Cornell Supplemental Essays Guide (2025–2026)

Cornell is huge, but the admissions philosophy is very personal. They want students who know why they belong in a specific school, not just at Cornell in general.

Your job is to show alignment, reflection, and direction.

ALL UNDERGRADUATE APPLICANTS

Community Essay (350 words)

Prompt:
Share how you’ve been shaped by one of the communities you belong to.

This is a you-focused essay, not a description of the community itself.

Strong essays:
• define community clearly
• focus on lived experience
• show growth or perspective shift

Community can be:
• family
• cultural
• academic
• online
• interest-based
• local or global

What matters most is how it shaped how you think, act, or relate to others.

COLLEGE-SPECIFIC GUIDES

College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (CALS)

Three Words

Choose words that actually show up in your application. Simple and honest beats impressive and empty.

Why CALS Major Essay (500 words)

CALS is about purpose-driven science.

Focus on:
• why this major
• how your interests developed
• why Cornell CALS specifically

Strong essays connect:
• academic curiosity
• hands-on learning
• impact on real-world problems

Optional short answers should reinforce your interests, not introduce random new ones.

College of Architecture, Art, and Planning (AAP) (650 words)

This essay should show creative intention.

Architecture applicants should highlight how making or designing fuels their motivation.
Art applicants should explain how different interests come together into one practice.
URS applicants should emphasize depth of interest in urban issues.

Show how Cornell’s resources help you grow creatively and intellectually.

College of Arts and Sciences (650 words)

Prompt:
Discuss how your passion for learning is shaping your academic journey.

This is an intellectual curiosity essay.

Focus on:
• what excites you academically
• how your interests connect or evolve
• how you would explore them at Cornell

Avoid listing courses without reflection. Cornell wants thinkers, not planners.

Jeb E. Brooks School of Public Policy

This essay should clearly answer:
• why policy
• why now
• why Cornell

Ground your interest in lived experience or real issues you care about. Show how policy helps you address them.

SC Johnson College of Business (650 words)

Prompt:
What kind of business student are you?

This is not about career goals. It’s about what problems you care about.

Dyson applicants often focus on economics and applied impact.
Hotel Administration applicants often highlight people, operations, and experience-driven systems.

Your values should be clear.

College of Engineering

Academics Tab

Three words about you and three words about Cornell Engineering should feel intentional and aligned.

Long Essays (200 words each)

Why engineering?
Focus on problem-solving, curiosity, and how you approach challenges.

Why Cornell Engineering?
Connect your learning style to Cornell’s collaborative and hands-on environment.

Short Answers (100 words each)

These should feel warm and personal, not rushed.
Joy, contribution, meaningful activity, and achievement should all reflect who you are beyond academics.

College of Human Ecology (600 words)

This is a problem-focused essay.

Identify a real challenge and explain:
• why it matters to you
• how your CHE major helps
• how interdisciplinary learning strengthens your approach

Human Ecology essays work best when they center people.

College of Industrial and Labor Relations (ILR) (650 words)

ILR cares about:
• systems
• fairness
• labor
• policy
• human impact

Your essay should clearly show how your interests align with ILR’s mission and academic approach.

If you want personalized feedback on your Cornell supplemental essays, I also offer one-on-one essay reviews where I read through your drafts carefully and leave clear, specific suggestions. You can learn more here!