How to Write the Cornell University Essays 2024-2025

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The largest of the eight Ivy League universities, Cornell University is made up of eight undergraduate schools that applicants apply directly to. Because of this, you will be required to submit a school-specific supplemental essay (or essays) in addition to one campus-wide essay.

Cornell is an incredibly prestigious school with tens of thousands of applicants each year. In order to be one of the chosen few to attend, your essays will need to be thoughtful, well-written, and uniquely you. In this post, we’ll explain how to write the Cornell essays so you can maximize your chances of acceptance.

Cornell University Supplemental Essay Prompts

Before you apply to Cornell, you should determine which specific college is right for you. Each of Cornell’s colleges has its own majors and specific graduation requirements, though there are some majors that exist within multiple colleges. Understanding the differences between the colleges is essential when applying, since you will need to highlight the specific resources offered by each of them in your essays.

Below are the supplemental essay prompts for Cornell’s colleges (click to jump to the right section):

All Applicants
Brooks School of Public Policy
College of Agriculture and Life Sciences
College of Arts and Sciences
College of Engineering
Cornell SC Johnson College of Business
College of Human Ecology
School of Industrial and Labor Relations
College of Art, Architecture and Planning

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All Applicants
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 words)

This is a diversity essay, which asks you to reflect on a community that has significantly shaped you. Your goal is to showcase how your identity, values, and experiences are connected to a particular group, or, in other words, how this group has influenced your personal growth. Basically, while most of your Cornell application is focused on you alone, here the admissions committee is looking for insight into how you see yourself within the context of a broader group.

Understanding the Prompt

This essay asks you to do three main things:

Define your community: Choose a community that is truly meaningful to you. This could be anything from a cultural group, to a club, to a group of friends who share a common interest. The definition is up to you, so think deeply about where you feel the deepest sense of belonging.
Reflect on your experience: Consider how being a part of this community has shaped you. How have your beliefs, values, and goals evolved due to your membership in it? What experiences within this community have been most impactful?
Focus on you: While the community is the lens through which you tell your story, the overall focus should still be on your personal growth and development. The admissions officers want to understand how your community has contributed to who you are today, so make sure the essay is about you, not the overall community.

Brainstorming Questions

To help you get started, consider the following questions:

What community do you feel most connected to, and why?
What values or beliefs have you developed because of this community?
How has your community supported you during challenging times or celebrated your successes?
Can you recall a specific event or moment that encapsulates your relationship with this community?
In what ways have you contributed to your community, and how have those contributions shaped your identity?
How would you be different if you were not part of this community?

One quick note here: if you are part of a community that is related to your racial identity, and you feel your race is an important part of who you are, focusing on that group could be a good idea. In June 2023, the Supreme Court overturned affirmative action, which means college admissions officers are no longer allowed to directly consider a student’s race or ethnicity. They can, however, consider race as part of a student’s broader story, in particular through the essay.

While you definitely don’t have to write about your race in response to this prompt, do be aware that if you don’t, and also don’t discuss it in any of your other essays, Cornell will be legally forbidden from factoring this aspect of your identity into their decision.

What Makes a Good Response

A strong essay will have the following elements:

Personal Connection: Clearly show why this community is significant to you. Detailed descriptions of your involvement and vivid storytelling about your experiences will be both informative and engaging to read.
Impactful Growth: Demonstrate how the community has influenced your personal growth and shaped your identity, whether by learning new values, gaining a sense of belonging, or developing leadership skills.
Specificity: Use specific examples or anecdotes to illustrate your points. Rather than just stating you learned a lesson, show readers the moment when you came to that realization. Or instead of just mentioning a tradition within your community, place readers right alongside you and let them experience it vicariously.
Reflection: Go beyond just telling a story. Reflect on what these experiences mean to you and why they matter to understanding who you will be in college.
Authenticity: The essay should feel genuine and true to your experience. Avoid exaggerating or choosing a community just to impress the admissions committee–being disingenuous will show.

Hypothetical Student Examples

Student A: A first-generation Mexican-American student. Growing up in a predominantly Hispanic neighborhood, they found a deep connection with their local community center, where they volunteered as a mentor for younger kids. This student could discuss how the sense of responsibility they developed there shaped their desire to become a teacher.
Student B: A member of an online fandom community. This student grew up in a small town where they felt isolated because of their unique interests in niche sci-fi books. They found a community online where people shared their passion, which gave them a sense of belonging and made them more self-confident.
Student C: A student who has been on a competitive dance team since they were a child, which has taught them about being in touch with your body. That ability has inspired them to try things that would typically scare them, like rock climbing and snorkeling, because they can recognize the line between being out of your comfort zone physically and genuine pain.

