How do I select a major?
At CALS we expect you to dive into your major as soon as you set foot on campus. As a result, all students must apply to a specific CALS major and are chosen based upon their academic and personal fit for that course of study. We encourage you to take time to explore the [wide breadth of majors][1] that CALS offers, a…
Should I apply for Nutritional Sciences in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences or the College of Human Ecology?
Students should consider the college-specific mission, requirements, and the family of majors offered as this will inform the educational approach and will help students determine which college will be the best fit. If your interest in nutritional sciences is focused on areas such as the global food crisis, public po…
Should I apply for Global and Public Health Sciences in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences or the College of Human Ecology?
Students should consider the college-specific mission, requirements, and the family of majors offered as this will inform the educational approach and will help students determine which college will be the best fit. Learn more about each college by reviewing their website and viewing their [virtual information sessio…
How does CALS evaluate transfer applications?
We conduct a holistic admissions process for all applicants. During our review, we are considering whether candidates have the academic backgrounds (rigor, coursework and grades) to be successful at Cornell CALS; whether the personal attributes and extracurricular experiences shared demonstrate a solid connection with…
I am currently attending an institution that is on the quarter system. How does that affect my application?
CALS semester system awards transfer credit for quarter system credits by calculating .67 credits per credit of study at an institution on the quarter system. A 5-credit quarter system course is equivalent to a 3-credit semester course. Students required to complete a full-year of biology with labs and/or chemistry I …
What is the curriculum like at CALS?
At CALS, students enjoy being able to dive right into their majors, which they have identified as academic areas they are excited to begin exploring and making connections in right away. At the same time, CALS builds in flexibility, requiring that only 55 of 120 credits to be taken in CALS and typically about 1/3 of c…
Can I still apply if I don’t meet all the admissions requirements?
The CALS Selection Committee looks for key foundation courses that applicants need to have completed or have in progress at the time of their application. Those courses are what the committee considers to be optimal preparation for a student to be successful at CALS. While the most competitive applicants are those who…
What should I do if I completed college credits in high school, and will CALS accept these transfer credits?
Overall, as an incoming first-year student, the maximum number of non-Cornell transfer credits that you would be able to bring in is 15. This includes Advanced Placement exam credit, credit earned at another college or university, and more. Please visit our website for detailed, important information about [Credit Ear…
Can I still apply as an international student if I don’t meet all the admissions requirements?
At Cornell CALS, we read applications based on where you have attended school – so your application will be reviewed within the context of the school/curriculum/country where you are a student. While we list admissions requirements by major to share with students the foundational courses that the most prepared candida…
The major I am interested in applying to is housed in two colleges at Cornell. How do I decide which college is right for me?
When considering a major that is offered through two Cornell Colleges, it is important to understand that the major requirements – the core curriculum, concentrations, faculty and opportunities (research/fieldwork/internships etc.) – are the same for students in both Colleges. What is different is the College, or acad…
