Cornell University’s supplemental essays 2024

The Cornell University supplement asks you to answer one general essay question and then one essay that differs depending on the specific college you are applying to within the university. Below, please find AcceptU’s advice on answering the different prompts:

In the online Common Application Writing Supplement for those applying for Fall 2025 entry, please respond to both the Cornell University essay question and the essay prompt that corresponds to the undergraduate college or school to which you are applying.

Cornell University Essay Question

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

Remember that this essay is about you and your lived experience. Define community in the way that is most meaningful to you. Some examples of community you might choose from are: family, school, shared interest, virtual, local, global, cultural. (350 word limit)

The question asks you to share how you have been shaped by one of the communities to which you belong – thus, your first task is to identify those communities! We all belong to some communities: for example, your school, city, perhaps a religious organization, a club at school, or even your colleagues at your part-time job. These are all valid and acceptable communities to write about – in fact, Cornell even suggests some of these for you. If you feel like one of these communities is important to you, you should consider writing about it. But don’t just describe the community (although you should do that); you also need to discuss how you have had an impact on others in that community, or – as the prompt asks – how that community has had an impact on you.

What have you learned about yourself from being a part of this community? How have you changed or grown as a person? What lessons have you learned? If you can’t answer these questions, then you should choose a different community.

Keep in mind that a lot of applicants will likely choose an “obvious” community, so don’t be afraid to choose a more unusual or unique community that is meaningful to you: perhaps it’s an online book club where the other readers live all over the country or world; or maybe it’s a summer theater program where you are in charge of ticket sales, but have gained a passion for on-stage performances from the actors; or maybe it’s a film club where you and the others watch films together and then write critiques for a blog. The more unique your community, the more you could stand out from the crowd – it’s not imperative, but something you might want to think about.

Just remember to be authentic and let Cornell know who you are.

College- and School-Specific Essay Questions

College of Agriculture and Life Sciences

Required: By applying to Cornell’s College of Agriculture of Life Sciences (CALS), you are also applying for direct entry into one of our 20+ majors. From here, you would be part of a community dedicated to purpose-driven science; working within your major and across disciplines to tackle the complex challenges of our time.

Why are you drawn to studying the major you have selected and specifically, why do you want to pursue this major at Cornell CALS? You should share how your current interests, related experiences, and/or goals influenced your choice. (500-word limit)

This is a very important and critical essay for CALS. In short, you are to let the college know what you would like to study and why. You’ll also need to support that interest with evidence: What classes have you taken that have prepared you for this major? What extracurricular or summer experiences have led you to this interest? CALS is unique at Cornell in that applicants are accepted into a particular major in addition to a particular college (CALS). Students can change majors in the first two years if the chosen area of study is not right for a student, but CALS is looking for students who are very passionate about the chosen field of study and can articulate that passion.

Optional: At Cornell CALS, we aim to leave the world better than we found it, so we seek out those who are passionate about serving the public good. Please elaborate on an experience where you were able to have a meaningful impact on people, a community, and/or an environment of importance to you. (100-word limit)

This question is entirely optional, but it is recommended that you answer the question if you have an appropriate response. The fact that it is a short essay (at 100 words maximum) indicates that the college is not looking for students to elaborate for several pages on their community impact, but instead, you’ll need to be concise in sharing the impact you have made. Perhaps you founded a club at your school, or started a recycling program in your town, or volunteered at a senior center. Your impact does not have to be related to your major, but it certainly does not hurt if that is the case!

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.).

This question is also optional and genuinely only pertains to those students with a connection to an agricultural entity – that is, those who grew up on a farm or ranch (or similar), or those who intend to work, after graduation, in the agricultural sector. Your agricultural experience (or future intention) needs to be related to soil sciences, plants, animals and livestock, or crops. It will not be held against you if you do not answer this question, however, CALS wants to bring into its community those who match this description.

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. (650 word limit)

This is a very important question for Cornell AAP applicants – note that there are no tricks involved! It is very straightforward: Why do you want to pursue, respectively, either architecture, art or urban studies?

This question is typical of many other colleges’ supplemental essays (including some other colleges at Cornell): Discuss your passion for the subject you want to study, but also describe your preparedness. Highlight your courses completed and any extracurricular experiences or summer programs or internships that align with your interests. AAP is a very small college within a large university, and the college wants to ensure that students are passionate about their intended area of study.

For architecture and art applicants, your portfolio, in addition to this essay response, will be a critical part of your evaluation.

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)

This is a very important question for Cornell A&S applicants – note that there are no tricks involved! It is very straightforward: What do you want to study and why? You can name a major, if you know precisely what you’d like to study, or name a few majors that have piqued your interest. If you’re undecided, that is totally fine, as long as you are not profoundly undecided; that is, you should have a few areas of study in mind. 

As the prompt suggests, discuss your passion for the subject you want to study, as well as your preparedness – highlight your courses completed and any extracurricular experiences, summer programs or internships that have led you to your academic interests. And be sure to answer the question asked (how you would take advantage of A&S): You should also consider courses or professors or research in Arts & Sciences that you have discovered and that excite you.

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)

This is a very important question for Brooks applicants – note that there are no tricks involved! It is very straightforward: Why do you want to study public policy? What are the courses that excite you? What are your aspirations in this field? What experiences to date have prepared you for, and interested you in, public policy? It’s a very specialized, and fairly new, school at Cornell, so it’s imperative that you highlight how you are a match for the academics offered, and how you’ll contribute meaningfully to the classroom.

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)

It is critical that you explain not just why you want to study business, but how you want to study business at Cornell.