Notice that these examples focus on three very different communities. While the word “community” may initially inspire thoughts of groups related to your race, gender, ***uality, cultural heritage, and so on–and you definitely can write an excellent essay about any of those things–don’t be afraid to cast a wider net.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Being too broad: Avoid general statements about your community that could apply to anyone. Be specific about your experiences and your connection to the community.
Focusing too much on the community and not enough on yourself: Remember, the essay is about you. You want your reader to come away from the essay wanting to accept you to Cornell, not join this community themselves.
Choosing a cliché lesson: If the dancer above talked about resilience and hard work, their essay would blend in with thousands of others written by student-athletes. Make sure you have something to offer that’s unique to your own experience.
Overemphasizing your contributions: While you do want to show how you’ve contributed to your community, this isn’t a resume. Your priority should be on showing how the community shaped you, not flexing your achievements.
Writing about a community you’re not genuinely connected to: Don’t choose a community just because you think it will sound impressive. Your essay will be more compelling if it’s about a community you genuinely care about, even if it’s less “impressive” on paper.

Good and Bad Examples

Good Example

“The aroma of freshly made paratha fills the air as I step into my grandmother’s kitchen, where generations of recipes and stories come alive. Here, in this tiny kitchen in our home in Queens, my connection to my South Asian heritage is most vibrant.

Every Saturday, my family gathers to cook traditional dishes, each spice and ingredient a thread in the rich tapestry of our culture. As I mix the dough, my grandmother recounts tales of her childhood in Punjab, and I feel a deep connection to a place I’ve never been but know intimately through her stories. It was in this kitchen that I learned about my grandmother’s childhood, saw pictures of my parents’ wedding, and even listened to my first Bollywood song—‘Tera Naam Liya.’  

This weekly ritual of cooking and sharing a meal has taught me the importance of tradition, family, and the power of storytelling. It’s in these moments that I’ve learned to appreciate my roots, which have grounded me in my identity even as I navigate the complexities of being a first-generation American.”

Why it’s good: This example uses vivid imagery to bring the reader into a specific experience within a clearly defined community. The student not only shows a deep personal connection to their cultural heritage, but also reflects on how the culture’s traditions have shaped their identity and values.

Bad Example

“I have always been part of my school’s debate team, and it has shaped me into a confident and articulate person. We meet twice a week to practice, and I have learned a lot about different topics and how to argue effectively. Being on the team has helped me develop my public speaking skills and taught me the importance of being prepared. Overall, my experience on the debate team has made me a better student and a more well-rounded person.”

Why it’s bad: This example is too generic and could apply to anyone on a debate team. There are no specific details about the student’s experience, nor deeper insight into how being on the team has shaped them. The reflection is shallow, and focused more on the skills gained than on what this community means to the student as an individual.

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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)

This is a fairly straightforward “Why This Major?” prompt. A prompt like this seeks to understand your motives and interest in your intended major, how your background aligns with this interest, and what you intend to do with the major after college.

Before you begin writing, you should do some self-reflection. Ponder these questions for a bit and jot down some notes:

1) What are your genuine reasons for deciding on your major/this particular school?

You should ideally have picked a subject that you have a passion for, or at least a moderate interest in. If your reasons include parental pressures, money, or prestige, you’re already off to a bad start. You aren’t bound to any major until after you declare well into your college career, so if your reasons are any of the above, consider picking a different major to write about.

2) What are specific examples of things you enjoy in your field of study?

Instead of thinking “math” or “reading,” think “the paired samples t-test in statistics” or “novels that explore existentialist themes.” Specificity is essential to a good “Why This Major?” essay.

3) How will this major help you achieve your life and/or career goals?

Again, avoid writing about things like money or status. Universities want to see individuals with depth, people who strive to live fulfilling lives, realize their potential, and contribute to the betterment of the world, even in some small way. Saying that you want to make a lot of money is one-dimensional and self-serving, and will definitely not lead to a successful essay.

4) What was the best part of your experience, both within and outside the classroom?

5) Do you move into a certain emotional state of mind every time you explore this field of study? What do you find appealing about this state of mind?

Questions 4 and 5 are the ones you will probably be able to probe for personal anecdotes about the field of study. Remember, anecdotes are going to be your biggest asset when answering this prompt.

It’s okay if you’re undecided and picked this major because it appealed to you a bit more than others. Just be sure you can back up your decision with stories and experiences. If you can’t corroborate your interest at all, you may want to consider writing about a different major.

There is a writing trope you may have heard before that applies here: “Show, don’t tell.” Sure, you can explain that you have an interest in public policy then explain things you’ve done that are related to your intended major, but a better way to go about structuring your response is to let your background illustrate your passion for public policy. Allow your experiences and their outcomes to show your interest so that you don’t have to waste a chunk of your word count talking about your interest explicitly.

