Cornell = University Undergraduate Admissions Office

HOW TO APPLY 3D"Cornell

Inte= rnational=20 Students Overview
S= tudying=20 at Cornell
Ap= plication=20 Process
= Deadlines
Adva= nced=20 Standing
Finan= cial=20 Aid
Othe= r=20 Resources
FA= Q for=20 International Students
Application=20 Materials and Instructions
Online = Application

Informational Bulletins

Advanced=20 Placement and International Credentials
Profile=20 of the Class of 2012
Bio= logy=20 Bulletin
Pre= -Med /=20 Pre-Vet Bulletin
Pre= -Law=20 Bulletin
Pr= eparing=20 for a Career in Business
Care= er=20 Services Bulletin

International Students: About the Application = Process

International Students and U.S. Citizens Abroad

Are you an international student, Canadian, or citizen of the U.S. = living=20 abroad? Our applicants are an eclectic group, including international = students=20 who have moved between several countries or schools, U.S. citizens who = have=20 lived most of their lives abroad, or non-U.S. citizens completing school = in the=20 U.S. We hope that this information will address the questions you have = as your=20 consider applying to Cornell.

First, we do not read applications by citizenship or visa type, but = by school=20 and region. Your application will be read in the context of the school = you=20 attend and similar schools by selection committees that read = applications from=20 outside the U.S. Since international students have been coming to = Cornell since=20 the university opened, we are familiar with most educational systems. = However,=20 schools do change programs and grading, so please do encourage your = school to=20 send a brief profile describing the curriculum, whether admission to the = school=20 is selective, etc.

If you are wondering what factors we=E2=80=99re looking for when we = read=20 applications, see the admission tips available from this site. The = statement=20 =E2=80=9CWhat We Look For=E2=80=9D applies to international students = also, and =E2=80=9CHigh School=20 Choices, College Chances=E2=80=9D describes the kind of secondary school = program we look=20 for.

Applying as a Freshman

You apply to Cornell as a freshman if you=E2=80=99ll complete = secondary school during=20 the current academic year, if you=E2=80=99re seeking admission after = your junior year at=20 a secondary school, or if you=E2=80=99ve graduated from secondary school = but have been=20 enrolled full-time at a college or university for less than half a = year.

Application Forms

Make sure to read the application = instructions=20 for first year students, as you are expected to submit all items = required of=20 freshmen students.

All admission candidates complete the Common Application and Cornell=20 Supplement by the January deadline with the $70 application fee or = request for a=20 waiver . To request a fee waiver send a brief letter with your = application=20 providing family income, and the number dependent on the income.

If you are overseas, don=E2=80=99t wait for the deadline; ask for = recommendations and=20 transcripts much earlier in the fall and try to register for SATs over = the=20 summer! This is especially important if your school will be closed for = vacation=20 at the time of the January 1 deadline.

Complete the Common Application and Cornell University = Supplement=20 (with essays). Follow all the instructions listed at: h= ttp://admissions.cornell.edu/apply/firstyear/instructions.cfm

If you have access to the internet, it will expedite the process if = you can=20 apply on line.

Required Records

We want to review at least 3 years of secondary school records = that list=20 subjects you studied and marks received for each subject. State or = national=20 tests or other external exams taken should be included also (G.C.S.E., = Hong Kong=20 Certificate of Education, ICSE (India), etc. If there is a provincial, = national=20 or other board exam you will take on completing school (A-Levels, Higher = Secondary Certificate, I.B., German Abitur, etc.) please ask the school = official=20 who completes your secondary school report to include predicted = marks.=20

Note especially:

We require official records issued by your school, or for test = results,=20 the testing board. If not in English, you must provide a=20 translation.
If you have attended more than one school, you should request a = separate=20 transcript from each school.
If you have completed a special project, submit a = one-page summary and letter of recommendation from the teacher or = other person=20 who supervised the project. Lengthy bound documents cannot be included = with=20 applications.
Applications submitted with unofficial records or test scores, or = without=20 translations will be withdrawn from consideration.

Test Requirements

SAT - All freshman=20 applicants to Cornell are required to submit official results of = either the=20 SAT Reasoning Test or the ACT with Writing. Requirements for SAT II = Subject=20 Tests vary according to the college at Cornell to which you apply. See = the=20 college-specific testing requirements found in the Freshman Application=20 Instructions on the admissions web site at admissions.cornell.edu/apply. = In=20 order to be official, reports of test scores must be submitted directly = to=20 Cornell from the testing agency. Please note that standardized tests = (SAT, ACT,=20 and SAT IIs) are not required for transfer applicants.

If English is not your first language, you will need:

Score from TOEFL or IELTS
One of your letters of recommendation must be from an English=20 teacher.

TOEFL or IELTS is required for:

=E2=80=A2 Applicants outside the U.S. whose first language is not = English, including=20 students attending English medium schools.

TOEFL or IELTS is recommended for:

=E2=80=A2 Applicants whose first language is not English, who are = enrolled in=20 secondary schools and colleges or universities in the U.S. (unless they = will=20 have completed more than two years of secondary and/or post-secondary = schooling=20 in the U.S.).

TOEFL or IELTS is waived for:

=E2=80=A2 Applicants who score 670 or higher on the critical reading = portion of the=20 SAT.

=E2=80=A2 Applicants who have studied for two or more years in a = country where=20 English is the first language (e.g., Australia, Canada, New Zealand, = U.K.).

=E2=80=A2 Applicants who have completed more than two years of = secondary

and/or post-secondary schooling in the U.S.

Interviews

A personal interview is required of applicants to the Department of=20 Architecture ( = www.aap.cornell.edu)=20 and applicants to the School of Hotel Administration ( = www.hotelschool.cornell.edu).=20 Candidates for Architecture and Hotel Administration must contact the = college=20 directly concerning the interview and/or portfolio requirement.

Extracurricular Activities

Please list your activities in the format indicated on the Common = Application. We are interested in how you have chosen to spend your = time,=20 any musical talent, community involvement, work, leadership, etc. If you = want us=20 to know more, use the space on the Common Application to provide a brief = description. For very significant activities, you may submit a = recommendation=20 from a coach, music or art teacher, employer, etc. Information submitted = should=20 describe involvement or your contribution to the organization or = activity and=20 the reasons you find it important. Merit certificates, pictures of = award=20 ceremonies, etc., will not be reviewed by the selection committee. =

Important Tips

1. Place your name on each page of documents sent.

2. Use the same version of your name as it is listed on your = passport, on all=20 application forms and test scores. Materials received under different = versions=20 of your name are very likely to be lost.

3. Please do not send materials in plastic covers or multiple = envelopes, and=20 do not bind application materials together in any way. Doing any of the = above=20 will considerably delay the processing of your application.

4. Do not send supporting documents until you have sent the Common=20 Application.

5. Read carefully requirements for all freshmen applicants at h= ttp://admissions.cornell.edu/apply/firstyear/instructions.cfm.=20 International students must complete these as well.

6. Start early!

7. Questions? You can write to our International Mailbox intl-inquiry@cornell.edu. = Messages=20 sent to this mailbox are answered by staff members each day.

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