell Care About Essays?

While your essays won’t be the most important admission factor, they can play a crucial role in the admissions committee's decision. Your supplemental essay is the only part of your application that will humanize and differentiate you!

Final Thoughts

Overall, to excel in your Cornell supplemental essays, you’ll need to go beyond merely stating facts. Elevate your responses to new heights by infusing them with captivating anecdotes and employing the art of storytelling. Draw the reader into your world, where your experiences come alive, and your journey unfolds before their eyes!

Your essays are a reflection of your personality, so let your true self shine through with each word! Good luck!

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How to Write the Cornell Supplemental Essays 2023-2024

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Cornell’s recognizable motto hinges on the idea of “any person… any study” and as a university comprising several schools each focused in one broad area of study, it lives up to its mission through rich academic and extracurricular offerings, not to mention its gorgeous campus in upstate New York. However, you may only apply to one specific college at Cornell, with little flexibility for changes down the line. This requires you to think deeply about what it is you seek from your college experience. Asking yourself concrete questions (what draws you to the particular field you’ve chosen? what do you hope to accomplish with the specialized education you’ll gain?) before embarking on the application process will prove to be helpful when it’s time to write your Cornell supplemental essays .

Once you’ve chosen which school you wish to apply to, you’ll need to extensively research it and its courses, professors, and areas of research to define not only where you’ll belong, but what you’ll bring to this school. Try to craft a unique angle in your essay(s), not in the sense of creating a gimmick for the admissions reader, but rather showcasing an understanding of what you as an individual will contribute to the Cornell community and vice versa. Strive to be specific and tie in anecdotal experiences with your research on Cornell.

Cornell’s 2023-2024 Prompts

General essay prompt.

• In the aftermath of the U.S. Civil War, Ezra Cornell wrote, “I would found an institution where any person can find instruction in any study.” For over 150 years, Cornell University has remained deeply committed to Ezra’s vision. Explain how your life experiences will help inform your contributions to a learning community devoted to “… any person … any study.” We encourage you to think broadly about your life experiences, including how local (e.g., family, school, neighborhood) or global communities you’ve been part of have helped shape your perspective. (350 words)

College of Agriculture and Life Sciences Essays

• Why are you drawn to studying the major you have selected? Please discuss how your interests and related experiences have influenced your choice. How will an education from the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (CALS) at Cornell University specifically serve to support your learning, growth, and the pursuit of your goals? (650 words)
• Optional: At Cornell CALS, we aim to leave the world better than we found it, so we seek out those who are not simply driven to master their discipline, but who are also passionate about doing so to serve the public good. Please elaborate on an experience where you had a meaningful impact on people, a community, and/or an environment of importance to you. (200 words)
• Optional: Cornell CALS is dedicated to purpose-driven study of the agricultural, life, environmental, and social sciences and welcomes students with interests that span a wide variety of disciplines. Given our agricultural history and commitment to educating the next generation of agriculturalists, please share if you have a background or interest in agriculture, regardless of your intended major. An “agricultural entity” for the purpose of this question is defined as cultivating soil, growing crops, and raising livestock (e.g., farm, ranch, greenhouse, vineyard, etc.). (100 words)

College of Architecture, Art, and Planning Essay

• 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 may want to to [sic] consider how they could integrate a range of interests and available resources at Cornell into a coherent art practice. URS students may want to emphasize their enthusiasm and depth of interest in the study of urban and regional issues. (650 words)

College of Arts and Sciences Essay

• 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. (650 words)

Brooks School of Public Policy Essay

• Why are you drawn to studying public policy? Drawing on your experiences, tell us about why you are interested in your chosen major and how attending the Brooks School will help you achieve your life goals. (650 words)

SC Johnson College of Business Essay

• 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 Peter and Stephanie Nolan School of Hotel Administration). (650 words)

College of Engineering Essays

• How do your interests directly connect with Cornell Engineering? If you have an intended major, what draws you to that department at Cornell Engineering? If you are unsure what specific engineering field you would like to study, describe how your general interest in engineering most directly connects with Cornell Engineering. It may be helpful to concentrate on one or two things that you are most excited about. (250 words)
• Describe an engineering problem that impacts your local community. This could be your school, neighborhood, town, region, or a group you identify with. Describe one to three things you might do as an engineer to solve the problem.
• Diversity in all forms is intrinsic to excellence in engineering. Engineering the best solutions to complex problems is often achieved by drawing from the diverse ingenuity of people from different backgrounds, lived experiences, and identities. How do you see yourself contributing to the diversity and/or the inclusion of the Cornell Engineering community? What is the unique voice you would bring to the Cornell Engineering community?

College of Human Ecology Essay

• How have your related experiences influenced your decision to apply to the College of Human Ecology (CHE)? How will your choice of major impact your goals and plans for the future? Your response should show us that your interests and aspirations align with CHE and your choice of major. (650 words)

School of Industrial and Labor Relations Essays

• 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. (650 words)

In the aftermath of the U.S. Civil War, Ezra Cornell wrote, “I would found an institution where any person can find instruction in any study.” For over 150 years, Cornell University has remained deeply committed to Ezra’s vision. Explain how your life experiences will help inform your contributions to a learning community devoted to “… any person … any study.” We encourage you to think broadly about your life experiences, including how local (e.g., family, school, neighborhood) or global communities you’ve been part of have helped shape your perspective. (350-word limit)

This essay prompt is your best opportunity to tell admissions officers why you are a great fit for Cornell, and why Cornell is a great fit for you. Specifically, you’re being asked to describe your “life experiences” in the various communities you have belonged or still belong to. In this essay, you can discuss the influence of your family members on your worldview, how reading the newspaper has changed your perspective, how your state politics have impacted your life, and so on.

Because this essay prompt is relatively open-ended, try to pick just a few communities (perhaps 1-3), if you can, and focus on them in great detail. In order for your essay to stand out from the crowd, you need to make your essay personal to you and your unique experiences in communities. In addition, Cornell’s admissions officers are looking for students who will provide a wide array of perspectives, ways of learning, and backgrounds to the University. If your essay in any way sounds like it could be written by someone else, then what you can add to the Cornell community won’t be as clear. Focus on the details of your story, and what’s unique about you will shine through.

College of Agriculture and Life Sciences

Why are you drawn to studying the major you have selected please discuss how your interests and related experiences have influenced your choice. how will an education from the college of agriculture and life sciences (cals) at cornell university specifically serve to support your learning, growth, and the pursuit of your goals (650-word limit).

If you’re passionate about ecosystems, food systems, agriculture, and human interactions with nature, there’s probably a cool story behind that. The key here is to match the school’s emphasis on real-world commitments: how will you apply your education beyond the theoretical? What steps will you take outside of the classroom to reinforce your knowledge and community contribution?

Couple that with your learning, growth, and pursuit of your goals. Your “learning” can refer to your academic goals or educational goals more broadly; you can bring in your personal development goals as well. This relates to your growth. Consider giving the reader a glimpse into your growth before college before describing the growth you’d like to achieve through college, specifically at CALS. Lastly, refer to your career and life goals and how CALS has unique programs, courses, and/or opportunities that will bring you closer to achieving those goals.

In sum, you’ll want to make sure you weave a narrative about your interests and goals as they relate to this college.

Optional: At Cornell CALS, we aim to leave the world better than we found it, so we seek out those who are not simply driven to master their discipline, but who are also passionate about doing so to serve the public good. Please elaborate on an experience where you had a meaningful impact on people, a community, and/or an environment of importance to you. (200-word limit)

This Cornell supplemental essay prompt is essentially asking you to describe a community service activity you’ve participated in. Note that it is even better if you can come up with a service activity connected to the agricultural sector. There’s also no pressure here to list something wildly impressive —even just showing care toward a community, and how you’ve taken steps to be a good member of it, will go a long way toward showing your values.

Remember, show don’t tell . Don’t just tell the reader your experience of service impacted the community, but describe the results of your service, such as the number of people you helped, the amount of money you raised, etc.

Optional: Cornell CALS is dedicated to purpose-driven study of the agricultural, life, environmental, and social sciences and welcomes students with interests that span a wide variety of disciplines. Given our agricultural history and commitment to educating the next generation of agriculturalists, please share if you have a background or interest in agriculture, regardless of your intended major. (100-word limit)

In this optional question, you have the opportunity to indicate your family and/or personal history in agriculture. Select the options that apply to you, if any, and then offer as many as 100 words of clarifying details if you did select any of the options.

Although the clarifying details are a completely optional portion of this completely optional question, it’s advisable to provide some additional information if you did select any of the answers available.

Even though it’s only 100 words, it’s an opportunity for you to describe an extracurricular activity of great relevance to your application if you have worked in agriculture yourself before. If you have family who have worked in agriculture, then you can describe the influence of that background on your decision to apply to CALS. Any opportunity to further display your interest in CALS will help your application!

College of Architecture, Art, and Planning

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) (650-word limit).