For example, consider two hypothetical responses from a student who wants to study Spanish in college:

Example 1: “I have always liked the Spanish language for a few reasons. I am of Mexican descent and grew up in California, where I learned to speak Spanish at 14 years old. My predominantly Mexican neighborhood has greatly influenced my worldview, making me want to major in Spanish. The language is part of my identity and is becoming more and more essential in the modern United States, so I feel like studying it will help me further people’s understanding of it.”

Example 2: “I am a Mexican-American who grew up in California. Every day of my childhood, the musical sounds of the Spanish language fluttered by my ears, but I didn’t understand them until I began learning the language at 14 years of age. When I finally knew enough to get by in conversation, it was as if a new world had spawned right before my eyes.

I would greet street vendors as I walked by, help lost travelers find their way around my town, anything to fully immerse myself in this culture that had been in my blood since before I understood it. As I fell in love with the language, I began to read about its origins and the linguistic principles that made it what it is today. Spanish is more than a language to me; it’s a work of art. Taking vacations and traveling throughout the United States only furthered my fascination with the language. Everywhere I went, I could find a predominantly Spanish-speaking community.

That’s when I realized how important Spanish has become in the modern world. Studying the language in college will deepen my understanding of it, and allow me to gain the knowledge I need to teach and be a translator for this increasingly important language that resonates with me so much.”

The first example sounds rather generic and uses many declarative statements that lack feeling, so it doesn’t strongly convey the students interest in Spanish or motives for taking on the major. The second example, on the other hand, paints a vivid picture of the student’s formative experiences that inspired such a deep passion for the field of study. It thoroughly explores the student’s motivations through anecdotes, and even discusses future career plans.

The next part of the prompt moves away from your interest in the major, and toward your interest in the Brooks School. As before, you should strive for specificity here. Brooks offers two undergraduate majors: Policy Analysis and Management, and Health Care Policy. Browse your desired major’s website to get a feel for how this major at Brooks is different from equivalent majors elsewhere. One place to look for unique features is in the course offerings (here are PAM courses and here are HCP courses).

You’re trying to express a strong interest in Brooks, so you don’t want to say something common to most schools. Saying that you appreciate Brooks’s interdisciplinary approach to health care policy is inadequate because almost every college offering a Health Care Policy (or similar) major has a multidisciplinary approach. It simply isn’t possible to study this field without tackling multiple fields of study such as economics, political science, and health.

Instead of being general in your response, find something particular to focus on that piques your interest. For example, let’s say an Asian student is applying to Brooks to major in Health Care Policy, and her racial and gender identity serve as career motivations (which, incidentally, can be a strong personal angle to use when writing why she is interested in this major). She might notice that of all the HCP programs she’s looked at, only Brooks has a focus on the effects of demography on health care policy. Since she wants to pursue a career in helping to ensure that Asian women get proper representation in healthcare policy making, Brooks’s concentration on demographics is a unique feature that will contribute to her professional goals.

Remember to be well-intentioned in your motivations, honest and specific about your interests, and sincere in your entire response, and you will have a strongly crafted essay that is sure to catch Cornell’s attention.

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College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Prompt 1
By applying to Cornell’s College of Agriculture and 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 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.

Think about the following questions we went over before to help you direct your response:

1) What are your sincere reasons for choosing this major and/or this particular school?

2) What are specific examples of things you enjoy in this field?

3) How will completing a degree in this major help you achieve your life and/or career goals?

4) What was the best part of your experience in this field, both academically and in your free time?

5) Do you experience a certain emotional state or frame of mind every time you explore this field of study? What about this state is appealing to you?

Questions 4 and 5 are the ones you will probably be able to probe for personal anecdotes about the field of study. Remember, anecdotes are going to be your biggest asset when answering this prompt.

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 prospective major. Find courses (course offerings can be found after clicking on your desired major), clubs, research opportunities, or opportunities for outreach that would be difficult to find at another university. Be very careful not to mention something generic that could apply to many schools, such as location, as this indicates that you have not done sufficient research and aren’t as interested in CALS as you claim to be.

Specificity is key. For example, a prospective Viticulture and Enology major could discuss the Stocking Hall teaching winery, which allows students to gain hands-on vineyard harvesting experience. A prospective Global Development major could talk about the course called “Just Food,” which offers a comprehensive review of food system paradigms in just one course. Don’t be afraid to discuss relevant programs in colleges outside of CALS as well, as CALS is interdisciplinary.

