cornell transfer option essay

Calculate for all schools

Your chance of acceptance, your chancing factors, extracurriculars, cornell guaranteed transfer option: how does it work.

I've heard about the Cornell guaranteed transfer option, but I'm a little confused about how it works. Can someone explain the process and the benefits it might provide for someone who's considering applying to Cornell? Thanks!

Sure, I'd be happy to explain the Cornell Guaranteed Transfer Option (GTO)! The GTO is a unique program offered by Cornell to a select group of applicants who were not admitted during the regular decision process. Instead, they are offered a guaranteed transfer option, which means that if they meet certain requirements after completing their freshman year at another accredited college or university, they are guaranteed admission to Cornell as a transfer student for their sophomore year.

Here's an overview of the process:

1. Receive the GTO offer: When you apply to Cornell and receive your decision, you might be offered the GTO if you were not admitted as a freshman. This offer will outline the specific college within Cornell that the guarantee applies to, along with the requirements you must meet to take advantage of the guarantee.

2. Enroll in another college: You will need to attend another accredited college or university for your freshman year. It is important to choose a school where you can thrive academically, as you will need to meet the GPA and coursework requirements outlined in your GTO offer.

3. Meet the requirements: During your freshman year, focus on maintaining the required GPA and completing the necessary coursework as specified in your GTO offer. This coursework may include a combination of prerequisites, major-specific classes, and general education courses.

4. Apply to Cornell as a transfer: After completing your freshman year and meeting the outlined requirements, you will need to apply to Cornell as a transfer student. Along with the regular transfer application, you will submit proof that you have met the GTO requirements.

5. Admission to Cornell: If you've met all the requirements, you'll receive guaranteed admission to Cornell for your sophomore year. You'll then be able to transfer into the specified college within Cornell and continue your education there.

Some benefits of the GTO program include:

- A clear path to Cornell: GTO provides a specific roadmap to gain admission to Cornell, which allows you to plan your freshman year accordingly.

- Less uncertainty: Knowing you have a guaranteed spot at Cornell can alleviate some of the stress and uncertainty during your freshman year at another institution, as long as you maintain the required academic performance.

- Transfer credits: In many cases, the credits you earn during your freshman year at your current institution will transfer to Cornell, so you can continue your education without any significant delays.

Keep in mind that the GTO is not available for all colleges within Cornell and is typically only offered to a small number of applicants. However, if you receive a GTO offer and are committed to attending Cornell, this unique program can serve as a valuable opportunity to join the university as a transfer student.

I hope this information helps clarify the process and benefits of Cornell's Guaranteed Transfer Option. Finally, if you want some tips on how to maximize your chances of outright acceptance at Cornell, check out this blog post from CollegeVine, which breaks down how to tackle Cornell's school-specific supplemental essays: https://blog.collegevine.com/how-to-write-the-cornell-university-essays/. While the GTO is a great alternative path to acceptance, transferring schools can still be stressful, and plus, Cornell is a highly selective institution, so your application needs to be extremely strong for you to be considered for GTO. Good luck!

About CollegeVine’s Expert FAQ

CollegeVine’s Q&A seeks to offer informed perspectives on commonly asked admissions questions. Every answer is refined and validated by our team of admissions experts to ensure it resonates with trusted knowledge in the field.

Discover CALS

See how our current work and research is bringing new thinking and new solutions to some of today's biggest challenges.

• Agriculture
• Applied Economics
• Climate Change
• Communication
• Environment
• Global Development
• Health + Nutrition

CALS Transfer Option

The College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (CALS) is pleased to offer a Transfer Option, or "TO", to a select number of first-year applicants. Due to first-year enrollment restrictions and the depth of the CALS applicant group, we are unable to offer admission to many applicants who have shown outstanding academic potential. While this is not a guarantee of admission , we look forward to working with you on this path to applying for transfer!

What is a Transfer Option?

The Transfer Option is non-binding . Students may decide not to proceed with their TO at any time.

All TOs will have access to CALS Admissions support , including TO-specific information sessions, contact with CALS ambassadors, and Chatter. 

• TO candidates will complete a short and no-cost application for Fall 2025.

The Transfer Option pertains to the major within CALS to which you initially applied.  