Are you more interested in management and general business, or have your interests led you to study the application of business towards the hospitality and tourism industry? The SC Johnson College of Business has two undergraduate schools (Dyson and Nolan), and you’ll need to articulate how you are an excellent fit for the school to which you apply. The strongest candidates will describe their experiences – including relevant internships, volunteerism or school clubs – and demonstrate they are excellent candidates.

College of Engineering

All engineering applicants are required to write two long essays and four short essays. Long Essay Responses (200 word limit)

Question 1: Fundamentally, engineering is the application of math, science, and technology to solve complex problems. Why do you want to study engineering?

This is similar to most of the Cornell colleges’ essays – it is a straightforward question where you need to describe what you want to study and why. Note that the question doesn’t explicitly ask you to indicate your intended major; if you happen to know the major that interests you most, you should include that and describe why you’re likely to pursue that field of study. If you don’t know exactly which field of engineering you’ll study, that’s okay too – but you should narrow it down to a couple areas that most interest you.

Regardless, don’t lose sight of the question: Why do you want to study engineering, and solve complex problems? What excites you when it comes to technology? Perhaps you want to talk about your career or graduate school goals and aspirations (lightly). Or maybe you’ll talk about a particular story from your own life experiences. The best advice we can give you? You should probably avoid talking about LEGOs.

Question 2: Why do you think you would love to study at Cornell Engineering?

This is another long essay for the College of Engineering – although “long” is relative, as it is only 200 words. Here is your chance to show off what you know about Cornell Engineering – perhaps you’ve visited campus, or taken a summer course (online or in-person) at CU. Or maybe you’ve done some research into the types of courses, faculty or facilities at the College of Engineering. Show how you’re a great fit or match for this division at the university by providing specific examples and tying them back to you.

Short Answer Responses (100 word limit)

Question 1: What brings you joy?

You only have 100 words – make the most of them! Be honest, be authentic. Cornell is not looking for you to write what you think the university wants to hear; instead, the admissions committee just wants to know what brings you joy. You’ll also need to elaborate by including why X brings you joy.

And what is X for you? Is it an action? A feeling? An event? A hobby? It does not have to tie into STEM, but – if it can – that certainly could be interesting to the admissions committee.

Question 2: What do you believe you will contribute to the Cornell Engineering community beyond what you’ve already detailed in your application? What unique voice will you bring?

This question provides you with an opportunity to talk about your place in your community (however you define community). Perhaps it’s an angle or perspective you bring that is always different from others’. If that is the case, why do you think that is so? Or maybe your background, upbringing, location or even culture helps you bring a unique voice. Whatever the case, how will you contribute meaningfully to the engineering college? Remember that you already have to write a sizable “community” essay for Cornell, regardless of the college to which you apply, so be sure to provide a new side of yourself.

Question 3: What is one activity, club, team, organization, work/volunteer experience or family responsibility that is especially meaningful to you? Please briefly tell us about its significance for you.

This is an opportunity to tell more about you and what you will bring to the College of Engineering. Again, you do not need to provide a STEM-related answer, unless that is indeed the most meaningful activity to you. Even talking about, say, your responsibilities at home in your family – perhaps you are caring for an elderly grandparent – says a lot about you, and so does working with others as an editor of the newspaper at your school.

If your activity is STEM-focused, realize that so many other applicants will possibly have a similar answer (like Girls Who Code or the robotics team or Science Olympiad). For your response to stand out, you’ll have to provide a new angle as to what you’ve gained from participating in that activity. How have you grown or changed? What have you learned about yourself? How have you influenced or had an impact on others? What did you accomplish within this STEM-related activity that is unique or impressive compared to others who also have been involved in this type of activity?

Question 4: What is one award you have received or achievement you have attained that has meant the most to you? Please briefly describe its importance to you.

This answer should be, in many ways, similar to the other short answers above. That is, feel free to highlight a STEM award if it meant the most to you, but don’t be afraid to share another type of achievement as well. Any award you receive – whether it’s an athletic award, a volunteer award, a book award, in addition to STEM awards – tells a lot about who you are, and where you’ve dedicated your time, energy and effort.

College of Human Ecology

How has your decision to apply to the College of Human Ecology (CHE) been shaped and informed by your related experiences? How will what you learn through CHE and your chosen major impact your goals and plans for the future? Your response should demonstrate how your interests and aspirations align with CHE’s programs and mission. (650 word limit)

It is important to know and understand what CHE offers before you start writing your essay. You should study, explore and visit, either online or in-person, this very unique and special college within Cornell. Which major in Human Ecology interests you? If you are undecided, you’ll want to narrow down a couple majors within CHE that match your background.

Human Ecology offers incredible, and incredibly unique, majors and espouses a philosophy that is contemporary, applied and interdisciplinary. How does the educational philosophy of CHE match your own ideas and ideals? What do you hope to pursue after receiving a degree from CHE? How will CHE help you achieve those goals? Think about these questions as you write your response. 

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 School of Industrial and Labor Relations is very unique in higher education! You will not find too many similar schools within universities, especially for undergraduate students, so – like a few of the other specialized programs at Cornell – it is best to visit online or in person to know if ILR is right for you. 

ILR can be considered, among other things, a school for applied social sciences: Students who love history, economics, government, policy and legal studies can thrive in this school. Many of the students go on to careers in law after ILR, but others become statisticians, policy makers, educators, human resource experts or labor union leaders (to name a few). If you have a passion for any of these fields, and you have summer or school-year experiences that align with ILR, you’ll want to describe them in your ILR essay. Be sure to describe what you care most about (academically speaking) and share with the admissions committee why this matters to you.