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College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Prompt 2 (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 words)

This is a perfect example of the Community Service essay. Schools that employ this kind of prompt want to know how you engage with the people and environment around you. Your engagement with the world is especially important to a college that focuses on agriculture and life sciences. Therefore, if you have had a positive impact on any community you’re a part of, we strongly encourage you to respond to this prompt.

Bear in mind that the word “community” is fairly ambiguous and can encompass many things; it doesn’t have to just be the area you live in. Community can include your hometown, income class, ethnic/racial background, gender identity, country of origin, language, illness, or even common interests. Before you begin writing, consider the following questions to guide the direction of your essay:

Do you have a deep involvement with any community service based club or organization, or an activism project? If not, is there a particular event during which you showed genuine altruism, generosity, or selflessness?

When thinking through these questions, we recommend avoiding short-term projects like a one-week mission trip because you want to show a more sincere long-term commitment.

You should also try not to write about a very small event like helping an old woman carry her groceries for a few blocks. Instead, think of events that exhibit the same values that are at least a day long, such as spending the entire day at a nursing home keeping an old woman company.

If you don’t have any deep involvement with an organization or have an event that showcases such community values, are there any activities you participate in that may have a positive social impact, even if the impact isn’t directly related to the activity? For example, you might do data entry for a medical care center, which undoubtedly has a positive social impact.

You are being asked to elaborate on one event to show how your values are reflected in your actions, so don’t just make a laundry list of community service activities you’ve done.

Once you’ve chosen your experience, think about what happened, how you felt and what you thought when it happened, how you think back on the event now, and which values of yours motivated you to partake in this event. Also be able to describe what your impact ultimately was.

Now that you have your event and motivations in mind, it’s time to think about structure. When writing about a single experience, consider a narrative approach. An essay that simply lists facts lacks the emotion that can truly elevate a response. Show your event through your eyes. Include vivid imagery and a personal perspective. In other words: show, don’t tell. Allow your response to feel like a movie scene rather than a news report.

To get a concrete sense of what your response should look like, and what you want to avoid, check out the following examples:

Good Example:

“Inspired by my love for nature, I transformed an abandoned lot in my neighborhood into a thriving community garden. I organized local volunteers, secured donations for soil and seeds, and led workshops on sustainable gardening. Over two seasons, we grew fresh vegetables for fifteen families and created a green space that became a gathering spot for the community. Watching children plant their first seeds and neighbors bond over shared harvests, I realized the power of environmental stewardship in fostering community well-being—a power I am eager to continue harnessing at CALS.”

Why it’s good: This example takes full advantage of the limited space by providing a host of details about a specific story that highlights the student’s initiative and leadership, as well as the tangible benefits of their efforts. The student also connects their passion for the environment to a desire to make their overall community better, which aligns perfectly with CALS’ mission as laid out in the prompt.

Bad Example:

“Seeing my neighborhood plagued by litter, I organized monthly cleanups, transforming the area into a cleaner, safer place. It wasn’t just about picking up garbage; we fostered community pride and environmental stewardship. This experience solidified my commitment to sustainable urban planning, a passion I aim to pursue at CALS.”

Why it’s bad: Though the story this student has chosen has potential, their current description reads more like a resume item than a personal reflection. The engaging details of the first example are missing, and the student doesn’t seem to have any deeper, personal investment in these cleanups.

Overall, be sincere about your motivations, thoughtful about your impact, and specific in your description. Be careful not to give a cliché lesson from the experience, nor to paint yourself as some kind of savior to the community you served. Instead, be honest about what your experiences taught you, and how they helped you grow.

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College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Prompt 3 (optional)
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 words)

Bear in mind that immediately after the prompt there is a section where you are asked to select all that apply. This is not a writing portion, but rather a quick survey for the admissions committee to know about your background.

The prompt itself is optional, but if you have a substantial agricultural background or a keen interest in pursuing a career in agriculture, we encourage you to respond to it. The prompt is rather straightforward, so if you are able and willing to answer it, it should not be a stressful undertaking.

For this kind of prompt, you may wish to consider a collection essay structure. If you have an agricultural background, you won’t be able to thoroughly describe your responsibilities and experiences with just one anecdote. The best structure to respond to this prompt is a small collection of personal anecdotes that showcase your background as well as your sincere interest in an agricultural career.

Despite our recommendation of a collection structure, you may find it helpful to connect each of your anecdotes with some kind of thread. A narrative that links each of your anecdotes together may provide the admissions committee with a clearer picture of where you came from, where you’re going, and why.

For example, consider a hypothetical student who grew up on a farm and developed a deep passion for the agricultural sciences. He might have started helping his family do farm work from a very young age, waking up at the break of dawn to feed the chickens and milk the cows. He might write about how these formative experiences forged his entire identity and how he’ll always be a farm boy at heart.

