Cornell University

Overview

Cornell sits above Cayuga Lake in Ithaca, a small city in upstate New York, roughly a four-hour drive from Toronto. It is a private university, but several of its colleges are contract colleges supported by New York State, which is why Cornell is often described as part private and part public. For an applicant, the key fact is structural: you apply to one specific undergraduate college or school, such as Engineering, Agriculture and Life Sciences, or Arts and Sciences, and each writes its own supplemental question and sets its own expectations.

How to apply for 2026-27

Cornell uses the Common Application, with the Cornell supplement completed inside it.

Some programs, such as architecture and design, need a portfolio or design supplement by the first date in each row. Check your chosen college's page early, because those materials take weeks to assemble.

Testing policy

Cornell's first-year page says you are required to submit SAT or ACT scores when applying. International applicants must also show English proficiency. If you studied in English throughout high school in Canada, read Cornell's criteria to see whether an exemption applies to you; if you studied in French, expect to need a test.

Financial aid for international students

Cornell describes its international admission process as need-aware: interest in or need for financial aid is one factor among many in the decision. The deadline rule is strict. International students who expect to need aid must apply for it by November 1 for Early Decision or January 2 for Regular Decision. Cornell states that if you do not apply by the posted deadline, you will not be eligible for financial aid at any time as an undergraduate.

Two-step deadlines

Cornell splits each round into two dates: the application, fee and any portfolio first, and everything else, such as recommendations and the school report, about two weeks later. That gives your school a little breathing room, but do not count on the second date for your own parts. Submit the Common App and pay the fee by November 1 or January 2, then use the following days to confirm your counsellor and teachers have uploaded their documents.

Choosing a college and preparing

Because the college you choose affects both your essay and your courses, research it like a separate school. A student drawn to biology could fit in Arts and Sciences or in Agriculture and Life Sciences, with different requirements. Our biology readiness deck and chemistry readiness deck help with the science foundations many Cornell programs assume. For the bigger picture, see the StudyBrix United States guide.