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Subsections
Admission to Cornell College
Admission to Cornell College is competitive. The courses and degree programs offered by Cornell College are intendedfor students who have been well prepared at the secondary school level,have obvious motivation and a desire to learn, and have the ability andpotential to complete a carefully planned degree program and graduatefrom Cornell College. Cornell is a member of the National Association of College Admission Counseling (NACAC). As such, it adheres to NACAC's Statement of Principles of Good Practice.
Admission Procedures
Candidates for freshman admission should follow the procedures indicatedbelow in Steps 1, 2, and 3. Applicants for transfer admission shouldsend an official transcript from every institution in which they havebeen enrolled in addition to completing Steps 1 and 2. Internationalstudents should submit an official English translation of any schooldocument written in any other language. Students who are unsure as towhich admission process best represents them should contact theAdmission Office to discuss their situations personally. Once anapplicant's file is complete, the credentials will be reviewed according to their application plan--Early Decision, Early Action, or Regular Decision. The College's Admission Committee considers an applicant's academic achievement and performance, standardized tests as appropriate, the essay, leadership, strength of character, as well as other qualities apparent in the application. Course Recommendations Cornell College evaluates admission applicants' academic performance within an assessment of their college preparatory curriculum. This type of informed evaluation has proven to be the best indicator of students' probability for academic success at Cornell. The Admission Committee encourages prospective students to challenge themselves academically. The most competitive applicants for admission will have performed well in the best college preparatory courses available to them, whether honors, advanced placement (AP), or international baccalaureate (IB) courses, or concurrent enrollment courses taken in conjunction with local colleges or universities. The Admission Committee recommends your secondary school program include: - 4 years of English
- 3 or more years of mathematics
- 3 or more years of science
- 3 or more years of social studies
- 2 or more years of foreign language
Students who do not satisfy the high school course recommendations as described, but who are otherwise well qualified, may be admitted after individual review of their applications.
Step 1. Application for Admission
An application for freshman admission should be filed as far in advance of the proposed entrance date as possible, preferably during the first semester of the senior year in high school and not later than March 1. Applications received after March 1 will be considered on a space-available basis.
Transfer applications are accepted as long asspace is available, but applicants are encouraged to apply as early aspossible, as space for transfer students may be limited.
Step 2. Transcript of High School Record
The applicant's high school counselor must send to Cornell College a transcript of the applicant's academic record and a school recommendation. Transcripts are to be sent directly to the College by school officials on an appropriate form regularly used by the high school. Admission is granted on the basis of the candidate's record for the first six or seven semesters of high school. Remaining secondary school courses must be completed satisfactorily and a final transcript furnished after high school graduation.
A recommendation completed by a designated school official, typically the college counselor, is required. Though a teacher recommendation is not required, an applicant may elect to submit one to two additional letters of recommendation from teachers.
Step 3. Standardized Test Scores
All candidates for freshman admission are required to take either the American College Test (ACT) or the Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) administered by the College Entrance Examination Board. While the ACT essay is optional, you are encouraged to take this portion of the exam. The SAT Subject Tests are also optional.
Interviews and Campus Visits
Whenever possible, each candidate for admission should have a personalinterview with a member of the Admissions staff. This may be arranged onCornell's campus or at a designated off-campus site. The AdmissionsOffice is open each weekday from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., and onSaturdays by appointment from 9 a.m. until noon. During the summer(June, July, August) offices are closed on Saturday. Since manyprospective students and parents visit the Cornell campus each year,appointments for interviews should be made at least one week in advance of thedate of a campus visit.
Admission by Transfer
Students applying as transfers should have all required application materials postmarked by March 1. A statement of good standing at the institution last attended must be included along with official transcripts. Students not in good standing at other colleges should not apply to Cornell. Notification of the admission decision is on a rolling basis. Students offered admission are asked to reserve their space by May 1. Applications arriving after March 1 are considered on a space-available basis. College credits presented by transfer students will be evaluated interms of the institutions represented, the quality of the work, and therelationship of the subject matter to the Cornell curriculum (seeCredit byTransfer). The equivalent of 16 course credits (64semester hours or 96 quarter hours) is the maximum credit granted forcoursework completed at a junior or community college.