He could then move into a discussion of how some of his tasks became his full responsibilities when he got old enough, and how he now does more and more of the essential work as his dad is getting older. He could wrap up his response with a sincere examination of his future goals, whether they be to come home and improve his family’s own farm through his education or to move into agricultural research to improve farming methods for everyone.

Be genuine about your experiences and passions — let them both shine through in your word choice and anecdotes.

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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 words)

This prompt is a pretty standard “Why This Major?” archetype. Unless you are undecided, you should narrow down the broad statement of your “passion for learning” into a more manageable focus on a specific topic you are interested in pursuing. In order to write a successful essay, you need to accomplish three main things:

Explain how your interest developed
Detail your goals and aspirations
Describe how you will use school resources to your benefit

Beginning with explaining how your interest developed, the best way to do this is through examples. Whether you include a few examples of you deep in research or you share an anecdote about your first encounter with the subject, make sure to paint a picture for the reader. Show us what about the topic excites you, how it makes you feel, and why you fell in love with it. Here are a few examples of successful ways to accomplish this:

Example 1: “My mom’s bookshelf is the cheapest, fastest airplane you will ever find. On the left, bound in thick leather is Shakespeare’s first play, Henry VI. Move one over and we’ve traveled to the south of the continent to Greece for a quick tour of Plato’s Republic. Next stop: tsarist Russia for War and Peace. Every day, I get to leave behind the drone of suburban Ohio and transport myself to a new country and period. The noise of the outside world falls away as I travel through the pages, across space and time.”

Example 2: “Age 7: I see a white rhino at the zoo and buy a stuffed animal, affectionately named Rob the Rhino.

Age 11: I ask all my friends to donate to the World Wildlife Fund to support endangered rhinos in place of a new lego set for my birthday.

Age 15: I learn climate change causes the rhinos’ grasslands to dry up and flood in an unpredictable cycle.

Age 16: I found the Forces of Nature club in my school to develop creative solutions to protect habitats from the effects of climate change.”

Once you’ve established what your interest is, where it came from, and why you are passionate about it, it’s time to be more forward-looking. Cornell wants to admit students who are ambitious and driven, with a passion for changing the world. Now’s the time to share your aspirations with the admissions committee.

Tell the reader what you hope to accomplish one day in regards to your field of study. You might know exactly what you want, for example a student who is going into Information Science might want to create a social media platform that actively promotes diversity of ideas rather than echo chambers as part of its mission. On the other hand, another student might know they want to major in psychology, but they don’t know how they want to use it yet.

In the event you don’t have a clearly defined goal, it’s okay to admit you don’t know where your studies will take you—after all, the whole point of college is to explore new ideas and figure out what you are passionate about. Don’t completely write off this portion of the essay though. Still talk about what you hope to bring to the world in a broader sense. Rather than describing the specific contribution you will make to the world of medicine, describe how you are studying biology to learn about the inner workings of the human body so you are equipped to handle any organ or system.

Finally, you’ll want to dedicate a good portion (around 200-300 words) on the Cornell-specific opportunities you will utilize during your four years to both deepen your passion and work towards your goals.

There are two key things to keep in mind. First, quality over quantity is everything here. Name dropping four classes and three professors without expanding on why you are drawn to them won’t add much to your essay. Instead, pick three or four resources that closely align with you and explain why you are excited about this opportunity and how it will help you achieve your goals.

Secondly, the offerings you discuss have to be unique to Cornell. Nearly every school you apply to will offer Chemistry 101 or have a finance club. You need to spend some time poking around Cornell’s website to find distinctive opportunities you wouldn’t be able to find anywhere else to prove to the admissions committee you genuinely want to go to the school. Below are some ideas of things to look for as you research the school:

Look at the course roster and find classes in your major (don’t just pick Biology 101; the more specific, the better!)
Find professors in your department and the research they conduct
Explore unique clubs and extracurriculars that align with your interests
Look into special programs or centers (ie. Milstein Program in Technology and Humanity or College Scholar Program
Research Cornell-specific study abroad programs and hubs

For example, the student who loves books and reading may want to one day become a fantasy writer to help others immerse themselves in new worlds. They could mention wanting to take the Fairy Tales, Folk Tales, Witchcraft First-Year Writing Seminar at Cornell in their essay.

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College of Engineering Short Answer Questions
Note: Upon selecting this college on the Common App, you will be asked to provide the 3 words that best describe you, the three words that you would use to describe Cornell Engineering, an especially meaningful extracurricular activity, and an especially meaningful award or achievement. This is essentially a major-specific short response section.

