Prompt database · 2026-27 cycle
Cornell University
Deadlines
source| Early Decision | November 1, 2026 |
|---|---|
| Regular Decision | January 2, 2027 |
Essay prompts (17)
16 required · 1 program-specific
- academic interestCollege of Agriculture and Life Sciences…2026-27350 words
Source details
College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (CALS) applicants — question 1 of 2
What interests you about the major you selected? Tell us about experiences (both in and outside of the classroom), questions, and goals that influenced your choice.
This is the 2025-26 wording, carried over: Cornell University has not republished this prompt for 2026-27 yet. Schools usually post updates around the Common App opening on August 1; we re-check after that and change this text only against an official source.
- why usCollege of Agriculture and Life Sciences…2026-27350 words
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College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (CALS) applicants — question 2 of 2
What draws you to Cornell's College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (CALS)? Reflect on the learning, community, or impact opportunities that matter most to you, and share how they align with Cornell CALS (as you understand it currently).
This is the 2025-26 wording, carried over: Cornell University has not republished this prompt for 2026-27 yet. Schools usually post updates around the Common App opening on August 1; we re-check after that and change this text only against an official source.
- academic interestCollege of Architecture2026-27650 words
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College of Architecture, Art, and Planning (AAP) — Architecture (B.Arch) applicants
Describe how your interests connect to architecture. Include an example of a creative project, design experience, or personal passion that sparked your interest in pursuing a 5-year professional degree in architecture. Reflect on how this experience shaped your understanding of the field and your motivation to study architecture.
This is the 2025-26 wording, carried over: Cornell University has not republished this prompt for 2026-27 yet. Schools usually post updates around the Common App opening on August 1; we re-check after that and change this text only against an official source.
- academic interestCollege of Architecture2026-27650 words
Source details
College of Architecture, Art, and Planning (AAP) — Fine Arts (BFA) applicants
Submit an artist statement describing your creative interests and practice. Address how your work reflects your artistic voice, influences, and process, and how studying art at Cornell AAP would support and expand your practice. (You will also be prompted to upload a copy to your Slideroom portal.)
This is the 2025-26 wording, carried over: Cornell University has not republished this prompt for 2026-27 yet. Schools usually post updates around the Common App opening on August 1; we re-check after that and change this text only against an official source.
- academic interestCollege of Architecture2026-27650 words
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College of Architecture, Art, and Planning (AAP) — Urban and Regional Studies (URS) applicants
Describe your interest in urban and regional studies. Discuss experiences, ideas, or issues that have shaped your interest in cities, communities, and regional systems, and explain how URS at Cornell aligns with your academic and career goals.
This is the 2025-26 wording, carried over: Cornell University has not republished this prompt for 2026-27 yet. Schools usually post updates around the Common App opening on August 1; we re-check after that and change this text only against an official source.
- academic interestCollege of Arts & Sciences applicants2026-27650 words
At the College of Arts and Sciences, your education is yours to shape. Describe an intellectual passion, question, or idea that has captured your attention—whether it emerges from your studies or extends beyond your coursework. What specific aspects of our liberal arts curriculum would you draw on to explore and connect your varied interests?
This is the 2025-26 wording, carried over: Cornell University has not republished this prompt for 2026-27 yet. Schools usually post updates around the Common App opening on August 1; we re-check after that and change this text only against an official source.
- academic interestCornell Jeb E. Brooks School of Public Policy…2026-27650 words
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Cornell Jeb E. Brooks School of Public Policy applicants — printed under the heading "All Applicants"
Discuss your interest in pursuing a major in policy at the Cornell Jeb E. Brooks School of Public Policy and what draws you to this field of study. You are encouraged to consider including details related to your personal experiences, values, academic influences, or extracurricular activities that have shaped your perspective and future goals.
This is the 2025-26 wording, carried over: Cornell University has not republished this prompt for 2026-27 yet. Schools usually post updates around the Common App opening on August 1; we re-check after that and change this text only against an official source.
- why usCornell Jeb E. Brooks School of Public Policy…2026-27350 words
Source details
Cornell Jeb E. Brooks School of Public Policy — printed under the heading "DC Start Applicants ONLY"
Please describe why you are interested in being considered for the Brooks School DC Start program.
This is the 2025-26 wording, carried over: Cornell University has not republished this prompt for 2026-27 yet. Schools usually post updates around the Common App opening on August 1; we re-check after that and change this text only against an official source.
- academic interestCornell SC Johnson College of Business…2026-27650 words
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Cornell SC Johnson College of Business applicants (Dyson School of Applied Economics and Management or Nolan School of Hotel Administration)
What kind of 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 (the Dyson School or the Nolan School).