This question asks you to describe how your past experiences have driven you to aim for your chosen future path, but it’s a complicated question just to look at. Let’s break it down:

• How do your interests directly connect with your intended major at the College of Architecture, Art, and Planning (AAP)? This question asks you to list some of your interests. Then, you should display some research skills and interest in the school by naming a few programs, courses, professors, or other aspects of AAP that are directly linked to your interests.
• B. Arch applicants, please vide an example of how a creative project or passion sparks your motivation to pursue a 5-year professional degree program. This question is particularly for students interested in Cornell’s B. Arch degree, and it provides you an opportunity to describe some of the high school experiences which you might not have been able to discuss elsewhere in your application. For example, you could describe a moment when you were working on a creative project and realized that this project was the beginning of your future career. Alternatively, you could describe how you realized your passion for architecture would become your career or was something you could enjoy doing all day everyday.
• BFA applicants may want to to [sic] consider how they could integrate a range of interests and available resources at Cornell into a coherent art practice. This question, which is particularly for students interested in Cornell’s BFA degree, expects you to do a little more research into the “available resources at Cornell.” Mention the resources most of interest to you when responding to this question and describe how you might utilize those resources while a student at Cornell. Consider describing how you could use those resources to create a specific proposed art series. What does a “coherent art practice” look like for you, and how would Cornell’s resources facilitate one for you?
• URS students may want to emphasize their enthusiasm and depth of interest in the study of urban and regional issues. This question is particularly for students interested in the URS program at Cornell. If you have past experience with urban or regional issues, now is the time to discuss them. For instance, if you grew up in an urban environment, have worked a summer job in regional politicals, or completed a research project in urban studies, then this essay prompt is a great opportunity for you to provide more nuance regarding those experiences.

College of Arts and Sciences

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. (650-word limit).

The College of Arts and Sciences at Cornell offers the broadest liberal arts education, and that’s certainly reflected in the multidisciplinary interests of the students they admit. In this essay, it’s helpful to describe a few (no more than two or three) of the topics that interest you and why they’re all related and relevant.

Then, you’ll want to discuss how you’ll take advantage of these opportunities and curricula. What energy will you bring to class? What kind of learner will you be? How will you approach your studies? What past experiences of learning and joy in your education will you bring with you?

Bear in mind that the biggest thing you should be accomplishing with this essay is explaining reasons why Cornell would be the place for you to combine said interests. For instance, you can do this by describing programs you’ve researched, alumni you admire, and/or classes you couldn’t take anywhere else.

Why are you drawn to studying public policy? Drawing on your experiences, tell us about why you are interested in your chosen major and how attending the Brooks School will help you achieve your life goals. (650-word limit)

Public policy is rooted in a desire to improve our conditions, and with the Brooks School’s goal of making “positive change in the world,” you’ll want to explain where you too developed this goal. How did your interest begin, and how have you fostered this interest since its inception?

This is a good space to expand, perhaps, on an initiative you’ve taken for your community, a political campaign or volunteer center you’ve worked for, or even what gets you thinking about ways to better the world. Whatever it is, heed the prompt’s request that you talk about your experiences: it’s also always easier to be compelling when writing what you know, especially when it comes to applying to a school whose teachings will (hopefully) yield concrete benefits to society.

Lastly, you’ll want to touch on your life goals and how specific programs, courses, professors, or other aspects of the Brooks School of Public Policy at Cornell connects to your life goals and will facilitate you in achieving them.

SC Johnson College of Business

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 peter and stephanie nolan school of hotel administration). (650-word limit).

As business schools on the whole tend to be more professionally-minded, this is a good space to reflect on the real-world impact you wish your business school education to give you. Pay special attention to how the prompt asks you to explain how what you want to achieve aligns with the specific school you’re applying to. For instance, if you’re applying to Dyson, perhaps focus on the marketing skills and business savvy you’ve been building up throughout your life, but if you’re applying to be a Hotelier, use this essay to communicate what it is about the hotel, food, and administration industry that intrigues you.

Like the personal statement, this essay provides you an opportunity to talk about yourself. You’ll want to use personal details, experiences, and/or anecdotes in order to build out your essay and support your claims of interest in business. Bring in aspects of your personality that might not have been able to come through in your personal statement or other parts of your application if you can!

College of Engineering

How do your interests directly connect with cornell engineering if you have an intended major, what draws you to that department at cornell engineering if you are unsure what specific engineering field you would like to study, describe how your general interest in engineering most directly connects with cornell engineering. it may be helpful to concentrate on one or two things that you are most excited about. (250-word limit).

As you only have 250 words to fulfill this prompt, you must be concise about your interests and how they connect to Cornell Engineering. Don’t hesitate to show you’ve done research on the school by name-dropping classes, professors, or areas of research you would ideally pursue should you be admitted.

A great exercise to get you started is to visualize yourself as a student there — what classes would you be taking? What major would you eventually choose? Which professors would you elect to work with? Imagine yourself at Cornell: not only will help drum up your excitement for applying, but it will also help you craft a more compelling picture of your reasons to the admissions reader.

Question A: Describe an engineering problem that impacts your local community. This could be your school, neighborhood, town, region, or a group you identify with. Describe one to three things you might do as an engineer to solve the problem. (250-word limit)

This has the potential to be a very fun question as you reason through a problem with an engineering mindset. In a question like this, think about the structure of your essay: describe and introduce your problem, and why it’s important to your community/to you, then detail the steps you would take to solve it, and follow through those steps with reflection on how they would work.

This question is two-fold in the sense that it asks not only to see how you think through issues as an engineer, but also how you seek to apply your engineering skills to the world. Essentially, the Cornell admissions officers want to see that you think about how those engineering skills will help better the world (and that they won’t just live in a vacuum).

Question B: Diversity in all forms is intrinsic to excellence in engineering. Engineering the best solutions to complex problems is often achieved by drawing from the diverse ingenuity of people from different backgrounds, lived experiences, and identities. How do you see yourself contributing to the diversity and/or the inclusion of the Cornell Engineering community? What is the unique voice you would bring to the Cornell Engineering community? (250 word limit)

Increasingly, as marginalized peoples continue calling out the disparities in access to opportunity within the field of engineering, diversity has become an essential factor in engineering education. Consider the following guiding questions:

• Beyond being an aspiring engineer, who are you ?
• What experiences make you you , and why do they contribute to your study of engineering?
• How would you contribute to the humanistic side of engineering?

Understanding the role that your lived experiences and identity play into your Cornell engineering focus will help build your voice in that community, and this essay is an occasion for you to use that voice.

College of Human Ecology

How have your related experiences influenced your decision to apply to the college of human ecology (che) how will your choice of major impact your goals and plans for the future your response should show us that your interests and aspirations align with che and your choice of major. (650-word limit).

Unlike some of the other schools’ more clear-cut questions, this one asks for a more big-picture approach for how you will apply your education to a real-world setting. The College of Human Ecology is rooted in its mission to improve the human connection to nature in all kinds of ways, as evidenced by its multidisciplinary approach.

You’ll want to talk about your own big-picture goals in this question. What is the difference you hope to achieve in the world? What’s your goal career? You might not know the answers to these questions yet, but you can still broach the topic in this essay response.

Lastly, don’t forget to still include the specific details of this vision: which classes you’ll take, professors you admire, etc. Working some of the details of the four years you’ll spend at Cornell into your broader vision will help you write a cohesive essay.

School of Industrial and Labor Relations

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. (650-word limit).

The ILR school leads in all things labor relations, economics, human resources, and management. Some of the most pressing problems it seeks to tackle are labor negotiations, conflicts among employers and employees, and the social sciences (in diversity, statistics, etc) surrounding labor and employment.

These topics seem to be in the news all the time, and are certainly relevant to a large number of people—what makes them relevant to you? Why have you taken an interest in labor relations? How have you demonstrated this interest through your actions?

This prompt is also a personal question. While you’ll still want to write about how the school and its programs will help you accomplish your goals in labor relations, don’t hesitate to get personal about the motivations behind your decision to apply to this school, as there are few like it.

If you need help polishing up your Cornell University supplemental essays, check out our College Essay Review service. You can receive detailed feedback from Ivy League consultants in as little as 24 hours.

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Cornell Essays: Examples and Writing Tips

Featured Expert: Sophia Xian, Cornell University

Are you wondering how to tackle the Cornell essays? We’ve got you! Admission to  Cornell University  is highly competitive! Like many of the other  Ivy League schools , Cornell has a holistic admissions process, which means they want to make sure that you are a good fit for the school, both academically and personally. That is why it is important that you ace the  supplemental college essay  component if you want to be offered admission at Cornell. 

Your college essays give you an opportunity to talk to the admissions board directly, in your words, and explain why you deserve a spot in their school. It also gives you a chance to show what makes you different and how you can  contribute to your future campus community.  This is especially important if you're hoping to  get into college with a low GPA. 

 Looking at Cornell essay examples can give you a better idea of what is expected from your own Cornell college essays and inspire you to write a better essay. In this blog, we share some examples of essays responding to some of the most challenging Cornell essay prompts, and some tips that will undoubtedly improve your chances of writing a stronger essay. 

>> Want us to help you get accepted? Schedule a free strategy call here . <<

Article Contents 14 min read

The application process for Cornell is quite different from other Ivy League schools like  Columbia  or  Brown . Cornell undergrad applicants are required to apply to one of the school's colleges, which means the Cornell essays are also based on the college they've chosen to apply to. The school advises students that the primary focus of their essay should be what they intend to study at Cornell. So, as you read the examples below for the different colleges, pay attention to the way that the author of the essay talks about their academic interests using specific examples from their background and specific details about the program that they intend to study.

Prompt (College of Agriculture and Life Sciences):  Why are you drawn to studying the major you have selected? Please discuss how your interests and related experiences have influenced your choice. Specifically, how will an education from the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (CALS) and Cornell University help you achieve your academic goals?

Millions of people around the world live with sickle cell disease (SCD), yet millions of people worldwide do not know what sickle cell disease is. The CDC estimates that about 1 in every 13 Black or African American babies is born with the sickle cell trait. My mother was one of those black babies, and so was my father. Like many Americans, they had no idea what sickle cell was and why the fact that they carry the trait for it matters. They found out seven years later when my younger sister was born with sickle cell anemia. 