It’s challenging to distill your personality down to three words, so to begin, come up with a long list of words that you think characterize you, and then narrow them down to the ones that are most important to you. They don’t need to be directly related to engineering, but you want to choose words that at least describe qualities of yourself that could translate to the field of engineering broadly. If you need help, you can ask your friends and family for ideas.

You don’t have to write the most exotic words, but you should avoid very simple descriptors like “fun, nice, smart.” These choices can come across as cliché, and don’t tell the admissions committee anything about you. Try more interesting words like “determined, upbeat, daring,” or even nouns like “brother, athlete, artist.”

If words are your strong suit, you can try to be more creative with your choices. You might even want to pick a word from another language if that language or its culture is an important part of your identity. Maybe you’re a hard worker, a lighthearted person, and you help your father fix cars in your predominantly Hispanic community; you may choose to write “indefatigable, whimsical, mecánico.”

Note that you should strive to only choose words you know/use regularly. Don’t just use a thesaurus to try to find big words, because you may accidentally use a word with a nuanced meaning that isn’t what you’re looking for. Additionally, if you use flowery language in this section but not in your writing supplement, this will come off as contradictory and insincere.

The same idea applies to the three words you choose to describe Cornell Engineering. You should do plenty of research on Cornell Engineering before even attempting to choose three words. Determine what is important to their program, reach out to friends you may know in the program, or look through their website and social media to figure out what their program is all about.

You should not attempt to randomly select words about engineering in general. In fact, you could write an inspiring answer by picking some that seemingly have nothing to do with engineering! Avoid picking generic, simple words as well as words of empty praise, such as “unique,” “competitive,” “prestigious,” and “innovative.” Anyone can tell Cornell that it’s a good university — doing so here would sound hollow and plain. Try to think of more nuanced and descriptive words that wouldn’t apply broadly to every engineering college.

For example, you might choose “eclectic,” “defiant,” and “virtuous.” These are creative choices, but more importantly, they are words you could defend in an interview. If asked about “eclectic,” you can mention the diversity of the fields which Cornell has facilities for — the university has centers in subjects ranging from data science to nanomedical technology to waste management. You can defend “defiant” by discussing how a certain lab you researched never settles for the status quo, but instead seeks to always go beyond what is deemed possible. Finally, you might defend “virtuous” by mentioning Cornell Engineering’s mission to “advance the quality of life on our planet.”

With regards to the “extracurricular” short response, you’ll want to reflect on an activity, organization, or responsibility that has had a significant impact on your life. You should focus on one specific experience, and briefly explain what you did and why it was meaningful to you. Since this is a short answer, focus on the most important details and avoid unnecessary elaboration.

For example, you might talk about volunteering at an animal shelter, to demonstrate your passion for animal welfare and giving back to your community, and explain how working with animals has taught you to be more patient and empathetic. Or, you could talk about how babysitting your six younger siblings, and sometimes missing out on social events as a result, showed you the importance of putting others’ needs above your own.

Your approach should be similar with the award/achievement short response. You want to make sure your readers understand not just what the award is and what you had to do to earn it, but also the skills you developed along the way, and/or how the experience shaped your future goals. Again, be concise, and don’t brag: stay focused on just the most important details so that you don’t run out of space.

For example, you could describe the time you won a regional science fair, even after faulty data forced you to completely change your project halfway through, and how this experience taught you to always keep the bigger picture of your research in mind, rather than allowing relatively minor snags to throw you off course.

Or, you might talk about the mural you designed for your Spanish classroom, which included images from a wide range of Spanish-speaking cultures, not just Spain and Mexico like the previous classroom decorations, and how your motivation was to show that even within something we typically treat as monolithic, like a language, there is always diversity of experience beneath the surface, and that diversity should be celebrated.

Whatever the activity, responsibility, or award is, make sure you touch on its broader relevance to your personality and development. Even in a short response, you always want to make sure admissions officers understand why this thing matters for imagining what kind of college student you’ll be.

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College of Engineering Prompt 1
Fundamentally, engineering is the application of math, science, and technology to solve complex problems. Why do you want to study engineering? (200 words)

This is an archetypal “Why This Major?” prompt, focused on engineering in particular. Your goals are to convey your passion for engineering, and to show how your past experiences have prepared you to succeed in the field. The admissions committee wants to understand what drives your interest in engineering, how you’ve explored this interest, what your future goals in the field are, and how you see yourself achieving them.

Note: Typically, in a “Why Major” essay you would also want to incorporate details about why you want to study this field at the school in question, but since there is a separate “Why Cornell Engineering” supplement here, your response here doesn’t have to have that element.

