3 Cornell University Accepted Student Profiles
Cornell is a highly-selective and prestigious school in the Ivy League. Located in Ithaca, New York, the university has eight undergraduate colleges ranging from engineering to human ecology. If you’re a Cornell hopeful, you may be wondering what it takes to get accepted. In this post, we’ll share three accepted student profiles to give you a sense of what Cornell is looking for. Cornell’s acceptance rate for the class of 2025 was 10.7%. Keep in mind that the acceptance rates vary a lot by school, however. While Cornell is considered one of the “easiest” Ivy Leagues to get into based on its overall acceptance rate, its College of Arts & Sciences had a 7.1% acceptance rate in 2021, making it on-par with many of the other Ivies. You can see the specific admissions rates by year and school on the Cornell website. Here are the 2021 acceptance rates: College of Agriculture and Life Sciences: 12.3% College of Architecture, Art, and Planning: 9.7% College of Arts and Sciences: 7.1% Charles H. Dyson School of Applied Economics and Management: 5.4% College of Engineering: 8.0% School of Hotel Administration: 19.2% College of Human Ecology: 17.0% ILR School: 17.2% Accepted students generally have stellar academics. The middle 50% SAT score was 1420-1530 and the middle 50% ACT score was 32-35. Eighty-four percent of students graduated in the top 10% of their class. Class year: Graduated high school in 2020. Cornell Class of 2024. Unweighted GPA: 4.27 My school didn’t allow us to take APs until Junior year, and even then, we were restricted to 3 APs Junior year and 5 APs Senior year, so I took the maximum number of classes my school allowed. AP/IB Courses taken each year Freshman Sophomore Junior Senior N/A N/A AP US History AP Biology AP English Language and Culture AP English Literature AP Chemistry AP Spanish Language and Culture AP Statistics AP Calculus AB Freshman Sophomore Junior Senior Honors Geometry Honors Algebra II Honors Pre-Calc Honors Spanish 2 Honors Spanish 3 Honors Spanish 4 Honors Chemistry Honors Contemporary Issues College Chorus SAT/ACT Score: ACT Composite – 35 I didn’t take the SAT, but I got a 1500 on the PSAT. 1. National Merit Semifinalist (12) 2. University of Rochester Young Leaders Book Award (11) 3. Premio de Plata National Spanish Exam (9, 10, 11) 4. Summa Cum Laude National Latin Exam (9) 5. AP Scholar (11) Note: Admissions officers evaluate extracurriculars using the four-tier system, with Tier 1 referring to the rarest, most impressive activities, and Tier 4 referring to the most common. In-between, there are subtiers to distinguish between activities even further. Find out your extracurricular tiers with our free chancing engine. Model United Nations (9-12), Tier 2a DECA (10-12), Tier 2a School Marketplace (9-12), Tier 2a Class Officer (9-12), Tier 2c Guiding Eyes for the Blind (9-12), Tier 3c High School Theater (9-12), Tier 2c School Newspaper (10-12), Tier 2c A cappella club (9, 11), Tier 2b JV Volleyball (9-10), Tier 4a Volunteer Camp Counselor (11), Tier 4a Common App: I chose to answer the 7th prompt of the Common App that allows you to share an essay on any topic of your choice. I felt like none of the Common App prompts really spoke to me, so I chose to write an essay on a random topic that better allowed me to express my personality. “The table is set, the food is prepared, and my mind is racing as the doorbell rings. What will I ask? What will they say? Three distinct voices are speaking over each other outside and I pray I haven’t made a mistake. “If you could invite anyone to dinner, who would it be?” We all know the classic icebreaker, but now my dinner party is actually happening. I open the door and welcome Cleopatra, Otto von Bismarck, and Walt Disney inside. I start the night with the effortlessly regal Cleopatra. I’m fascinated by her historical time period—filled with unparalleled intellectual curiosity and growth—all under her brilliant leadership. Her description of the library at Alexandria mesmerizes me, and I imagine having access to such a magnificent temple of knowledge. As we talk, I realize we both love to engross ourselves in intellectual thought. Whether in the Egyptian marketplace or the high school cafeteria, we surround ourselves with insightful people who feed our intellectual curiosity. I have regular debates with my friends on topics ranging from political candidates and alternatives to traditional teaching methods, to something as trivial as where to get the best chicken tenders. I’m constantly gaining new perspectives and insight when I engage in these intellectual exchanges. Cleopatra praises my love of learning, telling me to never stop expanding my horizons. I excitedly look at Otto von Bismarck, who commands the dining room like a war cabinet. He tells me stories of tricking the French to strike first during war and creating the first social security program. I begin to understand why I’ve always admired him. Bismarck was more than a skilled military general—he was the embodiment of a great leader because he was dedicated to his cause: improving the lives of his fellow Germans. I explain that I too try to be a role model and help others. My younger peers look up to me and approach me for help as a mentor and a friend. I advise them on how to pass