Cornell Supplemental Essay Prompts for 2024-2025
With college application season in full swing, now is the perfect time for your child to begin working on their supplemental essays. These essays offer a meaningful opportunity to showcase their unique voice, authentic perspective, and personal journey—elements that go far beyond grades. In a competitive landscape like Cornell University, this extra attention to crafting a holistic and genuine narrative can make all the difference.
Core Prompt
"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."
Word Limit: 350 words
Cornell’s Core Prompt reflects the university’s mission of “any person … any study,” inviting students to think about a meaningful community that has influenced them. The prompt encourages students to share the impact of this community on their identity, resilience, or curiosity—qualities that Cornell values in its students. In response, students can explore communities that have helped shape their values and sense of self. By reflecting on these influences, they can present a personal story that resonates with Cornell’s commitment to inclusivity and intellectual curiosity.
College-Specific Supplemental Prompts
In addition to the Core Prompt, each college within Cornell has its own supplemental essay prompts that allow students to further explore their academic interests and fit within the Cornell community. Here’s a brief overview of the supplemental prompts for each college:
College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (CALS)
Required: “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.”
Word Limit: 500 words
Optional Short-Answer Responses:Question #1: “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.”
Word Limit: 100 wordsQuestion #2: “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.)”
Optional Details: 100 wordsCollege of Architecture, Art, and Planning (AAP)
Prompt: “How do your interests directly connect with your intended major at the College of Architecture, Art, and Planning (AAP)? Why architecture (B.Arch), art (BFA), or urban and regional studies (URS)? B. Arch applicants, please provide an example of how a creative project or passion sparks your motivation to pursue a 5-year professional degree program. BFA applicants may want to consider how they could integrate a range of interests and available resources at Cornell into a coherent art practice. URS students may want to emphasize their enthusiasm and depth of interest in the study of urban and regional issues.”
Word Limit: 650 wordsCollege of Arts and Sciences
Prompt: “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.”
Word Limit: 650 wordsBrooks School of Public Policy
Prompt: “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.”
Word Limit: 650 wordsSC Johnson College of Business
Prompt: “What kind of a business student are you? Using your personal, academic, or volunteer/work experiences, describe the topics or issues that you care about and why they are important to you. Your response should convey how your interests align with the school to which you are applying within the Cornell SC Johnson College of Business (Charles H. Dyson School of Applied Economics and Management or the Cornell Peter and Stephanie Nolan School of Hotel Administration).”
Word Limit: 650 wordsCollege of Engineering
Long Essay Responses:Question 1: “Fundamentally, engineering is the application of math, science, and technology to solve complex problems. Why do you want to study engineering?”
Word Limit: 200 wordsQuestion 2: “Why do you think you would love to study at Cornell Engineering?”
Word Limit: 200 wordsShort Answer Responses:
Question 1: “What brings you joy?”
Word Limit: 100 wordsQuestion 2: “What do you believe you will contribute to the Cornell Engineering community beyond what you've already detailed in your application? What unique voice will you bring?”
Word Limit: 100 wordsQuestion 3: “What is one activity, club, team, organization, work/volunteer experience or family responsibility that is especially meaningful to you? Please briefly tell us about its significance for you.”
Word Limit: 100 wordsQuestion 4: “What is one award you have received or achievement you have attained that has meant the most to you? Please briefly describe its importance to you.”
Word Limit: 100 wordsCollege of Human Ecology
Prompt: “How has your decision to apply to the College of Human Ecology (CHE) been shaped and informed by your related experiences? How will what you learn through CHE and your chosen major impact your goals and plans for the future? Your response should demonstrate how your interests and aspirations align with CHE’s programs and mission.”
Word Limit: 650 wordsSchool of Industrial and Labor Relations (ILR)
Prompt: “Using your personal, academic, or volunteer/work experiences, describe the topics or issues that you care about and why they are important to you. Your response should show us that your interests align with the ILR School.”
Word Limit: 650 words
Tips for Tackling Cornell’s Supplemental Essays
1. Embrace Authentic Reflection: Encourage your child to choose a community that truly resonates with them, whether it’s family, a cultural group, a team, or an organization. Have them reflect on specific ways this community has influenced their values and outlook. Cornell’s commitment to community and belonging means they seek students who appreciate diverse perspectives and bring a sense of inclusivity to campus. Help your child identify a moment or connection that highlights these qualities.
2. Highlight Personal Growth: Guide them to think about how they’ve grown within this community. Whether it’s learning resilience from a challenging experience or discovering a new perspective from others, focusing on specific moments that shaped them can make their story come alive. Cornell values purposeful discovery and wants to see students who engage with challenges as opportunities for growth. Encouraging your child to explore lessons learned from real experiences will show that they’re ready to bring this mindset to Cornell.
3. Connect to Cornell’s Values: Ask your child to consider how their experiences and goals connect with Cornell’s values of curiosity, inclusivity, and public service. For example, if they’ve been involved in a volunteer project, they can describe how it inspired them to pursue a path in social advocacy or public policy. Emphasizing how they’ll bring these values to campus can show that they’re not only a fit for Cornell but are also prepared to engage deeply with the community.
4. Be Specific and Personal: Instead of general statements, encourage your child to use detailed anecdotes that reveal who they are. Describing how they organized a fundraiser, mentored younger students, or led a team project can highlight collaboration, leadership, or compassion. Cornell values exploration across boundaries and respect for the environment, and showing specific examples of real-world engagement can help illustrate these traits.
5. Tailor Responses to Each College’s Specific Prompt: Each college at Cornell has its own prompt, so your child’s responses should align with the mission of the school they’re applying to.
College of Arts and Sciences: Help them showcase intellectual curiosity and free and open inquiry. If they’re passionate about history or literature, they could reflect on how studying these areas inspires them to ask critical questions about the world.
College of Engineering: Encourage them to focus on purposeful discovery and their passion for problem-solving. If sustainability interests them, they could describe a project where they explored eco-friendly engineering solutions.
School of Industrial and Labor Relations (ILR): Guide them to emphasize public engagement and social impact. Sharing an experience where they advocated for a cause or collaborated to solve a community issue can show they’re aligned with ILR’s mission to improve work and labor relations.
6. Revise and Refine: Encourage your child to start early, allowing time for reflection and revision. Reading their drafts out loud or sharing them with trusted friends or mentors can help them refine their voice and ensure that each essay is polished and authentic. Remind them that a well-crafted response speaks volumes about their readiness to contribute to Cornell’s community and mission. For more insights on writing memorable essays, check out Ivy Link’s Beat Ivy League Odds With an Engaging & Effective College Essay.
At Ivy Link, we understand how important this journey is for both you and your child. With our experience in Ivy League admissions, we’re here to help your child present their true strengths and story with confidence. Our advisors work closely with each student to bring out what makes them unique, guiding them to create an application that resonates with admissions teams. If you’re looking for personalized support to help your child make a meaningful impression, click below to schedule a complimentary consultation with one of our Ivy Link advisors.