Understanding the Prompt

To answer this prompt effectively, you need to reflect on why you were initially drawn to engineering, and which experiences you’ve had that have refined your interest in the field. Think about specific moments, projects, or topics that sparked your fascination. Then, consider what excites you most about studying engineering and how you envision applying what you learn to solve real-world problems.

Brainstorming Questions

What was the first experience that made you interested in engineering? A class, a specific project, an extracurricular activity, a self-driven passion project? Something else entirely?
How have you explored engineering outside the classroom? Have you participated in clubs or internships, or pursued personal projects, that furthered your interest?
What specific problems or challenges in the world do you want to address through engineering?
Which areas of engineering (mechanical, electrical, civil, etc.) particularly interest you, and why?
How do you see engineering shaping your future? What impact do you hope to make in the field, or in society as a whole by using engineering principles?

What Makes a Good Response

Personal and Specific: Your essay should include specific experiences that ignited and sustained your interest in engineering. Avoid vague statements like “I like solving problems”–instead, go deeper, to “Moving from Seattle to Miami made me fully appreciate the transformative power of solar energy.”
Connected to Future Goals: Show how your interest in engineering is tied to what you want to accomplish in the future. Whether your goal is making the world more sustainable, developing new technologies, or exploring outer space or the deep sea, make sure they’re clear.
Exploration and Engagement: Demonstrate how you’ve actively engaged with engineering beyond the classroom, through clubs, competitions, internships, or self-driven projects.

Hypothetical Student Examples

Student A: A student who grew up in an area prone to flooding and became interested in civil engineering after seeing the impact of natural disasters on their community. They have spent their high school years researching flood control methods and participating in environmental science clubs. They hope to study civil engineering to design innovative infrastructure that can protect vulnerable communities.
Student B: A student who has always loved boats and machines. They spent weekends working on engines with their grandfather and later joined their school’s robotics team. They want to study mechanical engineering to design boat motors with less risk of harming sea life, as in addition to their love of mechanics, they want to protect the manatees who live in the lagoon near their house in Florida.
Student C: A student fascinated by the intersection of biology and technology, who got hooked on biomedical engineering after shadowing a doctor who used robotic surgery techniques. They’ve volunteered in a lab which designs prosthetics, and they hope to continue this work in college to keep improving patients’ quality of life.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Generic Statements: Avoid saying things like “Engineering is a stable career” or “I’m good at math and science.” These statements don’t tell the admissions committee anything unique about you, and as a result they make your interest in engineering seem shallow.
Lack of Specificity: Don’t just mention a general interest in engineering as a whole. Be specific about what type of engineering interests you, as well as which topics within that subfield you’re most drawn to, and why.
Résumé-Like Listing: Don’t simply list your achievements or experiences. Instead, provide meaningful reflection on how these experiences deepened your interest in engineering and what you learned from them.
Cliché Narratives: Steer clear of overused stories, like simply “taking things apart as a child.” Remember, your goal is to set yourself apart from other applicants, so while you don’t have to write something Cornell has absolutely never seen before–which would be practically impossible–make sure that you choose anecdotes that are at least somewhat distinctive to you.

Good and Bad Examples

Good Example:

“The first time I used a 3D printer, my mind started spinning with all the possibilities of things I could design to the finest degree of precision on my computer, whether a prosthetic hand or a valve for a leaky sink, and then have exactly that object appear before me. Then, I learned that the miniature World Cup trophy I was test printing would not be ready for hours.

My mind kept spinning, but this time in dismay, at how long someone would need to design a prototype, print it, test it, and then reprint the next version with any adjustments. When I went home, I didn’t run to tell my parents about my pending creation, but instead opened my laptop immediately, and began researching how other kinds of printers–printing presses, or even just my own clunky Epson–had been made more efficient over time.

By dinnertime, my goal had shifted. I no longer wanted to code blueprints of devices that could improve daily life for everyone, but design the machinery that would allow those devices to reach people as soon as possible. I had woken up a computer engineer, and was going to sleep a mechanical engineer.”

Why it’s good: This example is specific, personal, and shows a clear connection between the student’s past experiences and future goals. The student demonstrates a deep understanding of and clear excitement about a particular topic within engineering, and we can easily imagine what they’d bring to the field as a Cornell engineering student and after graduation.

Bad Example:

“I want to study engineering because I care about the environment, and I think sustainable infrastructure is the most realistic path to a greener future. I want to make a real difference in the world, whether that’s by identifying new sources of energy, contributing to the electric vehicle movement, or something else entirely–the possibilities are simply endless.”

Why it’s bad: This student comes across as earnest, but their interest in engineering stays way too broad. Sure, they identify environmental engineering as the field they’re most interested in, but they fail to pick out one specific topic that especially fascinates them, or incorporate anecdotes that show where their fascination comes from in the first place.