International Admission
International students seeking admission to Cornell College shouldobtain application materials from the Admissions Office. Applicants willneed to provide evidence of English language proficiency, satisfactorycompletion of secondary schooling, and sufficient financial support.Applicants are required to submit a TOEFL score but may substituteeither the SAT or ACT. The Admissions Office and Office of Intercultural Life assistinternational students in matters related to the U.S. Immigration andNaturalization Service (INS) and their F-1 visa status. Official formsand current information are available from those offices. International students with the legal status of aliens, including thosestudents with the non-immigrant status of either F or B, must maintaintheir legal status in order to be permitted to continue to enroll incourses at Cornell College. International students must be enrolled as full-time students (eight terms per year). Students who are in the process of changingstatus must have received approval, or reasonable assurance of obtainingapproval, before enrolling in courses at Cornell. The burden of proofrests with the student. Reasonable proof of filing may include astatement from INS that the forms are being processed or a registeredmail receipt showing that INS has received the forms. If an applicationfor reinstatement of status is denied by INS, the College may terminatethe student's enrollment at any time. The Director of Intercultural Life is the Designated SchoolOfficial authorized to act on behalf of Cornell in immigration matters. In cooperation with the Dean of Students Office and the Business andRegistrar's Offices, staff in the Office of Intercultural Life advise andassist international students in communications with home governmentsand educational and sponsoring agencies. They also assist withother personal and academic concerns when requested.
Advanced Standing
Cornell offers the opportunity for admission with advanced standing or admission with exemption from certain course requirements (seeExemption,Advanced Placement, andCredit by Examination). Studentsshould consult their high school counselor for information about theAdvanced Placement tests offered by the College Entrance ExaminationBoard and the College Level Examination Program or contact theEducational Testing Service, Box 592, Princeton, New Jersey 08540, or onthe World Wide Web at www.ets.org. The Cornell Registrar can answerquestions about these and other possibilities for advanced standing,such as the International Baccalaureate.
Advanced Standing for Veterans
Veterans qualifying for the Certificate of Eligibility for Educational Benefits issued by the Veterans Administration may receive advanced standing for: - college work completed under sponsorship of one of the armed services (accepted for credit on the same basis as other college or university credits transferred to Cornell);
- studies completed in service schools (evaluated in accordance with the ``Guide to the Evaluation of Educational Experiences in the Armed Forces,'' prepared by the American Council on Education);
- achievement or advanced placement examinations (see Exemption, Advanced Placement, and Credit by Examination); or
- college-level work completed at recognized foreign universities (if adequate description and confirmation are presented).
Non-Matriculated Student
Persons wishing to take a limited amount of college work may beregistered as non-matriculated students but may at any time apply foradmission to a degree program (see also ``ContinuingEducation'' ).
Continuing Education
Persons who have completed a bachelor's degree are eligible for admission as Continuing Education students. Former Cornell students who have not completed a bachelor's degree may return to Cornell as a readmitted student (see Index. Readmission). Persons who do not have a degree and do not plan to pursue a degree or certification may take up to four courses under the Continuing Education Program. Continuing Education students have the option of enrolling either full- or part-time and as degree or non-degree candidates. Degree candidates have a choice of three baccalaureate programs (see Index. Degree Programs). Students may take courses to enrich themselves, to earn transferable credits for admission to graduate programs, for teacher certification, completion of a second major or minor, or on a trial basis to decide whether they wish to matriculate as degree candidates. Cornell's unique One-Course-At-A-Time calendar makes it possible for students to enroll in the College at any time during the academic year and to choose the months of the year during which they can study. The Admission Office coordinates the admission of Continuing Education students. The Continuing Education Program offers reduced tuition in lieu of other Cornell financial aid. Continuing Education students may apply for Stafford Loans or may use Veterans' Administration or Vocational Rehabilitation benefits toward the reduced tuition. All financial aid to Continuing Education students must come from sources outside the College and will be applied toward the entire year's charges before refunds are made. Students not receiving financial aid may elect to pay for courses one at a time with payment due prior to the beginning of each course. Non-degree students may take up to four course credits at Cornell at the reduced tuition rate. Continuing Education students may use the facilities and support services of the College and are subject to the same academic regulations and procedures that apply to other Cornell students. The chief exceptions are that Continuing Education students may take as many terms off during the academic year as they wish, do not receive the ninth term free, and are not eligible to live in College housing.
Students who have received a baccalaureate degree from Cornell College and who wish to obtain another major must:
- Complete the major requirements, including any resident and/or upper-division requirements, for the second major; and
- Maintain a cumulative GPA of at least 2.00 at Cornell College.
Students who hold a baccalaureate degree from another regionally accredited college or university, and who wish to obtain another baccalaureate degree must:
- Meet admission requirements;
- Complete at least eight term credits in Cornell College campus-based programs, including any general college requirements which were not completed for the first baccalaureate degree (see Index. General Requirements for Degree Programs);
- Complete the major requirements, including resident and/or upper-division requirements, for the second degree; and
- Maintain a cumulative GPA of 2.00 at Cornell College in order to graduate.
Enrollment Reservation
Students must confirm an offer of admission, after having been notifiedof their acceptance, by paying a non-refundable $300 deposit to reserveresidence hall space and a place in the entering class. This deposit isdue by May 1, which is the national Candidates' Reply Date. | 
