Recommendations

References are a required part of the Graduate School application. Students must submit the names and contact information for their references directly on the application. These faculty receive an email with a link to an online form to complete the reference. Referees can upload or type directly into the text box provided.

Number of recommendations:Most fields require two or three letters of recommendation. Please check field admissions requirements for your proposed field.

Recommenders:Ph.D., M.A. and M.S. applicants: Letters must be submitted by faculty members from your college or institution who are acquainted with your work. If that work occurred some time ago, check with the field to see whether recommendations from those familiar with your professional performance might be acceptable.

Your rights:Under federal legislation, enrolled students may have access to their letters of recommendation. Your right of access can be waived by checking the appropriate box on the online application。

Statements of Purpose

Each applicant must submit a statement of purpose. The statement of purpose is your opportunity to help reviewers better understand your academic objectives and determine if you are a good match for the field to which you are applying.

Length and Format:The statement should be one or two pages. Include your full name and the proposed field of study at the top of each page. Please use a standard font and font size for ease of reading.

Topic:The statement of purpose should include your reasons for undertaking graduate work and an explanation of your academic interests, including their relation to your undergraduate study and professional goals.

International Transcripts

Successful applicants will have received, or be on track to receive, a baccalaureate degree from a college or university of recognized standing prior to matriculation in the Graduate School. For students with foreign credentials, an equivalent international degree is required.

Requirements for international credentials:All transcripts, diplomas or academic records must be official documents issued by the college or university and provided in the original language.

If not issued by the college or university as original documents, they should be notarized, full-sized photocopies.
A certified English translation must accompany the transcript or diploma if the original language is not English.

Transcripts should include grades received in each subject each year, the name of the degree program in which the applicant is enrolled, and the dates of attendance.

Transcripts should be scanned and uploaded at the time of application. Admitted applicants will be required to send an official paper transcript prior to registration, as well as a certified copy of their diploma or degree certificate.

International Degree Equivalencies

Diploma or Bachelor's Degree earned after four to five years of additional study.

English Language Proficiency Requirement

TOEFL： minimum score of 600 (paper-based) or 250 (computer-based) .

Send scores to Cornell University Graduate School, Code # 2098. 
The TOEFL score must be dated within two years of your program's application deadline. Photocopies of TOEFL score reports will not be accepted.

Take the TOEFL early enough to have the results submitted at the time of your application. Exam dates are posted on the TOEFL web site. Please note that we cannot confirm receipt of test scores until an applicant has submitted an online application.

If you receive your test results and any sub-score does not meet the requirement, you should make arrangements to retake the test.

IELTS：The Graduate School requires an overall band score of a 7.0 or higher on the IELTS.

When you register for the exam, you may select up to five institutions to which you would like to have your scores sent. You may also submit a request to your test center to have additional score reports sent to institutions not originally listed on your registration form.
Cornell's Graduate School downloads IELTS scores that have been transmitted to our e-download account. Please contact your test center and request that your scores be sent to the following IELTS e-download account: Cornell University Graduate Admissions, 143 Caldwell Hall, Ithaca, NY 14853. We will not accept paper IELTS test report forms unless a test center is unable to transmit your scores electronically.