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College of Engineering ‌rompt 2
Why do you think you would love to study at Cornell Engineering? (200 words)

This is basically a classic “Why This College?” prompt, but focused on Cornell Engineering, rather than the whole institution of Cornell. Your goal is to demonstrate genuine enthusiasm for the program by connecting your academic interests and future goals with specific resources, opportunities, and aspects of Cornell’s engineering program.

Understanding the Prompt

To answer this prompt effectively, you need to do thorough research on Cornell Engineering and identify the unique aspects of the program that align with your interests. Avoid generalities that could apply to any school, like “Cornell has one of the top-ranked engineering programs,” and instead focus on what specifically draws you to their engineering program–classes, labs, professors, internship or study abroad opportunities, and so on. Your response should highlight things that can only be found at Cornell, and explain how they will help you achieve your specific goals.

Brainstorming Questions

To get started, consider these questions:

Is there coursework at Cornell in a specific area of engineering that you find especially appealing?
Are there any particular professors at Cornell whose work or research excites you? Why?
What unique facilities, labs, or research centers at Cornell would you like to use?
How do Cornell’s clubs, organizations, or community initiatives connect with your engineering interests?
How will Cornell Engineering help you achieve your long-term goals?
Have you visited the campus or attended any online sessions? What did you notice that stood out to you?

What Makes a Good Response

A strong response will include:

Specificity: Mention specific programs, labs, or professors that align with your interests, and explain why these resources excite you.
Connection to Goals: Clearly link how Cornell’s offerings will help you realize your academic or career aspirations.
Passion for Engineering: Show why you’re drawn to these specific opportunities, by citing past experiences or projects that have set you up for success at Cornell.
Personalization: Relate your interests and goals to Cornell in a way that shows you’ve done your research and can’t get the same experience anywhere else.

Hypothetical Student Examples

Robotics Enthusiast: A student passionate about robotics, who has built several robots in high school and is interested in designing space exploration rovers. They could discuss how they’re eager to work with Professor Hadas Kress-Gazit, to refine their understanding of the language robots use, and develop more sophisticated ways for humans on earth to communicate with rovers millions of miles away. They might also mention a desire to join the Cornell University Unmanned Air Systems team to connect with peers who share their interests.
Sustainable Energy Advocate: A student focused on renewable energy and sustainability, especially solar power. They could talk about their interest in Cornell’s Atkinson Center for Sustainability, particularly research that’s been done there on using lower-quality agricultural land for solar farming instead of food farming, and how that research would connect to their theoretical work in classes like “Analysis of Sustainable Energy Systems”

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Being Too General: Avoid vague statements like “Cornell is a top engineering school,” or even “Cornell has renowned professors in my areas of interest.” Don’t just mention those professors–actually find one and describe how your interests align with their work.
Name-Dropping Without Substance: At the same time, don’t just mention a professor’s name or reference a lab. There should always be a clear explanation of how this resource will help you continue to grow as an engineer.
Ignoring Your Personal Connection: Again, don’t just list what Cornell offers. Show how their resources connect to your past experiences and future goals.
Stay Focused On Engineering: There are likely other aspects of Cornell that appeal to you beyond the engineering program, but remember that this is a supplement for the College of Engineering specifically, so talking about your passion for acapella probably won’t move the needle much for admissions officers.

Excerpts From Good and Bad Examples

Good Example:

“Ever since I disassembled my first remote-control car at nine, I’ve been captivated by mechanical engineering. This curiosity led me to build a robotic arm for my high school science fair, designed to assist people with limited mobility. The project sparked my interest in biomechanics and deepened my passion for creating technology that improves lives.

When I discovered Cornell’s Sibley School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, I was thrilled by the Biorobotics and Locomotion Lab. Professor Andy Ruina’s work on the dynamics of human locomotion directly applies to my vision of designing next-generation prosthetics, and will assuredly present opportunities for me to contribute to projects that ensure all people can navigate the world with ease and confidence.”

Why it’s good: This response is specific, personal, and shows a clear connection between the student’s past experiences, their engineering goals, and the unique opportunities available at Cornell. The student demonstrates deep knowledge of Cornell’s resources and explains how they will help them achieve their aspirations.

Bad Example:

“I want to study at Cornell Engineering because it is one of the best engineering schools in the country. Cornell’s reputation, especially in computer engineering, and the opportunity to work with top-notch faculty will certainly open lots of doors for me at innovative startups, in fields from AI to modeling.”

Why it’s bad: This response is generic and could apply to almost any engineering school. There is no detail about Cornell, nor description of the student’s personal goals and how Cornell will help them reach them. The student doesn’t seem to have done any research on Cornell or why the school is right for them.