I have spent most of my teenage years watching my sister suffer. According to sicklecell.com, although the treatment for SCD patients has significantly improved in the US, only about 20% of family physicians are comfortable treating these patients even though it is not contagious. I am not sure what their reasons for not being comfortable are, but I do remember how difficult it was to get help for my sister when she needed medical attention. 

The first time she had a crisis – the term used to describe the pain resulting from the sickled red blood cells blocking the path of the small blood vessels that carry blood to your bones – I was paralyzed with fear. My parents had taught me that a crisis can last anywhere from an hour to several days and that if untreated, it could have severe consequences for my sister. They taught me that I needed to call 911, but it took me a few minutes to remember that I needed to do that. 

It took me a few minutes to get to the hospital and much longer for us to get a physician who understood what my parents were trying to explain about my sister’s medical history. It was on that day that I started thinking about sickle cell anemia patients around the world. I have always recognized that living in the US gives me access to a certain amount of privileged, including access to some of the best doctors in the world. It occurred to me that these same doctors did not know how to approach an issue affecting millions of people of color worldwide, and I wondered how many other doctors worldwide didn’t have that same training or knowledge.

My sister was hospitalized for almost two weeks, and I spent most of that time in her hospital room researching sickle cell. My research helped me understand how to better care for my youngest sibling, and it renewed my interest in medicine. I have always been attracted to the medical field because I enjoy helping others and solving problems. Finding out that not only do we need more doctors equipped to treat sickle cell but that there is also so much research to be done on the subject helped me realize that this was the right career path for me. 

I am interested in pursuing my premedical degree at Cornell because it offers unique opportunities to explore and expand on my medical research interests with advanced classes like the Regulation of Cell Proliferation and Senescence. I believe that a strong molecular biology education will give me a solid foundation that’ll prepare me for both my medical school and the research I intend to pursue. Cornell's interdisciplinary and collaborative nature would also allow me to take courses like Behavioral economics and public policy, which will help me develop a global view of community healthcare. 

In other words, Cornell is the ideal place to nurture me into a globally aware physician-scientist who can significantly impact the way sickle cell is treated and maybe even cured. 

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Prompt (College of Arts and Sciences): Students in Arts and Sciences embrace the opportunity to delve into multifaceted academic interests, embodying in 21 st -century terms Ezra Cornell’s “any person…any study” founding vision. Tell us about the areas of study you are excited to explore, and specifically why you wish to pursue them in our college. (Max: 650 words)

Three students from my high school attempted suicide during our sophomore year. They were all in AP classes, participating in multiple extracurricular activities, and well on their way to some of the best and most competitive universities in the country. We all thought that they were doing well, but we were all very wrong. Fortunately, two of the students survived and I am glad to say that they got the help that they needed but one of my classmates died. In his suicide note, he talked about feeling an immense amount of pressure and I could feel his sentiments being echoed by many of my other classmates.

If someone was keeping track of the number of times students cried or broke down in school from freshman to Junior year, they would have noticed that the number was rising exponentially. For context, I went to a boarding school that prides itself on teaching the brightest students and preparing them for the academically rigorous programs of the top colleges in the country. While I loved a lot of things about my high school, I can admit that the environment in which we studied was very pressure-inducing.

I was alarmed at the number of times I heard students say “I’m going to kill myself” on a daily basis, and many of my closest friends confessed that they considered quitting school. If I am being honest, there were a few occasions where I myself thought about quitting, but I was able to rely on my support system and they encouraged me to keep going. Many students did not have one, or they needed a different type of support. In short, my school community was very stressed, and these red flags made me decide that it was time to do something about it.

Because of my role as coordinator of the student event planning committee, I spent quite a lot of time in the administrative office, and I noticed how busy our school counselor was. She helped a lot of students, but she simply didn’t have the resources to care for over 2000 students by herself. I had researched and found that yoga and art therapy were empirically proven de-stressing methods. So, I approached the school counselor and she helped me create the mental health club.

I collaborated with the counselor and the library to organize several events every month. We had weekly meditation, stretching, and doodle sessions, “safe space” days where students could simply come and openly share their concerns and worries, and we even hosted therapy dogs once every term. We asked students to rate their mood before and after each session, and 92% of the students said that their stress level had decreased significantly.

That number is what got me interested in psychology. I was amazed to see that an activity like doodling which many consider mundane, can have such an impact on a person’s mental health. I wondered what else affects our psyche, what does so positively, and what does so negatively. The more research I have done on the topic, the more questions I seem to have. So, I am definitely excited to take courses like educational psychology and adolescence and emerging Adulthood at Cornell which are sure to provide more answers.

I am elated to say that the Mental Health Club is now a formal program of our school that offers weekly sessions and makes it a point to raise awareness about wellness and balance. I plan to use the knowledge I will gain at Cornell to create and introduce programs of this nature in other high-stress environments and learn how to ensure that students are learning in the best conditions possible.  (613 words)

Prompt (College of Architecture, Art, and Planning): What is your "thing"? What energizes you or engages you so deeply that you lose track of time? Everyone has different passions, obsessions, quirks, and inspirations. What are yours? (Max: 650 words)

I was thirteen years old when my mother forced me to put my shoes on and follow her to an art gallery. She told me that an art gallery was like a museum, and until that day, the only other time I had been to the museum was when my 5th-grade class had gone on a field trip to the Natural History Museum to see dinosaurs. I honestly had no desire to see more dinosaur bones, and I informed my mother of this. She told me that this was a different type of museum and that she had a feeling I would like this one a lot better. 

Mothers know best! I know it's not always true, but it definitely was in my mother's case. She had noticed my budding interest in painting and wanted to nurture it. I remember walking into the room and feeling almost overwhelmed by the beauty. I didn't understand what I saw, but I knew it was special. One of the paintings I saw that day was Razorbill by Lynette Yiadom-Boakye, and I immediately loved everything about the piece. 

That evening, I talked a mile a minute about wanting to visit other galleries and museums, about how hard it must be to paint a particular color this way or that way, and about how I wanted to replicate my favorite paintings. I stayed up in my room that night, trying to paint using the same loose gestural brushwork I saw in Yiadom-Boakye's work. I obviously couldn't at first, but I tried again the next day. And the day after that. 

I also spent quite a bit of time researching and learning about some of the artists whose work I saw on that day at the gallery. That research led me to other great artists whose work I have come to know and love - From the classics like Van Goh and Basquiat to the contemporary visionaries like Henry Taylor and Joy Labinjo. I learned about the different painting techniques and practiced as often as possible. 

Unfortunately, my school did not have many resources for students interested in art, but I didn't let that obstacle stop me. After looking for months, I finally found an art teacher that was a forty-five-minute drive away, and I enrolled in one of her Saturday classes. Those lessons not only helped me improve my skills, but they also helped me feel more confident in my abilities. 

The more I learned about painting as a medium, the more I wanted to experiment with other art forms. This is one of the reasons Cornell's fine arts program is so appealing to me. The fact that the program includes core studio courses in the mediums that I am interested in, like digital media and drawing would allow me to explore all of my interests. It would also give me a chance to discover new ones through the many elective courses available to Cornell students. 

My goal is to one day create art that excites and inspires others the way that Lynette Yiadom-Boakye inspired me.  (513 words)

Prompt ( College of Engineering): How do your interests directly connect with Cornell Engineering? If you have an intended major, what draws you to that department at Cornell Engineering? If you are unsure what specific engineering field you would like to study, describe how your general interest in engineering most directly connects with Cornell Engineering. It may be helpful to concentrate on one or two things that you are most excited about. ( Max 250 words)

“You’re awfully happy for a person who has to get stitches” 

I explained to the ER doctor who said this to me that I’d accidentally hurt myself by jumping with joy when my robotics team and I finally managed to get our robot to respond to a sophisticated command. He didn’t seem to understand why that was a big deal.

Learning and creating have always excited me. So, when I decided that I wanted to pursue a career in engineering, it was important to me that I find a college that would encourage my need to explore and give me a chance to start creating from my undergrad years. Therefore, Cornell’s unique focus on independent investigations and its requirement of a senior thesis is perfect for me. 

My decision to apply to Cornell was solidified when I discovered that the school is an ABET-accredited Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering School. I am especially interested in learning about Environmental Biotechnology, so it is necessary for me to go to a school that will allow me to learn material that is both applicable and relevant to the industry. 

To prepare for the rigorous curriculum, I have enrolled in a differential equation and engineering basics course at the local institute. I am confident that the foundation I will gain from these courses, along with my experiences in robotics and passion for the field, will make me an excellent addition to the Cornell campus community. (240 words)

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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 (the Charles H. Dyson School of Applied Economics and Management or the Cornell Peter and Stephanie Nolan School of Hotel Administration). (Max: 650 words)

Two years ago, my parents took my siblings and me to Timbuktu. It is a relatively small city in Mali that people often use when referring to far away places, but it also happens to be a city that is historically rich, home to three world heritage sites, and my father’s childhood home. We only spent a couple of weeks in Timbuktu, but it was enough time for me to see and learn some pretty amazing things – like how to make the perfect cup of green tea, how shea butter is produced, and how beautiful the Grand Mosque of Djenné is.

What impressed me the most about Timbuktu was its architecture. Most of the city’s buildings are constructed using sunbaked mud bricks. A local tour guide explained to us that in addition to being beautiful, these buildings are perfect for the local climate because they do such a great job at insulating against the heat and cold. The guide explained that these houses are actually more durable and a lot more environmentally friendly than the “modern” houses that they build in bigger cities and most of the western world.

