We realize that following the recent Supreme Court ruling on affirmative action, you may feel uncertain about whether you can or should discuss your race or ethnicity in your application. In fact, you may be getting advice or coaching about whether to include this information. The short answer is yes, you can talk about your race/ethnicity in your application.

The longer answer is that it’s a personal decision. At Cornell University, we value students who are open-minded, curious, and willing to connect across differences, with the annual goal of enrolling a class of aspiring scientists, artists, entrepreneurs, humanitarians, and thinkers who push the boundaries of conventional disciplines and contribute unique insights to our academic discourse. When we review your application, we want to learn about who you are and how you’ll engage with our community. If your race or ethnicity has shaped your lived experiences, interests, or some other aspect of your identity, feel free to discuss that – or not. The same goes for other identities and aspects of your background and experiences. It’s up to you.

It's important to note that outside of how it has impacted your lived experiences, race/ethnicity is not considered during the application review and selection process.