2026-27 Cycle • 1 prompt
Cornell University supplemental essays.
Every Cornell University supplemental prompt for the 2026-27 cycle, with the word limit, what they're looking for, and the most common pitfalls.
Cornell's supplements are college-specific — the prompt depends on which of the seven undergraduate schools you apply to.
Prompt 1: Students in Arts and Sciences embrace the opportunity to delve into multifaceted academic interests, embodying in 21st century terms Ezra Cornell's founding vision: '...any person... any study.' Tell us about the areas of study you are excited to explore, and specifically, why you wish to pursue them in our College.
650 wordsrequiredWhat they really want
- Cornell Arts & Sciences example — adapt to your specific college.
- Be aggressive about specificity: courses, profs, labs, programs.
- Connect 'any person any study' to your own intellectual story.
Avoid
- One-size-fits-all 'why I love your school' essay.
- Listing departments without showing how you'd combine them.
Related Cornell University pages
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