His words stayed with me, so I spent a lot of time researching this architecture and the man knew what he was talking about. Architects and archeologists have found that many mud-brick buildings have survived centuries with little to no maintenance. Many of those buildings are in Mali, Egypt, and Australia. I saw the evidence of that myself in one of the oldest cities in the world and I was impressed.

I started to wonder why this method of building was not being used or at least studied more in the western world if it is that much better for our environment. So, when I got back to the United States, I asked my history teacher about it and they steered me in the right direction by asking me to look into the business of sustainability. I researched on my own and took an introduction to sustainability class from a local community college. Both of those things taught me that in our current economy, sustainable development of any kind can be, and often is, quite costly.

The reality is that nations will only promote environmentally friendly practices if they can afford it or profit from those practices. For some, protecting the Congo Basin comes second to protecting the livelihoods of the small lumber businesses around the region, while for others it comes second to making billions of dollars by selling electronics every year. On a smaller scale, families and people also have to choose between sustainability and affordability when it comes to electronics, fashion, and more. I think it’s unfair that families and regions and countries often have to choose between one or the other.

I want to join the efforts of the economists and environmental scientists who are working to find ways to make sustainable options more popular, accessible, and affordable. For a long time, I struggled because I was looking for an academic path that would allow me to explore economics and environmental sciences while learning about business management. These are the fields of study that I need to pursue in order to understand the world of sustainable architecture and manufacturing better, and eventually research ways to make those practices more accessible, affordable, and profitable.

Dyson’s unique program is uniquely designed to help me achieve this goal. I would be able to major in applied economics and management (AEM), and Environmental engineering through Dyson’s affiliation with CALS, thus balancing my business education with life science education. 

In order to get into a school as competitive as Cornell, it is important to write a  Common App essay  and a supplemental essay that stand out. This is no easy feat, especially when the prompts for the supplementary essay are as specific as the ones Cornell asks its applicants to respond to. These types of prompts are often referred to as "why this college essays" because they are essentially asking why you have chosen the Cornell college or program that you are applying to. To  ace the why this college essay , you will need to give yourself enough time to plan, draft, write and edit your essay until it is polished. We recommend planning at least four to six weeks to ensure that your essay is ready for submission. 

If you are not sure  how to write a college essay , do not hesitate to reach out to a  college essay advisor  for additional support. Or, even if you feel that you are a skilled writer, we recommend consulting with a  college essay review service  as the admission experts who review your essays may be able to identify issues in your essay that the untrained eye can't. Remember that because of colleges' holistic admissions process, your  college essays  can play a significant role in the admissions committee's decision so you want to do everything you can to submit an essay that will improve your overall application. 

For every 100 applications that Cornell received last year, only about eight students were offered admission. So, it is fair to say that it is a very competitive school. 

Much like the rest of your application, the number of essays you will need to write depends on the specific college you are applying to. You will be required to write one or two supplemental essays depending on your chosen college.

Your Cornell essays are an integral part of your application that can have a significant impact on the admissions committee's decision. A student with perfect stats might get rejected because of a poorly written essay, so it is important that you bring your A-game when it comes to your essays. 

Cornell has eight colleges: The College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, the College of Architecture, Art, and Planning, the College of Arts and Sciences, the Cornell SC Johnson College of Business, the College of Engineering, the College of Human Ecology, School of Industrial and Labor Relation, and the newer Cornell Ann S. Bowers College of Computing and Information Science. 

You need an attention-grabbing opening statement, examples to back up claims about you, specific details about the college and programs that interest you, and an essay that is easy to follow. 

You need to research the programs and colleges at Cornell and take the time to plan your essay before you start writing. Cornell prompts are incredibly specific, so you need to be able to provide detailed information to be compelling. 

Cornell essays can't be longer than 650 words. We recommend writing between 400 and 650 words to ensure your essay has a compelling story. 

You should highlight the strengths and skills that align with the college that you are applying to. This is why it's important to familiarize yourself with the college's specific character before writing your essay. 

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College Essays

For the 2022–2023 admission cycle, Cornell admitted less than 8% of their total applicant pool. To be one of the students who gets accepted, you need to write amazing essays as part of your Cornell University application.

In this article, we'll outline the different types of essays you need to write for your Cornell University application and teach you how to write a Cornell supplemental essay that will help you stand out from the thousands of other applicants.

What Are the Cornell Essay Prompts?

Most students applying to Cornell only need to answer one Cornell supplemental essay prompt as part of their application (engineering students are the exception).

Don't get too excited though, because this one essay carries a lot of weight. The word limit is on the longer side (usually around 650 words), and the topic depends on which school within the university that you're applying to.

Cornell University consists of many smaller colleges, each with their own required Cornell writing supplement.

Your Cornell essay prompt will correspond to the school that you plan to study at, so give your future as a Cornell student some thought before you start writing. Be sure to write about the subject or area of study that you are currently interested in, even if that may change when you get to college. As with all college admissions essays, authenticity is key. You may have myriad scholastic interests, but for this essay, stick with what you know best and are most passionate about. Your potential topic must correspond with the areas of study at the college too.

The Cornell essay prompts give ample space for you to express yourself and reveal a more complete portrait of who you are as a student and human simply because of the word limit. You can say a lot in 650 words, so take advantage of it!

2023–2024 Cornell Supplement Essay Questions

Here are the essays and instructions as shown on the Cornell University admissions website :

College Interest Essays

The primary focus of your college interest essay should be what you intend to study at Cornell. In the online Common Application Writing Supplement, please respond to the essay question below (maximum of 650 words) that corresponds to the undergraduate college or school to which you are applying. Note that the College of Engineering is the only college that requires multiple shorter essays, and the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences lists one required and two optional essays.

Here are this year's prompts: 

• Brooks School of Public Policy: Why are you drawn to studying public policy? Drawing on your experiences, tell us about why you are interested in your chosen major and how attending the Brooks School will help you achieve your life goals.
• Required: Why are you drawn to studying the major you have selected? Please discuss how your interests and related experiences have influenced your choice. How will an education from the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (CALS) at Cornell University specifically serve to support your learning, growth, and the pursuit of your goals?
• Optional: At Cornell CALS, we aim to leave the world better than we found it, so we seek out those who are not simply driven to master their discipline, but who are also passionate about doing so to serve the public good. Please elaborate on an experience where you had a meaningful mpact on people, a community, and/or an environment of importance to you (200-word limit).
• A primary source of income for my parent/guardian(s) comes from ownership of or employment by an agricultural entity.
• My extended family owns or operates an agricultural entity.
• I have experience working in an agricultural entity.
• I have interest in pursuing a career in an agricultural entity.

Please feel free to share additional details (optional) (100-word limit).

• College of Architecture, Art, and Planning: 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 may want to to consider how they could integrate a range of interests and available resources at Cornell into a coherent art practice. URS students may want to emphasize their enthusiasm and depth of interest in the study of urban and regional issues.
• College of Arts and Sciences:   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. .
• Cornell SC Johnson College of Business: 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 Peter and Stephanie Nolan School of Hotel Administration).
• Essay 1 (Required response): How do your interests directly connect with Cornell Engineering? If you have an intended major, what draws you to that department at Cornell Engineering? If you are unsure what specific engineering field you would like to study, describe how your general interest in engineering most directly connects with Cornell Engineering. It may be helpful to concentrate on one or two things that you are most excited about.
• Question A: Describe an engineering problem that impacts your local community. This could be your school, neighborhood, town, region, or a group you identify with. Describe one to three things you might do as an engineer to solve the problem.
• Question B: Diversity in all forms is intrinsic to excellence in engineering. Engineering the best solutions to complex problems is often achieved by drawing from the diverse ingenuity of people from different backgrounds, lived experiences, and identities. How do you see yourself contributing to the diversity and/or the inclusion of the Cornell Engineering community? What is the unique voice you would bring to the Cornell Engineering community?
• College of Human Ecology: How have your related experiences influenced your decision to apply to the College of Human Ecology (CHE)? How will your choice of major impact your goals and plans for the future? Your response should show us that your interests and aspirations align with CHE and your choice of major. (Refer to our essay application tips before you begin.)
• School of Industrial and Labor Relations: 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.

Cornell Supplement Essays Analyzed

In this section, we'll take a look at each Cornell supplemental essay prompt in depth.

Remember, you may only answer one prompt for your application.

We'll also give tips for how to best approach answering the individual essay questions. Some tips will apply to all of the questions, but we will highlight the important differences for each program.

Brooks School of Public Policy

Why are you drawn to studying public policy? Drawing on your experiences, tell us about why you are interested in your chosen major and how attending the Brooks School will help you achieve your life goals.

To apply to the Brooks School of Public Policy, you'll need to select a specific major . Be specific about what you want to study and why, and make sure that you clearly state why the Brooks School in particular is the best option for you.

Don't panic if you don't have a lot of experience with your chosen major yet! Instead, think about why you're interested in this field and what experiences led you to it . Maybe you're inspired by something you personally experienced, by research you conducted, or by a documentary or article you read.

You should also research the history of the Brooks School and its different programs. Choose the one that best aligns with your goals , and look to see whether any notable faculty or alumni might further inspire you.

College of Agriculture and Life Sciences

Applicants must answer one required essay, but also have the option to answer two optional essays. We'll break down your options below.

Required: Why are you drawn to studying the major you have selected? Please discuss how your interests and related experiences have influenced your choice. How will an education from the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (CALS) at Cornell University specifically serve to support your learning, growth, and the pursuit of your goals ?

The College of Agriculture and Life Sciences asks you to have an idea of your major as you apply. In your essay, you should commit to one major and be specific about why it's important to you. Choose a topic of genuine interest to you and that you have a personal connection with, even if that personal connection consists solely of articles you've read and documentaries you've seen.