This is the 2025-26 wording, carried over: Cornell University has not republished this prompt for 2026-27 yet. Schools usually post updates around the Common App opening on August 1; we re-check after that and change this text only against an official source.
- academic interestCornell David A. Duffield College…2026-27200 words
Source details
Cornell David A. Duffield College of Engineering applicants — long essay 1 of 2 (the page states: "When completing your Common Application Writing Supplement, you'll be required to write two long essays and four short essays.")
Fundamentally, engineering is the application of math, science, and technology to solve complex problems. Why do you want to study engineering?
This is the 2025-26 wording, carried over: Cornell University has not republished this prompt for 2026-27 yet. Schools usually post updates around the Common App opening on August 1; we re-check after that and change this text only against an official source.
- why usCornell David A. Duffield College…2026-27200 words
Source details
Cornell David A. Duffield College of Engineering applicants — long essay 2 of 2
Why do you think you would love to study at Duffield Engineering?
This is the 2025-26 wording, carried over: Cornell University has not republished this prompt for 2026-27 yet. Schools usually post updates around the Common App opening on August 1; we re-check after that and change this text only against an official source.
- short answerCornell David A. Duffield College…2026-27100 words
Source details
Cornell David A. Duffield College of Engineering applicants — short answer 1 of 4
What brings you joy?
This is the 2025-26 wording, carried over: Cornell University has not republished this prompt for 2026-27 yet. Schools usually post updates around the Common App opening on August 1; we re-check after that and change this text only against an official source.
- communityCornell David A. Duffield College…2026-27100 words
Source details
Cornell David A. Duffield College of Engineering applicants — short answer 2 of 4
What do you believe you will contribute to the Duffield Engineering community beyond what you've already detailed in your application? What unique voice will you bring?
This is the 2025-26 wording, carried over: Cornell University has not republished this prompt for 2026-27 yet. Schools usually post updates around the Common App opening on August 1; we re-check after that and change this text only against an official source.
- activityCornell David A. Duffield College…2026-27100 words
Source details
Cornell David A. Duffield College of Engineering applicants — short answer 3 of 4
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.
This is the 2025-26 wording, carried over: Cornell University has not republished this prompt for 2026-27 yet. Schools usually post updates around the Common App opening on August 1; we re-check after that and change this text only against an official source.
- short answerCornell David A. Duffield College…2026-27100 words
Source details
Cornell David A. Duffield College of Engineering applicants — short answer 4 of 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.
This is the 2025-26 wording, carried over: Cornell University has not republished this prompt for 2026-27 yet. Schools usually post updates around the Common App opening on August 1; we re-check after that and change this text only against an official source.
- academic interestCollege of Human Ecology (CHE) applicants2026-27550 words
The College of Human Ecology prepares students to respond to human needs through an education organized around the interconnected issues that profoundly affect individuals, communities, and the institutions that shape our lives. Think about an extracurricular/community engagement/work experience that most closely connects you to the CHE mission and your intended choice of major. Tell us what that experience taught you about your broader community and its needs, and the impact you can make. How will your intended CHE major help you make that impact?
This is the 2025-26 wording, carried over: Cornell University has not republished this prompt for 2026-27 yet. Schools usually post updates around the Common App opening on August 1; we re-check after that and change this text only against an official source.
- academic interestSchool of Industrial and Labor Relations…2026-27650 words
Source details
School of Industrial and Labor Relations (ILR) applicants
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.
This is the 2025-26 wording, carried over: Cornell University has not republished this prompt for 2026-27 yet. Schools usually post updates around the Common App opening on August 1; we re-check after that and change this text only against an official source.
The school's published AI policy
If you choose to use generative AI in your application process, we expect you to do so ethically. Ethical uses of generative AI include researching colleges, brainstorming essay topics, and reviewing the grammar and spelling of your completed essays. Unethical uses include (but are not limited to) using generative AI to outline, draft, or write your essays; translating an essay written in another language; and creating images for a required portfolio.
the school’s published policyChecked Sep 8, 2026
Our reading
Cornell requires the essay to be the applicant's own writing ("it's important that we hear from you") but explicitly counts brainstorming essay topics and reviewing the grammar and spelling of a completed essay as ethical uses of generative AI; only having AI outline, draft, write, translate or create portfolio work is off-limits.
How reviews use this page
When you request a review for a Cornell University supplement, the feedback is grounded in exactly what you see here: the prompt itself, its word limit, and what the school publishes about its values and programs. That's the whole claim — calibrated to the prompt and the school's own published guidance, scored against a consistent rubric. Not insider knowledge, and never a rewrite: Second Read is a coach, not a ghostwriter. It flags weaknesses and tells you what to fix and why; it never writes a sentence of your essay.
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