Location: Ithaca, New York
Type: Private research university (Ivy-League)
Cornell University‘s main campus in Ithaca, New York, is situated amongst 2300 acres in the heart of New York’s Finger Lakes District. Ithaca has been named one of the top 100 places to live, a top 10 recreation city, a best green place to live, and one of the “foodiest” towns in America. The City of Syracuse is under an hour away, and frequent buses to NYC allow for day trips.
Both a private university and the land-grant institution of New York State, Cornell University is the most educationally diverse member of the Ivy League. On the Ithaca campus alone nearly 20,000 students representing every state and 120 countries choose from among 4,000 courses in 11 undergraduate, graduate, and professional schools. Many undergraduates participate in a wide range of interdisciplinary programs, play meaningful roles in original research, and study in Cornell programs in Washington, New York City, and the world over. There are seven undergraduate units and four graduate and professional units in Ithaca, two medical graduate and professional units in New York City, and one in Doha, Qatar. The Cornell Tech campus in New York City is the latest addition.
In 2015 Cornell University ranked No. 18 best university in the world according to the 2015-16 Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings. The School of Hotel Administration ranked No. 1 hospitality and hotel management school in the world for 2015 by CEOWORLD magazine.
Cornell University’s vision is to be widely recognized as a top-ten research university in the world, and a model university for the interweaving of liberal education and fundamental knowledge with practical education and impact on societal and world problems.
Fast Facts:
- 21% of the student body is international (2015) from 122 countries
- Former and present faculty and alumni include 50 Nobel Laureates and 14 living billionaires
- Several of the university buildings are listed on the National Register of Historic Places
- Travel+Leisure listed Cornell’s Ithaca Campus as among the most beautiful in the United States
- Adjacent to the main Ithaca campus, Cornell University owns a 2800 acre botanical garden with flowers, trees, ponds and manicured trails
- Opened the first medical school outside of the U.S. in Education City (near Doha), Qatar in September 2004
- Ranked 10th in the 2013 Business Insider Best Colleges in America ranking
- In its annual edition of “America’s Best Architecture & Design Schools”, the journal Design Intelligence has consistently ranked Cornell’s Bachelor of Architecture program as number one in the nation (2000–2002, 2005–2007, 2009–2013 and 2015-2016)
Athletics:
The Cornell University athletic team are known as the ‘Big Red’. They participate in the Ivy League Conference and are ranked in the NCAA Division I.
Men’s teams: Baseball, basketball, crew (rowing), cross country/track, football, golf, ice hockey, lacrosse, polo, sailing, soccer, squash, swimming/diving, tennis, and wrestling.
Women’s teams: Basketball, crew (rowing), cross country/track, equestrian, fencing, field hockey, gymnastics, ice hockey, lacrosse, polo, sailing, soccer, softball, squash, swimming/diving, tennis, and volleyball.
School Information:
Programs:
Cornell offers nearly 80 formal major fields as well as challenging dual-degree programs and a score of interdisciplinary majors that cross traditional departmental boundaries.
Cornell University program information: https://www.cornell.edu/academics/fields.cfm
Housing:
First-year undergraduates live with their classmates on North Campus in either Residence Halls or Program Houses.
Residence Halls: Cornell’s first-year residence halls are friendly and supportive communities where residents live, learn, socialize, and study together. All are coed with the exception of Balch Hall, which is open to first-year women only.
Program Houses: Program Houses are themed residence halls celebrating a special interest or cultural background. These communities are open to first-year, transfer, and upperlevel men and women.
Both options offer live-in staff support, opportunities for faculty interaction, cultural and educational programming, and social activities.
Cornell University housing information: http://living.sas.cornell.edu/live/
An interesting note: Cornell Dining is ranked by Princeton Review as one of the top ten among U.S. colleges and universities for best campus food.
Entry Requirements:
All international students must meet the same test requirements as our first-year or our transfer applicants. SAT or ACT and SAT Subject Test requirements cannot be waived based on the completion or submission of IB, A-levels, or other international credentials.
Complete the Common Application and the Cornell University Questions and Writing Supplement
Submit the School Report (from your high school guidance counselor)
Counselor recommendation
Two teacher evaluations
$80 application fee or fee waiver
Required standardized test scores (only scores sent directly to us from testing agencies are accepted)
Official secondary/high school transcript
Other items that may be required by the Cornell undergraduate college or school to which you’ve applied such as interviews, portfolio or design submissions.
Cornell University application information for undergraduate international students: http://admissions.cornell.edu/apply/first-year-applicants/admission-requirements
Cornell University Article: “What We Look For”
Tuition:
The estimated total cost for an international student to attend Cornell for the 2016-2017 academic year is $67,613. This includes:
Tuition and student activities fee: $50,953
Housing: $8,274
Dining: $5,626
Books & supplies: $910
Personal and misc. expenses: $1850
Cornell University information for tuition and fees: http://finaid.cornell.edu/cost-attend
Financial Aid / Scholarships:
No merit aid or athletic scholarships are awarded at Cornell; all grant aid is need-based. Cornell offers need-based financial aid to U.S. citizens, permanent residents, and students with DACA status, and has a very limited amount of need-based aid for international students.
Loans and paid student work are also available.