Do your research about the topic and the school. Dedicate some time to reading about CALS—its history, its current faculty, and its notable alumni. Is there anyone from your research who you can relate to or who you think of as inspiring? Are there professors whom you are looking forward to working with?

Lean into the school's reputation, and choose something specific to write about that has a personal connection to you. For example, instead of writing about homesteading trends across the country, write about a local farm in your area that you visited as a child or how you got interested in food science.

You could also write about your personal connection to a specific project of a professor who teaches in the Cornell College of Agriculture and Life Sciences.

Optional: At Cornell CALS, we aim to leave the world better than we found it, so we seek out those who are not simply driven to master their discipline, but who are also passionate about doing so to serve the public good. Please elaborate on an experience where you had a meaningful impact on people, a community, and/or an environment of importance to you.  (200-word limit)

This is a great opportunity for you to show how you want to use your passion for the greater good . Because the prompt tells you to define your impact "on people, a community" broadly, you have a lot of leeway here. Think about your local neighborhood, your family and friends, any trips you may have taken through school or service organizations—anything that shows your commitment to serving others.

Optional:  Cornell CALS is dedicated to purpose-driven study of the agricultural, life, environmental, and social sciences and welcomes students with interests that span a wide variety of disciplines. Given our agricultural history and commitment to educating the next generation of agriculturalists, please share if you have a background or interest in agriculture, regardless of your intended major. An "agricultural entity" for the purpose of this question is defined as cultivating soil, growing crops, and raising livestock (e.g., farm, ranch, greenhouse, vineyard, etc.). Select all that apply: A primary source of income for my parent/guardian(s) comes from ownership of or employment by an agricultural entity . My extended family owns or operates an agricultural entity. I have experience working in an agricultural entity. I have interest in pursuing a career in an agricultural entity. Please feel free to share additional details (optional). (100-word limit)

This isn't an essay prompt so much as a way for you to self-identify . If any of these options apply to you, make sure to check them!

College of Architecture, Art, and Planning

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 may want to consider how they could integrate a range of interests and available resources at Cornell into a coherent art practice. URS students may want to emphasize their enthusiasm and depth of interest in the study of urban and regional issues.

The College of Architecture, Art, and Planning wants to know how you connect your creative passions with your scholastic interests here. Think about what you learn about or engage with of your own volition, not just because you're required to. In other words, when you fall down an Internet rabbit hole, what are you often researching?

For example, what design trends fascinate you? Which artists, photographers, or architects do you gravitate toward? What sort of urban planning projects would you be inspired to pursue? What transportation, housing, or infrastructure issues in your community or region do you want to work toward solving? Keep in mind that you'll want to not just describe who or what motivates you but also  why .

Note also that the question asks you to describe either a "passion" or a "creative project," so if you've already had the opportunity to work on an art installation or design project that has inspired you to pursue your degree at Cornell, then describe that project and explain why it motivates you. Remember, the prompt asks about passions, as well as quirks. Don't feel embarrassed! Share something personal about yourself. Maybe you love watching old cinema or make your own pop-up cards for your family. Maybe you watch hundreds of hours of videos from YouTube photographers. Maybe you visit the City Hall of whatever new town you visit.

Whatever you choose, make sure you elaborate on why you're interested in it and how it's affected your life.

College of Arts and Sciences

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 .

The College of Arts and Sciences is the most generalized school of study at Cornell University, and the admissions essay reflects that. If you know that you love to learn but aren't sure what your career will look like after college, it's likely you'll be applying here.

Don't be fooled! Just because the question is broad, you don't have to write a broad essay in response. Don't feel like you have to demonstrate an interest in both Russian literature and molecular biology. Rather, describe your real intellectual pursuits with honesty and sincerity .

You don't have to have huge aspirations or a fancy reason for your intellectual pursuits. Stay true to yourself. If you're interested in Tudor history because of some historical fiction novels you read as a child, that's fine! You can say that. Just be sure to always tie it back to how Cornell's academics will let you study your passion.

If you have multiple areas of study that you are passionate about, you may write about them—but don't write about more than two or three at the most. Otherwise, your essay will feel more like a list rather than an in-depth exploration of your actual interests.

If you do choose to write about multiple interests, be sure to connect them back to you and your individual experience as a Cornell student and community member.

Cornell SC Johnson College of Business

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 Peter and Stephanie Nolan School of Hotel Administration).

For the Johnson College of Business, the first part of the essay question asks you to think about the business-related topics or issues you are interested in; how they're connected with your life, academic, volunteer, or work experiences; and why. The next part of the prompt invites you to discuss your interests in terms of what's on offer at the business school.

Your best approach, then, is to r esearch the programs so that you know exactly what their approach to business, management, economics, and hospitality is.   What topics do they offer classes on? What specific research areas do their professors study? Then, think about what you most often find yourself thinking, reading, or talking about that relates to two or three of these topics. Those connections should be the core of your essay.

For example, did a history class inspire you to research the evolution of print advertising to digital marketing? Did moving from abroad get you interested in international development? Did you grow up in a family of entrepreneurs and want to further explore how to build your own business?

As you build your response, keep in mind that your essay should also indicate why you want to attend Cornell's College of Business rather than any other and how you'll take advantage of the resources it offers. So do some research on what makes the college stand out from others. You can list specific classes you'd like to take or professors you'd like to study with. Doing so will show that you're interested in Cornell, not just any old business school.

If you're specifically interested in the School of Hotel Adminitration and you're having trouble coming up with a topic, use the list of global hospitality industry topics as a jumping-off point. Which are you interested in? How did you become interested in them? Why do you care so much about these topics? What type of career do you want in this industry?

When writing about the experiences that define you and your passions as a future business major, don't generalize. Instead, use stories, anecdotes, and details  that actually happened and that show your personality traits and motivations. Follow that old grade-school writing rule: show; don't tell.

College of Engineering

All applicants are required to write two supplemental essays. Each has a limit of 250 words. Essay 1 is required of all applicants. For Essay 2, you must choose between Question A and Question B.

Essay 1 (Required): How do your interests directly connect with Cornell Engineering? If you have an intended major, what draws you to that department at Cornell Engineering? If you are unsure what specific engineering field you would like to study, describe how your general interest in engineering most directly connects with Cornell Engineering. It may be helpful to concentrate on one or two things that you are most excited about.

Essay 2 (Required):

And now for something a little different. Instead of writing one long essay, College of Engineering applicants have to write two shorter essays, and they get to choose from three prompts.

Each of the prompts seeks to understand why you want to study engineering and why you believe you'd excel at engineering. For all prompts, be sure to go beyond the surface level with your answers. Don't just say that you want a steady job after graduation. Cornell's College of Engineering wants to see that you have both ambition and interesting ideas.

The first prompt is required  and is the most similar to the prompts for the other colleges. It's a basic "why us?" prompt, in which you explain to Cornell what it is about their College of Engineering that made you want to apply. Again, the more specific you can be here, the better. Mention things such as specific professors, classes, or internship opportunities to strengthen your essay.

The second prompt is a chance for you to put your thinking cap on! This is a great place for you to shine. Your job here is to choose a problem that is important to you —and say a little about why before diving into the prompt itself. If you know what type of engineering you want to study, make sure the problem you're addressing can be solved through that subfield. If you're not decided, you have a little more leeway.

For the third prompt, you're focusing on diversity and how you'll add to it. This doesn't just need to be racial diversity; think about what your unique life experiences can bring to Cornell's College of Engineering and how that would contribute to its diversity.

College of Human Ecology

How have your related experiences influenced your decision to apply to the College of Human Ecology (CHE)? How will your choice of major impact your goals and plans for the future? Your response should show us that your interests and aspirations align with CHE and your choice of major. (Refer to our essay application tips before you begin.)

This essay prompt gives you lots of room for creativity. That being said, heed this caveat: don't get carried away in stating your grandiose mission for solving the world's problems. As with the other essay prompts, specificity is key.

For the first question, choose an example from your life to illustrate your answer.  Pick something that has truly been formative in your educational and professional goals , dive in deep, and write from the heart.

For example, if you're interested in studying policy analysis and management, you could talk about how your experience with social welfare programs has affected your life. Or if you're looking to be part of the fiber science and apparel design program, you could talk about why clothing has played such an important part in your life and your passion for fashion design.

Be sure to include your future goals in your answer. The College of Human Ecology has a very specific focus—you'll want to reflect that as you discuss your career and life aspirations.

School of Industrial and Labor Relations

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.

This essay is a great opportunity to show off your academic side. You get to write about your topics of study and describe how you will continue to make it a part of your life in your college career and beyond.

You don't have to limit your answer to school experiences. Academic pursuits can grow from hobbies, travels, or personal experiences. Do you take on leadership roles in your religious community? Have you had a particularly influential summer job? As long as you relate the experience back to academics, you are golden.

You should also specify why ILR is the right college at Cornell for you to pursue these interests. What can you study at ILR that you can't study in Cornell's other colleges, such as the College of Arts and Sciences? It can be helpful to list specific courses or tracks of study at ILR that reflect your intellectual interests. Remember, the prompt specifically asks why ILR is your Cornell college of choice.

How to Write a Great Cornell Essay

Regardless of which Cornell essay prompt you're responding to, you should keep in mind the following tips for how to write a great Cornell essay.

#1: Use Your Own Voice

The point of a college essay is to give the admissions committee a chance to get to know you beyond your test scores, grades, and honors.

Your admissions essays are your opportunity to make yourself come alive for the essay readers and to present yourself as a fully fleshed-out person.

