Admissions requirements and process

As a student in the College of Arts & Sciences, you will live at the center of an academic community that is constantly generating new ideas. You will learn from excellent teachers who will challenge you to expand your imagination, while you sharpen your critical and creative responses to all encounters. And you will join a group of impressive, independent and diverse thinkers, who will help you forge your own path to discovery and transformation.

Undergraduate Admissions Requirements:

As you prepare to apply to the College of Arts & Sciences, please review the following requirements for First-Year Students:

A&S requires the following High School Coursework:

• 4 units of English
• 3 units of Mathematics (including pre-calculus)
• 3 units of Science
• 3 units of one foreign language (For heritage speakers or students who have initiated a foreign language sequence before high school: completion of at least the third level (e.g. Spanish 3))
• Also recommended: an additional unit of advanced mathematics and science.

In addition to the Common Application (CA), A&S requires the following Application Materials:

• Official Secondary/High School Transcript followed by a Mid-Year Report when it becomes available
• Counselor Recommendation and School Report
• 2 Teacher Evaluations
• Test Scores:
  • For Fall 2025 applicants to the College of Arts & Sciences, the submission of SAT/ACT test results is recommended for both Early Decision and Regular Decision.
  • For Fall 2026 applicants to the College of Arts & Sciences, the submission of SAT/ACT test results is required for both Early Decision and Regular Decision.
  • International students: You may be asked to submit results from an English language proficiency exam.

  Supplemental Materials

  Undergraduate applicants to the College of Arts & Sciences who believe that their musical abilities will enhance their application (regardless of their intended major) are encouraged to supplement their applications with music recordings. All recordings must be electronic, no longer than 10 minutes in length, and highlight the applicant. All recordings submitted through the Department of Music’s online portal are evaluated by Cornell faculty for our Admissions Committee.

  With the exception of musical recordings, the College of Arts & Sciences does not review art portfolios, films, creative writing samples, academic papers, or other supplemental materials provided outside the parameters of the Common Application.

  Interviews

  The College of Arts & Sciences does not require, nor offer, on-campus interviews. Due to the high volume of applications we receive each year, we are unable to extend an interview to every candidate and thus, in the interest of fairness and equity, interviews are not part of our Admissions process. To learn about the university and our programs, we encourage you explore Cornell's Virtual Visit information, watch our 4-part virtual information session, meet some of our most recent graduates, and explore our academic departments.

  Have additional questions about undergraduate admissions?

  Call us at 607-255-4833.

  Ask a current Arts & Sciences Cornell student about academics, clubs and activities, or life in Ithaca.