Cornell University

“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.”

How to approach it. Pick one specific community and show the two-way street the prompt asks for — how it shaped you and how you shaped it. Resist the obvious 'my team taught me teamwork' arc; a smaller, truer community with concrete scenes will read as more honest than a sweeping one.

“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.”

How to approach it. CALS rewards applicants who connect a real-world problem in food, agriculture, environment, or the life sciences to a specific CALS major and its applied, research-driven approach. Name the experiences that pulled you toward this field and point to CALS courses, labs, or hands-on opportunities you actually want to use.

“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.”

How to approach it. Answer the branch that matches your major and lean into the specific evidence it asks for — a creative project for B.Arch, a coherent practice for BFA, depth on urban issues for URS. Show a maker's or thinker's mind in motion, not just admiration for the field.

“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.”

How to approach it. A&S is built around intellectual breadth, so it's fine — even welcome — to let two interests collide rather than forcing a single career line. Ground your curiosity in a real question you've chased, then map it onto specific A&S departments, courses, or the distribution-driven curriculum.

“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.”

How to approach it. Brooks wants policy thinkers, so anchor the essay in a specific issue or community problem you care about and trace how it points you toward public policy. Connect your goals to Brooks' analytical, evidence-based approach rather than to politics in the abstract.

“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.”

How to approach it. The question is 'what kind' of business student, so define a point of view, not a list of accomplishments — the problems you care about reveal more than your titles. Tie those interests to Dyson or the Nolan School specifically, depending on which school within SC Johnson you applied to.

“Fundamentally, engineering is the application of math, science, and technology to solve complex problems. Why do you want to study engineering?”

How to approach it. At 200 words, skip the childhood-Legos opener and get to the kind of problem you want to solve and why it pulls you. Show the engineer's instinct — curiosity about how things work and a drive to build or fix — through one concrete example.

“Why do you think you would love to study at Cornell Engineering?”

How to approach it. Keep this distinct from the 'why engineering' answer — here the focus is Cornell specifically. Point to actual programs, project teams, research areas, or the common first-year curriculum and major-affiliation process, and say why they fit how you like to learn.

“What brings you joy?”

How to approach it. This short answer is a chance to sound like a person, not an applicant — a small, true, even unexpected source of joy beats an impressive one. Be specific and let your voice through; one vivid detail is plenty at this length.

“What is your unique contribution to Cornell Engineering?”

How to approach it. Name one specific thing you'd bring — a skill, perspective, or way of working with others — rather than claiming to be generally exceptional. Make it something only you could write, grounded in what you've actually done.

“What is a meaningful activity or club you would want to participate in?”

How to approach it. Pick a real Cornell project team, club, or research group and say why it matters to you, not just that it exists. The specificity signals you've actually looked into Cornell Engineering life.

“What award or achievement is of greatest importance to you?”

How to approach it. The achievement you choose says as much as the achievement itself, so pick one that reveals your values, even if it isn't your most prestigious. Spend most of the words on why it matters to you rather than describing the award.

“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?”

How to approach it. CHE blends science, design, and policy in service of human well-being, so connect a lived experience to the people-centered problem your major addresses. Trace a clear arc from what shaped you, to your CHE major, to the future you want to build with it.

“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.”

How to approach it. ILR centers on work, labor, and organizations, so frame the issues you care about through that lens — fairness, employment, advocacy, the dynamics of institutions. Use a concrete experience that put you face to face with one of those questions and let it carry the essay.