You should, then, make sure that the person you're presenting in your college essays is yourself. Don't try to emulate what you think the committee wants to hear or try to act like someone you're not.

If you lie or exaggerate, your essay will come across as insincere, which will diminish its effectiveness. Stick to telling real stories about the person you really are, not who you think Cornell wants you to be.

#2: Avoid Clichés and Overused Phrases

When writing your Cornell essay, try to avoid using clichés or overused quotes or phrases.

These include quotations that have been quoted to death and phrases or idioms that are overused in daily life. The college admissions committee has probably seen numerous essays from students who have grand plans to change the world. Only talk about changing the world if you have legitimate interests to back it up.

Strive for originality and avoid using clichés, which take away from the strength and sincerity of your work.

#3: Check Your Work

It should almost go without saying, but you want to make sure your Cornell essay is the strongest example of your work possible. Before you turn in your Cornell application, make sure to edit and proofread your essays.

Your work should be free of spelling and grammar errors. Make sure to run your essays through a spelling and grammar check before you submit.

It's a good idea to have someone else read your Cornell essay too. You can seek a second opinion on your work from a parent, teacher, or friend. Ask them whether your work represents you as a student and person. Have them check to make sure you haven't missed any small writing errors. Having a second opinion will help your work be the best it possibly can be.

Recap: Writing a Stellar Cornell Essay

The Cornell essay prompts give you a chance to really show the admissions committee who you are. Regardless of the question you're answering, remember to follow these basic dos and don'ts as you're writing:

• Be authentic and honest.
• Be specific when citing people, places, and things.
• Strive for brevity and clarity; less is more!
• Be yourself, and do your research—both will shine through in your essays!
• Base your essays on what you think the Cornell application committee wants to hear.
• Use clichés or broad sweeping statements.
• Try too hard to be funny and original. Be genuine and your positive attributes will be visible to the committee.

What's Next?

Are you working on the Common App essay as part of your application? Read our breakdown of the Common App prompts and our guide to picking the best prompt for you .

If you're planning to take the SAT or ACT as part of your application , try out some of our famous test prep guides, like " How to Get a Perfect Score on the SAT " and " 15 Key ACT Test Day Tips ."

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Cornell Supplemental Essays 2023-24 – Prompts and Advice

September 6, 2023

The 7.3% acceptance rate for Cornell’s Class of 2027 was just a touch higher than last year’s 6.9%; as late as 2003, the school still had as high as a 31% acceptance rate. Clearly, getting into Cornell in 2023-24 is a vastly different enterprise than earlier in the millennium. Even if you earned a 1450+ on the SAT and maintained straight A’s throughout a high school career littered with AP and honors courses, you still need to find a way to distinguish yourself from other high school superstars. Fortunately, Cornell’s supplemental essays present applicants with just the opportunity they need to showcase their unique personality, writing ability, passions, and talents.

(Want to learn more about How to Get Into Cornell University? Visit our blog entitled:  How to Get Into Cornell: Admissions Data and Strategies  for all of the most recent admissions data as well as tips for gaining acceptance.)

In addition to the required supplemental response for all applicants (new this year), each college within Cornell has its own essay requirement(s). Below, we examine the Cornell supplemental essays for the 2023-24 admissions cycle.

Cornell Supplemental Essays 2023-24

Required for all applicants:

In the aftermath of the U.S. Civil War, Ezra Cornell wrote, “I would found an institution where any person can find instruction in any study.” For over 150 years, Cornell University has remained deeply committed to Ezra’s vision. Explain how your life experiences will help inform your contributions to a learning community devoted to “…any person…any study.” We encourage you to think broadly about your life experiences, including how local (e.g., family, school, neighborhood) or global communities you’ve been part of have helped shape your perspective. (350 words)

Cornell is inviting you to share more about your background/identity/community through the lens of how that will impact your experience at the university. Take note of the wide-open nature of this prompt. You are essentially invited to talk about any of the following topics:

• A perspective you hold
• An experience/challenge you had
• A community you belong to
• Your cultural background
• Your religious background
• Your family background
• Your sexual orientation or gender identity

Although this prompt’s open floor plan may feel daunting, a good tactic is to first consider what has already been communicated within your Common App personal statement and activities list. What important aspect(s) of yourself have not been shared (or sufficiently discussed)? The admissions officer reading your essay is hoping to connect with you through your written words, so—within your essay’s reflection—be open, humble, thoughtful, inquisitive, emotionally honest, mature, and/or insightful about what you learned and how you grew.

You’ll then need to discuss how your background/identity/experiences will best allow you to contribute to Cornell’s “any person…any study” vision. Firstly, what does “any person…any study” mean to you? Defining that for yourself will enable you to more fully discuss how your background and life experiences will contribute to the University’s mission.

College of Agriculture and Life Sciences

Why are you drawn to studying the major you have selected? Please discuss how your interests and related experiences have influenced your choice. How will an education from the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (CALS) at Cornell University specifically serve to support your learning, growth, and the pursuit of your goals?(650 words)

There are 22 undergraduate majors and more than 40 minors within the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences. Obviously, the content of this essay is going to be quite different for a prospective American Indian Indigenous Studies major versus someone looking to study Biomedical Engineering. Firstly, you’ll need to discuss your motivations and past experiences related to your major of choice—how have you engaged with the subject, formally and/or informally? What drives you to pursue this course of study in college? Moreover, you’ll need to clearly lay out your academic and career goals, providing explicit evidence of why CALS is the ideal place to help you achieve them. For instance, this may involve researching the professors, courses , study abroad programs , undergraduate research opportunities , and student-run organizations relevant to your major of choice.

College of Architecture, Art, and Planning

What three words best describe you? (30 characters each)

No tricks here—you truly only need to choose three words for this response. As such, make sure those three words are pulling their weight. For example, “interesting, hard-working, dedicated” could likely describe any number of Cornell applicants. Instead, try to think of descriptive or evocative words that capture what makes you unique or what you most value—perhaps it’s your wit, your bibliophile tendencies, or your generosity, to name a few.

Cornell Supplemental Essays (Continued)

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 may want to consider how they could integrate a range of interests and available resources at Cornell into a coherent art practice. URS students may want to emphasize their enthusiasm and depth of interest in the study of urban and regional issues. (650 words)

There are five departments within the College of Architecture, Art, and Planning : Architecture. Art, City and Regional Planning, Real Estate, and Design Tech. Firstly, you’ll need to discuss your motivations and past experiences related to your major of choice—how have you engaged with the subject, formally and/or informally? What drives you to pursue this course of study in college? Moreover, you’ll need to clearly lay out your academic and career goals, providing explicit evidence of why Cornell AAP is the ideal place to help you achieve them. For instance, this may involve researching the professors , courses, study abroad programs , undergraduate research opportunities , and student-run organizations relevant to your major of choice. Note that the prompt provides specific guidance on what exactly should be addressed in the response depending on prospective major, so be sure to integrate that guidance into your essay.

College of Arts and Sciences – Cornell Supplemental Essays 

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. (650 words)

With 78 different majors and minors , the College of Arts and Sciences offers myriad opportunities for any student. As such, Cornell wants to see evidence of your drive, passion, and intellectual ambition as well as your specific plans for continuing to be academically engaged while in college. What are your current interests? How have you explored them inside and outside the classroom? How do you hope to continue pursuing them as an undergraduate? Great things to highlight here include:

• Departmental offerings , curriculum attributes , and/or specific courses offered in your discipline(s) of interest at Cornell.
• Undergraduate research opportunities  in the summer or during the school year as well as independent research you would like to conduct under faculty supervision.
• Cornell professors whose work/research/writings you find fascinating and how you might want to connect with them as an undergraduate.
• Last, explore academically focused  student organizations  at Cornell.

Cornell SC Johnson College of Business

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 (the Charles H. Dyson School of Applied Economics and Management or the Cornell Peter and Stephanie Nolan School of Hotel Administration). (650 words)

To stand out as an applicant to Dyson or the School of Hotel Administration , applicants need to show that they have availed themselves of every opportunity to dive into the business world during their high school years. Of course, not everyone has parents who hand them money to invest in the stock market or hook them up with a Goldman Sachs internship in ninth grade. Relevant experiences can include high school investing clubs, participation in activities like FBLA, summer programs/courses in business/finance/economics, running your own local small business or e-business (Etsy, landscaping, etc.), or just a regular old retail job. From there, and as a result of your experiences, what topics or issues are you interested in? How do you plan to explore said issues or topics at Cornell? You might consider citing departmental/curricular attributes , specific courses, research opportunities , and/or experiential learning opportunities, among others.

College of Engineering – Cornell Supplemental Essays 

Instructions: All applicants are required to write two supplemental essays. Each has a limit of 250 words. Essay 1 is required of all applicants. For Essay 2, you must choose between Question A and Question B.

Essay 1 Required for all engineering applicants

How do your interests directly connect with Cornell Engineering? If you have an intended major, what draws you to that department at Cornell Engineering?  If you are unsure what specific engineering field you would like to study, describe how your general interest in engineering most directly connects with Cornell Engineering. It may be helpful to concentrate on one or two things that you are most excited about. (250 words)

For the “Why Cornell Engineering?” prompt, refer to our recommendation above for the College of Arts & Sciences essay. Do your homework. Tell Cornell about the departments , courses , professors , facilities , research opportunities , and unique programs that make their College of Engineering your top choice. In addition, be sure to follow their advice and focus on one or two things that you are most excited about vs. trying to squeeze in a laundry list of offerings.