difficult classes by explaining challenging concepts or providing friendly encouragement. During school clubs, I take younger students under my wing, sharing my tips and tricks for conferences and competitions. When they run up to me, filled with joy, after passing a test or winning an award, I always beam with pride as they give me a giant high-five and thank me for my help. As our conversation winds down, Bismarck pats my shoulder and tells me I possess the makings of a great leader. Finally, I turn to my last guest, busy doodling on a napkin. I thank Walt Disney for giving me the happiest moments of my life. Whether I was channeling my inner mermaid or magic carpet-riding princess, or bopping my head to the infectious tune of It’s A Small World, he’s never failed to put a smile on my face. We bond over our love of entertaining others with our wild imaginations. I explain to Walt how acting is my way to let my imagination run free as I immerse myself in another world and create backstories for characters only I will ever get to know. Countless song lyrics, storylines, or show-stopping musicals are hidden in my head, but I rarely share them, fearing that my imagination might seem childish to others. Yet Walt never had that fear; he shared the fanciful worlds he dreamt up, spreading joy to millions. He encourages me to do the same, so that I too can share the gift of laughter and happiness with those around me. As the courses came and went, the lively conversation never ceased. Eventually, our plates were empty, our stomachs were full, and I had to say goodbye to my guests. Throughout the night, I recognized myself in each of these historical figures, and now their stories, wisdom, and guidance will continue to influence me for the rest of my life.” Cornell Supplement: Cornell only required one supplemental essay that’s specific to the school you apply to. The Human Ecology supplement was “How have your experiences influenced you to apply to the College of Human Ecology? How will your choice of major impact your goals and plans for the future?” “My Model United Nations mentor used to scribble tornadoes on the border of his paper during resolution presentations. “This is the worst part about committee,” he confided in me, and, as it was my first committee, I believed him. The excitement of the debates had come to a lull and I thought there was nothing left to learn. As monotone voices droned on about their proposed solutions, I followed his lead and covered my notepad in tornadoes of every shape and size until my notes were indecipherable underneath all the chaos. To this day, I’ve never sat in a Model UN committee without scribbling tornadoes on my paper as an homage to my first experience. However, as far as I’m concerned my mentor had it all wrong: resolution writing is where the excitement begins. Yes, I love the adrenaline rush I get when I address the entire committee. Standing in front of my peers, embodying the persona of a world leader, and commanding the attention of a room will never fail to excite me. But, without question, my favorite part about Model UN is physically making change, and that happens during resolution writing. Writing policy is my opportunity to turn words into action. By compiling ideas discussed during committee and organizing them into working papers, I can detail specific plans for nations to follow. This is not a quick process; compiling solutions, reworking ideas, and brainstorming more specific action plans can take days. My mentor drew tornadoes to pass the time during this “boring” period of committee. I, on the other hand, see the possibilities swirling around me like a giant tornado for me to tame, which I find exhilarating. It’s also a collaborative experience; I work with my allies to exchange solutions and arrive at the most advantageous ones together. The time crunch of assembling and rewriting working papers is even more exciting than delivering speeches since I am actively improving communities—albeit in a fake setting—and formulating ideas I can use in the future to improve real communities. While I love the thrill of writing policy in a controlled committee environment, I’m eager to learn how to make an impact in the real world. The College of Human Ecology’s Policy Analysis and Management major will teach me how to effectively analyze policy in order to construct the best possible solutions. The focus on a holistic education with classes in a wide array of topics is very appealing to me as I have not yet decided on a specific field to concentrate on. PAM will provide me with the foundation and tools to create policy, while the open curriculum will give me the freedom to explore a variety of subjects that will help me determine the areas I would like to pursue. The access to research facilities, programs, and brilliant faculty that Cornell offers would ensure that my education continues outside of the classroom. The first-hand exposure in Cornell’s numerous centers like the Cornell Institute for Public Affairs or the Bronfenbrenner Center for Translational Research would further enrich my Human Ecology education. I also look forward to working with the nation’s top policy makers, and PAM’s partnership with the Cornell in Washington program would be a great opportunity to gain a hands-on education in my desired field