Essay 2 Choose either Question A or Question B. (250 word limit)

• Question A: Describe an engineering problem that impacts your local community. This could be your school, neighborhood, town, region, or a group you identify with. Describe one to three things you might do as an engineer to solve the problem.
• Question B: Diversity in all forms is intrinsic to excellence in engineering. Engineering the best solutions to complex problems is often achieved by drawing from the diverse ingenuity of people from different backgrounds, lived experiences, and identities. How do you see yourself contributing to the diversity and/or the inclusion of the Cornell Engineering community? What is the unique voice you would bring to the Cornell Engineering community?

Question A is, in many ways, a quintessential engineering prompt. It is truly as simple as identifying a problem and proposing a solution. However, you’ll want to follow Cornell’s guidance and focus on a problem that manifests in your local community. For example, this could involve something in the realm of:

• Climate change
• Energy efficiency
• Pandemic management/data tracking
• Infrastructure
• Sustainability
• Rethinking how cities and towns look and work
• Safeguarding personal data

Question B choice may be challenging to answer in a deeply meaningful way if you are not a member of an underrepresented group with respect to ethnicity, religion, gender, or sexual identity. If this one doesn’t “sing” to you, it’s best to stick with Question A. If you do select Option B, you’ll also want to be sure that it does not overlap with the required essay for all Cornell applicants, which also has to do with your background and life experiences.

Engineering Short Answer Questions (Required)

See advice under the College of Architecture, Art, and Planning.

What are three words you would use to describe Cornell Engineering?

Before attempting to answer this question, make sure to do your research. Read through the School’s mission statement as well as the departmental websites, diversity goals, research initiatives, and student life offerings. What stands out to you most about Cornell’s program as a whole? Then, do your best to capture that in three words.

College of Human Ecology

How have your related experiences influenced your decision to apply to the College of Human Ecology (CHE)? How will your choice of major impact your goals and plans for the future? Your response should show us that your interests and aspirations align with CHE and your choice of major.  (650 words)

The direction of your essay will be guided by your choice of major within the College of Human Ecology . For example, the content will look substantively different for a Fashion Design and Management major versus a Nutritional Sciences applicant. Regardless of your area of study, the prompt seeks to get the heart of why you’re interested in your particular field and where you see your education/career moving forward. In summary, speak honestly about your goals for the future and how your major will help you achieve them. Along the way, be sure to cite specific CHE offerings like courses , professors , research initiatives , student organizations , and/or special programs.

School of Industrial and Labor Relations

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. (650 words)

Labor relations is not exactly the most common topic for a 17-year-old to fall in love with. Therefore, there is probably a pretty interesting story behind your desire to pursue the ILR path. Given that this major is an intersection of areas like business, economics, government, history, law, and public policy, among others—your interest in Cornell’s ILR program may have been sparked by traditional classroom learning. Or, on the other hand, perhaps the spark was the experience of a friend or relative. Perhaps it was even something you have been following in the news (e.g., Starbucks workers trying to unionize). Above all, let your passion and commitment for this field shine through in your composition, and be sure to cite ILR offerings that will allow you to pursue your interests even more deeply, such as the curriculum structure , research opportunities , internships , or student organizations , among others.

Brooks School of Public Policy

Why are you drawn to studying public policy? Drawing on your experiences, tell us about why you are interested in your chosen major and how attending the Brooks School will help you achieve your life goals. (650 words)

At Brooks, you can pursue one of two majors: Public Policy or Healthcare Policy . As such, in this essay, you’ll want to be sure to communicate why you’re interested in your major of choice. What related experiences have you had? How have you explored your interests and curiosities inside and outside the classroom? Most importantly, how do you hope to continue pursuing them as an undergraduate? Great things to highlight here include departmental offerings , specific courses, research opportunities , faculty members , student life , and/or experiential learning opportunities of interest.

Want Personalized Coaching with your Cornell Supplemental Essays?

In conclusion, if you are interested in working with one of College Transitions’ experienced and knowledgeable essay coaches as you craft your Cornell supplemental essays, we encourage you to  get a quote  today.

• College Essay

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A licensed counselor and published researcher, Andrew's experience in the field of college admissions and transition spans two decades. He has previously served as a high school counselor, consultant and author for Kaplan Test Prep, and advisor to U.S. Congress, reporting on issues related to college admissions and financial aid.

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“Why Cornell” Supplemental Essay Examples

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• college application essays
• essay topic
• essay intros

The “Why Us” supplemental essay is one of the trickiest college application essays to write. Applying to Cornell? Here are 5 successful Why Cornell essay excerpts. 

Cornell University only requires one additional writing supplement—the “Why Cornell” supplemental essay. Applicants are asked to share why they are interested in studying at Cornell and are asked to respond to the specific essay prompt from the undergraduate college or school they are applying to. Cornell University has a total of 8 undergraduate colleges/schools: 

• College of Agriculture and Life Sciences
• College of Architecture, Art and Planning
• College of Arts and Sciences
• Cornell SC College of Business: Dyson School of Applied Economics and Management
• Cornell SC College of Business: School of Hotel Administration 
• College of Engineering
• College of Human Ecology
• School of Industrial and Labor Relations 

Each of the colleges/schools listed above have a unique supplemental essay prompt. Here are 5 examples for 4 of the schools listed above: 

Cornell University ‘21

For the School of Industrial and Labor Relations:

Like the Strait, I’m a fluid connective body, but instead of serving as natural barrier or political divide, I seek to reconcile strained relations. Given my strong interests in cross-cultural mediation, inclination to manage disputes, coursework in interdisciplinary social sciences, and leadership and employment positions, I seek “to solve human problems [and] manage and resolve conflicts” within Cornell’s School of Industrial and Labor Relations (ILR). Read his full “Why Cornell” supplemental essay!

Cornell University ‘20

For the College of Engineering:

I must have wanted to be an engineer long before I knew what the word meant. On almost every fork we own, the middle two prongs are pulled half an inch back, a homage to a time before I became strong enough to open a soda can and resorted to making a lever with a fork. I tore through thousands of plastic bags, searching for the perfect cut that would allow me to parachute off a self-made cliff of couch cushions and pillows. Unlock her full successful Cornell application file.  

Cornell2021

People in my community believe the only way to be successful is to pursue medicine or engineering and arts are looked down upon here.I have a science background but am also interested in the deeper questions of existence, such as one encounters in philosophy. I don’t want to let go of my passions. Instead, I want to study at Cornell, where, far from being looked down upon, interdisciplinary study that includes the liberal arts are treasured through its unique independent study option, independent major, and distributional requirement system which will give me freedom in designing my curriculum and will let me explore a wide range of fields, from philosophy to literature. Continue reading his Why Cornell supplemental essay.  

For the School of Hotel Administration:

I am an anomaly among my peers. While many of them wrestle with the uncertainty of not knowing what they want to do or be in the future, I have always known. Even in elementary school, when the popular options were superhero or sports legend, I had altogether different aspirations. If you had asked me then, my answer would be the same as it is today: I want to work in the hospitality industry. Unlock his full successful Cornell application file.  

For the College of Arts and Sciences:

I am interested in working with the UN to give researchers in developing countries access to a uniform and politically acceptable set of translation and ethical guidelines. This ensures that work conducted in developing or recently industrialized countries will not be dismissed due to doubts about the way it was conducted or a language barrier. To accomplish my goals of bringing the international scientific community closer together, I will need to study my intellectual interests of biology, foreign languages, and international relations. I am confident that Cornell’s College of Arts and Sciences will be the perfect place to pursue my goals.

———

Interested in reading successful essay examples that got students accepted into the Cornell University? Unlock all of them in one go with  our curated package .

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About The Author

Frances was born in Hong Kong and received her bachelor’s degree from Georgetown University. She loves super sad drama television, cooking, and reading. Her favorite person on Earth isn’t actually a member of the AdmitSee team - it’s her dog Cooper.

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Cornell University 2020-21 Supplemental Essay Prompt Guide

Regular Decision: 

Cornell University 2020-21 Application Essay Question Explanations

The Requirements: 1 school-specific essay of 650 words

Supplemental Essay Type(s): Why

College of Agriculture and Life Sciences : Why are you drawn to studying the major you have selected? Please discuss how your interests and related experiences have influenced your choice. Specifically, how will an education from the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (CALS) and Cornell University help you achieve your academic goals?

With such a specific professional focus, the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences is asking for an equally specific commitment from you. Make sure you have real concrete reasons and practical experiences to back up your chosen course of study. Why couldn’t you just pursue your interests in a more general liberal arts environment?

College of Architecture, Art, and Planning : What is your “thing”? What energizes you or engages you so deeply that you lose track of time? Everyone has different passions, obsessions, quirks, inspirations. What are yours? 

If you’re having déjà vu, maybe this will jog your memory: “Describe a topic, idea, or concept you find so engaging that it makes you lose all track of time.” It’s the first line of Common App prompt #6 . So if you’ve already written an essay on this topic, you have the extra challenge of coming up with something totally new; even if it’s the same question, you need to show a new side of who you are. Otherwise, our advice remains the same: take this opportunity to let admissions peek into your brain. As a future artist or architect, you need to show that you have a process for getting inspired and playing with ideas; and you need to demonstrate the discipline and motivation to see them through in your response.

College of Arts and Sciences : Students in Arts and Sciences embrace the opportunity to delve into their academic interests, discover new realms of intellectual inquiry, and chart their own path through the College. Tell us why the depth, breadth, and flexibility of our curriculum are ideally suited to exploring the areas of study that excite you. 

This why essay for the College of Arts and Sciences focuses specifically on their curriculum. So our first piece of advice is the same as always: do your research. Spend a little time on the school website, campus, or local Cornell events to learn everything you can about the academic experience. Cornell’s College of Arts and Sciences is the most general of Cornell’s offerings, so take this opportunity to show your well-rounded worth. Why have you chosen not to pursue a more specific or professionally-oriented pathway at this point? What will you gain from having access to a diverse array of academic departments?

Cornell SC Johnson College of Business: What kind of a business student are you? The Cornell SC Johnson College of Business offers two distinct business programs, the Charles H. Dyson School of Applied Economics and Management and the School of Hotel Administration. Please describe how your interests and ambitions can be met through one or both of the Schools within the College.

Business College hopefuls have also been tasked with writing a why essay, but in this case, it’s more about your fit than the schools’ offerings. Show how your own goals and interests align with the school’s programs and opportunities. But more importantly, demonstrate how your background and pathway to business school sets you apart from your peers. You’ll need to learn how to write a good value proposition eventually, so consider this essay your first foray into marketing — what are your passions when it comes to business, and which Cornell program will help you best achieve your goals?

College of Engineering: Tell us about what excites you most about Cornell Engineering and/or studying engineering at Cornell University. How do you see yourself becoming a part of the Cornell Engineering community?  

The first part of this is a version of the classic Why essay: Why do you want to study engineering a Cornell? The second part is a classic Community essay: How will you assimilate into the Cornell community (bonus points if you can touch on how you will contribute to the community!). 

So, first things first: You can get an engineering degree at thousands of schools across the country, so why are you so keen to study engineering at Cornell, specifically? Remember that your choices here aren’t set in stone, so don’t stress over your vision; just show that you’ve done your research. Maybe you fell head over heels for Cornell when you joined your older brother on his campus visit while you were still in grade school. Maybe there’s an alum who is doing what you aspire to do, and you want to follow in their footsteps! Whatever it is that draws you to Cornell, admissions wants you to describe that motivation and then connect it to your aspirations. 

Now onto the second part: Cornell wants to know how you will become part of the Cornell Engineering community. Maybe you can’t wait to join a Project Team and use the skills you learned in robotics class to help your team build space exploration vehicles. Perhaps you can’t wait to discuss the limitations (or lack thereof) of quantum physics with your fellow nerds. Whatever your reasoning may be, make it personal and you’ll be sure to impress admissions.

College of Human Ecology: How have your experiences influenced your decision to apply to the College of Human Ecology. How will your choice of major impact your goals and plans for the future?

Short, sweet, and to the point, this prompt secretly wants to make sure you know what human ecology is before you apply. Unlike many of Cornell’s specific schools, this one doesn’t necessarily flow directly into a particular career path so it’s important for you to demonstrate that you have a plan before committing to such a focused course of study.

College of Industrial and Labor Relations: 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.

What subject could you talk about for hours on end with your friends, family, or even a complete stranger? Maybe it’s the need for legislation on regulating toxic chemicals in everything from our cosmetics to our food and water sources. Perhaps it’s the impending water crisis, and the public policy that you believe would change the way Americans use and think about water. With this prompt, it’s a good idea that you touch on when or where your passion first began, how it developed over time, and how you are planning to pursue this issue or interest at Cornell. This prompt gives you a wonderful opportunity to reveal something new about yourself through discussing your enthusiastic engagement with a given issue; in the process, you will showcase your curious, well-rounded nature to admissions — and huzzah for that!

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How to write the 2021-22 Supplemental Essays for Cornell University?

Cornell’s essays are a little different from the rest. The Cornell supplementary essay, invites you to apply to a specific institution and allows you 650 words to describe your 

Cornell only accepted 8.7% of their overall application pool for the 2020-2021 entrance season. You must create outstanding Cornell essays as part of your Cornell University application in order to be one of the students who is admitted.

We’ll go through the many sorts of essays you’ll need to write for your Cornell University application in this post, as well as how to create a Cornell supplement essay that will help you stand out among the thousands of other candidates.

What should be the Primary goal of your supplemental essay?

Before you begin writing, consider your future as a Cornell student. Make sure to write about the subject or field of study that you are now passionate about, even if your interests may shift after you begin college. Authenticity is essential in every college applications essay. You may have a wide range of academic interests, but for this essay, focus on what you know best and are most enthusiastic about. In addition, your proposed topic must align with the college’s fields of study.

Simply because of the word limit, the Cornell essay questions allow you to express yourself and offer a fuller image of who you are as a student and individual. Take use of the fact that you can express a lot in 650 words. 

You’ll need phrases that are exceedingly tight and clear. Clarity and direct responses to this type of writing will win you the game, and we’re here to help you along the way. Our team of professionals will assist you in creating the greatest version of yourself possible.

Make an appointment for a free counselling session with us.

What are the Cornell supplemental essays’ prompts ?

In the online Common Application Writing Supplement, please respond to the essay question below (maximum of 650 words) that corresponds to the undergraduate college or school to which you are applying.

• College of Agriculture and Life Sciences: Why are you drawn to studying the major you have selected? Please discuss how your interests and related experiences have influenced your choice. Specifically, how will an education from the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (CALS) and Cornell University help you achieve your academic goals? (650 words)

How to write this?

For such a narrow professional emphasis, the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences expects you to make an equally focused commitment. Ensure your selected course of study is supported by real-world evidence and practical experience. Why not explore your interests in a more comprehensive liberal arts setting?

• College of Architecture, Art, and Planning:  What is your “thing”? What energizes you or engages you so deeply that you lose track of time? Everyone has different passions, obsessions, quirks, inspirations. What are yours? (650 words)

You must write about your genuine passions for the College of Architecture, Art, and Planning. Writing a fantastic essay requires demonstrating your passions, no matter how specialised. Favourite artists, architects, or artworks that impacted your creative practise can all be examples of these interests. Do you have any creative processes that you use to get ideas? What are some examples of prior events that helped you to follow your interests? Next, choose the aspects of this college that pique your interest, such as programmes, instructors, or extracurricular activities that will complement your academic goals.

• College of Arts and Sciences: Students in Arts and Sciences embrace the opportunity to delve into multifaceted academic interests, embodying in 21st century terms Ezra Cornell’s “any person…any study” founding vision. Tell us about the areas of study you are excited to explore, and specifically why you wish to pursue them in our College. (650 words)

Do some study before you put pen to paper. Learn everything you can about the academic offerings, culture, and curriculum by spending some time on the school’s website, on campus, or at local Cornell activities. Because Cornell’s College of Arts and Sciences is the most diverse of the university’s colleges, use this chance to demonstrate your versatility. Why haven’t you opted to take a more focused or career-oriented path at this point? What are the advantages of having access to a wide range of academic departments? What about a Cornell Arts and Sciences education really appeals to you?

• Cornell SC Johnson College of Business: 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(s) to which you are applying within the Cornell SC Johnson College of Business (Dyson School and/or School of Hotel Administration) (650 words)

Business College applicants have also been required to write a why essay, but this time the focus is on your personality rather than the schools’ offers. Demonstrate how your own objectives and interests correspond to the school’s programmes and possibilities. Show how your experience and journey to business school set you distinct from your peers. Consider this essay your first excursion into

marketing—what business challenges do you care about, why are they important to you, and which Cornell programme will help you handle them and achieve your objectives?

• College of Engineering:

Instructions: Applicants must write responses to two of the three essay options. They may choose which two prompts they write about—their choice. Each response is limited to a maximum of 200 words.

• Engineering is inherently collaborative. What does collaboration mean to you? What strengths do you bring to the collaborative process?
• For you, what makes Cornell Engineering special? Why do you want to attend Cornell Engineering?
• Diversity in all definitional forms is intrinsic to excellence in engineering. Indeed, devising the best engineered solutions to complex problems is often achieved by drawing from the diverse ingenuity of people from broadly different backgrounds, lived experiences, and identities. How do you see yourself contributing to the diversity and inclusion of the Cornell Engineering community? What is the unique voice you would bring to the Cornell Engineering community?

How to write it?

You should try to emphasise your teamwork and problem-solving talents for the College of Engineering– what specific occasion displays your top-notch qualities as an applicant? Write about what you want to study and academics whose research interests are similar to yours to demonstrate your love for

engineering! As a Cornell engineering student, you will have several opportunities to participate in team-building activities, therefore include instances of your skills as a team player. Begin by looking at extracurricular activities and opportunities, such as multidisciplinary programmes that allow students to apply what they’ve learned in the classroom to real-world situations. Building water treatment plant technologies or collaborating with World Health to make a significant difference are just a few examples. Engineering project teams, which represent 14 engineering disciplines and participate in national and international competitions, are particularly well-known at Cornell.

• College of Human Ecology: How has your decision to apply to the College of Human Ecology been influenced by your related experiences? How will your choice of major impact your goals and plans for the future? (650 words)

This challenge wants to make sure you know what human ecology is before you apply, so it’s brief and to the point. Unlike many of Cornell’s specialty schools, this one does not necessarily lead to a certain professional route, so you must demonstrate that you have a goal before enrolling in such a concentrated programme.

School of Industrial and Labor Relations: 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. (650 words)

The ILR School’s curriculum are very distinctive, so whether you’re considering law school or public policy, this college could be the right fit for you! The school is well-known for using economics to analyse human behaviour in order to better understand how to enhance social efficiency. As a result, when this prompt asks you to write about your prior experiences, it indicates that you should concentrate on the big picture rather than the specific event. Discuss the greatest instances of your critical thinking and problem-solving abilities from your life.! You’ll want to link your experiences and

interests to your potential course of study at the School of Industrial and Labor Relations once you’ve talked about them. Read about ILR’s programme and curriculum, and explain why you agree with the school’s objective of using social science to better understand work, employment, and labour.

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