of work. What began with small scribbles of tornadoes to pass the time in committee became a passion for creating solutions to address global chaotic challenges. Participating in Model UN and writing resolutions has whet my appetite to the field of public policy. I want to change the world for the better, and with the interdisciplinary education about social challenges and policy that the Policy Analysis and Management major provides I will be able to expand my personal interest and skills to benefit the world.” I asked my APUSH teacher and AP Chemistry teacher for letters of recommendation. I chose my APUSH teacher because that was my favorite class I took Junior year. I put in the most effort for APUSH and I felt I showed my true intellectual engagement and capabilities in that class. The teacher was new that year, but over the course of the year I got to know him very well and I felt like he could encapsulate my passion for learning in his letter. My AP Chemistry teacher also taught my Honors Chemistry class Sophomore year, so I knew her very well after spending two years with her. Because chemistry was not my favorite subject, and I did struggle in it at times, I chose her to write about my character when I’m faced with challenges. I also experienced major academic growth not just in AP Chemistry, but from the beginning of Sophomore year to the end of Junior year, and I felt like she would be able to capture that growth in her letter. I had an alumni interview after I submitted my application that was very casual. It was more of a chance for me to ask my interviewer questions about Cornell than for her to learn about me. I think the interview went well, although it was clear it was not important to my admission decision since the interviewer brought her 6 year old daughter with her who kept interrupting our interview. However, still being personable and professional in this casual setting could have only helped my application. Cornell is unique because of the different undergraduate schools that you directly apply to. It’s important that you actually research each of the different schools and the specific majors within them since some schools might offer majors that surprise you. Even if you don’t know what specific major you want, your profile (classes, extracurriculars, interests, etc) should ideally align with the offerings and values of your chosen school. You can always transfer schools once you get in, but you shouldn’t apply to one school because you think it will be easier to get into if you aren’t interested in that school’s offerings. Class year: Cornell Class of 2021 Unweighted GPA: Mostly As and Bs AP/IB Courses taken each year Freshman Sophomore Junior Senior N/A N/A AP Gov AP Bio AP Calc AB Number of honors courses: 3, all math/science US Presidential Award for Academic Excellence (12) Note: Admissions officers evaluate extracurriculars using the four-tier system, with Tier 1 referring to the rarest, most impressive activities, and Tier 4 referring to the most common. In-between, there are subtiers to distinguish between activities even further. Find out your extracurricular tiers with our free chancing engine. Student Ambassador/Tour Guide (10-12) – Tier 2c Library Advisory Board Member (11-12) – Tier 2c Baking Club President (12) – Tier 2c Lacrosse (9-11) – Tier 4a Rowing (11-12) – Tier 4a Peer Tutor (9) – Tier 4a Model UN (11-12) – Tier 4a I answered the first Common App essay about sharing your personal story: Some students have a background, identity, interest, or talent that is so meaningful they believe their application would be incomplete without it. If this sounds like you, then please share your story. In this essay, I discussed how coming from a rural town in Pennsylvania and being raised by a single parent shaped me as a person and as a student. The theme of my essay was running a race, and I talked about milestones in my life that got me to be applying to college against many odds. I also wrote a supplement for the College of Human Ecology at Cornell: How has your decision to apply to the College of Human Ecology been influenced by your related experiences? How will your choice of major impact your goals and plans for the future? When I was applying to college, I was still pre-med and applied as a Human Biology, Health and Society major. My essay discusses why this unique major appealed to me in a way that regular biology majors didn’t. I wanted to study medicine, but I wanted my biology knowledge to be accompanied by health and the impacts society and socioeconomic status have on health and the field of medicine. I asked my AP Bio teacher and my English teacher with whom I had a great relationship; he was my advisor/mentor throughout high school. I was offered an alumni interview and I thought it went well. Cornell has a regional alumni interview system, so the person who interviewed me was familiar with my small high school. He even knew other students from my school who had gone to Cornell, which was cool. My tip would be to research Cornell’s eight undergraduate colleges and decide which one appeals to you the most and where you feel you’d have the best fit. When you apply to Cornell, you have to apply to a specific college, so it’s worth your while to really spend time deciding what school would be best for you. Class year: Graduated Cornell in 2021 Major: Industrial and Labor Relations (ILR School) Application timeline: Regular Decision Gender: Female Race/Ethnicity: White Nationality: American Special circumstances: None Unweighted GPA: 3.9 Number of AP/IB courses: 5 AP/IB Courses taken each year Freshman Sophomore Junior Senior AP English Language AP European History AP US History AP Spanish AP Calc AB Number of Honors Courses: 2 SAT/ACT Score: 32 Superscore: 32 Number of times taken: 2 State Student Leader for Legislative Policy and Change Schoolwide Leadership Award Daughters of the American Revolution Finalist Scholastic Art Award English Award History Award Speech Awards Note: Admissions officers evaluate extracurriculars using the four-tier system, with Tier 1 referring to the rarest, most impressive activities, and Tier 4 referring to the most common. In-between, there are subtiers to distinguish between activities even further. Find out your extracurricular tiers with our free chancing engine. State Student Leader for Legislative Policy and Change (10-12) Tier 1c Speech Captain (9-12) Tier 2a Museum Historian (9-12) Tier 4a Lacrosse Team (9-12) Tier 4a Camp Counselor (9-12) Tier 3c My Common App essay and my school specific essay discussed my interest in bridging perspectives between urban and rural high schoolers. Through my experience leading a conference on policy and change within my state, I learned various perspectives on political issues from people my own age. My Common App essay described my surprise when I realized how different these opinions were, despite the fact that all participants were my same age. My Cornell specific essay tied this experience with the School of Industrial and Labor Relations, and discussed how an education that investigated the labor market would help me understand all perspectives. I also mentioned how I would want to take my education and return to my home state to work in government. I asked my AP US History teacher as well as my Honors Chemistry teacher for letters of recommendation. I excelled in AP US and had a great relationship with my teacher. I was a student who actively participated in class and always tried my best. In my Honors Chemistry class, however, I struggled a lot at the beginning of the year. I met with my teacher often to discuss confusing concepts, but I always maintained a good attitude in the class. I asked him for a letter as I believed that his letter would show that I persevered through a difficult class. I was selected for an interview with an alumni of Cornell ILR. My interviewer initially told me that our conversation had no impact on admissions, but after our call he said that he would write to admissions telling them that I would be a good fit for the ILR program. He asked me questions about ILR and why I was interested, so I was glad that I had done sufficient research on the school before my interview. I talked about how I wanted to learn more about the division between rural and urban economic, political, and labor perspectives. I felt good about the interview because I felt like my fit with Cornell’s program was clear in my responses. While Cornell is a super selective school, your personal chances of acceptance may actually be higher or lower, depending on your profile. For example, if your grades, test scores, and extracurriculars are better than those of the average accepted student, you may have more favorable chances than the listed admissions rate. To better understand your chances, we recommend using our free admissions calculator. Using your grades, test scores, and extracurriculars, we’ll estimate your odds of acceptance, and give you tips on improving your profile. You can also search for best-fit schools based on your chances, and on other factors like size, location, majors and more. This tool will make it a lot easier to create a strategy for your college application process!What’s Covered:
How Hard Is it to Get Into Cornell?
Student 1
Demographics and Context
Major: Policy Analysis and Management (College of Human Ecology)
Application timeline: Early Decision
Gender: Female
Race/Ethnicity: White
Nationality: American
Special circumstances: Dual-parent and sibling legacy. I also did a summer program at Cornell the summer before my senior year, where I got an A+ in a class that went on my Cornell transcript. This likely helped my application by showing both my demonstrated interest and ability to handle the rigor of Cornell courses.Academics
Number of AP/IB courses: 8 AP classes
Number of honors courses: 9 honors classes
N/A
Superscore: Cornell superscores, but since I only had one test, this didn’t apply.
Awards and Honors
Extracurriculars
Essays
Rec Letters
Interview
Tips for Applicants
Student 2
Demographics and Context
Major: Policy Analysis and Management (College of Human Ecology)
Application timeline: Regular Decision
Gender: Woman
Race/Ethnicity: Haitian and Nigerian
Nationality: American
Special circumstances: First-generation, low-income, single-parent householdAcademics
Number of AP/IB courses: 3
ACT Score: 33
Number of times taken: 2Awards and Honors
Extracurriculars
Essays
Rec Letters
Interview
Tips for Applicants
Student 3
Demographics and context
Academics
Awards and Honors
Extracurriculars
Essays
Rec Letters
Interview
Tips for Applicants
What Are Your Chances at Cornell?