What's Next?

• Complete the TO Reply Form! You must reply to the CALS Admissions Office using the TO Reply Form on or before the deadline to confirm your interest in this offer.  Candidates who do not submit a response to the TO offer by the deadline are no longer eligible to participate in the Transfer Option.
• Join us on Chatter! Chatter is a place where you can connect with other TO candidates and ask questions of the CALS admissions team. There are also links to FAQs as well as other important TO resources.  
• Choose a first year institution! This choice is completely up to you! You may choose any 2-year or 4-year accredited institution, preferably in the United States. It is extremely important that you choose a school where you can see yourself being happy for the remainder of your college career, and where you will be able to complete the course requirements for your Transfer Option.

Transfer Option Requirements

• Attend an accredited 2- or 4-year institution that provides access to the course requirements for your CALS major. 
• Study full-time during the academic year (August - May). 
• Remain in good academic and disciplinary standing during the academic year. 
• Complete all course requirements for your major with a "B" or better in each course.   
• Earn a 3.0 cumulative GPA (3.5 for Biological Sciences) in your first college semester and a 3.0 average at mid-term during the second semester.  
• All required courses must be completed for a grade and credit. Cornell does not accept Pass/Fail coursework. 
• Required courses must be complete or in-progress at the time of application. 

To prepare for studying within the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences each academic major has key foundation courses that transfer option candidates need to complete or have in progress at the time of their application.

Select the major in which you were offered the Transfer Option. Scroll to the "Transfer" tab, and select "Transfers Entering as Sophomores" to view your specific requirements. 

• Agricultural Sciences
• Atmospheric Science
• Animal Science
• Biological Engineering
• Biological Sciences
• Biology and Society
• Biometry and Statistics
• Earth and Atmospheric Sciences
• Environment & Sustainability
• Environmental Engineering
• Food Science
• Information Science
• Landscape Architecture
• Nutritional Sciences
• Plant Sciences
• Viticulture and Enology

Here are some options that students often consider:

• Community College Courses - These can be taken either concurrently (Fall/Spring) or in a Winter term
• Online coursework - These are acceptable as long as they are taken for a grade from an accredited institution. (No Coursera, MOOCs, or certificate program courses)

We ask that you use your best judgement to find courses that will fulfill your major requirements, and have provided resources to help! Each major requirements page has a list of Cornell courses that current students often take. Click each link to view the course descriptions, and in some cases, the syllabi. Finding courses at your institution that closely align to the course descriptions and objectives of these Cornell courses will put you in the best possible position for your courses to transfer. 

Please note that our Admissions team will not be able to advise students on their semester schedules or provide official course evaluations prior to admission. We can, however, answer questions about special circumstances or any confusion that may arise throughout the year. 

CALS Transfer Policy

Online Coursework

Ap/ib credits, quarter system schools, college credit earned in high school.

Online coursework must be taken for a grade from an accredited institution. You must submit an official transcript for these courses in your application in order to be considered for transfer credit.

Cornell does not accept MOOCs or certificate courses for academic credit.

In some cases, AP or IB credit may be used to fulfill required course requirements. Please use the  CALS Transfer Credit Policy   to see which scores will count for credit.  Please note that some majors will not accept test credit, and this will be noted on their requirements pages. 

Note: Placing out of a course at your first institution may not fulfill a course requirement for the CALS Transfer Option, you must meet Cornell's minimum score to receive credit.  

CALS semester system awards 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.  

If your major requires two semesters of a course (ex: Biology), plan on taking two quarters of Biology if they are 5 credits each.

Cornell University does not accept credit for courses sponsored by colleges or universities but taught in the high school to high school students (dual enrollment). CALS does not accept credit from College Now, SUPA, University in High School, NOLS and other comparable programs. CALS does not accept credit for programs offered to students for completion of high school degree in a college setting such as, but not limited to, Bard, TAMS, etc.  

If you have taken a college course while in high school, on a college campus, and it did not count towards your high school graduation requirements, you may fill out a College Credit Earned in High School form for possible consideration.  

Feel free to reach out to us at cals_admissions [at] cornell.edu (cals_admissions[at]cornell[dot]edu) or on Chatter. Additionally, check out our FAQ for answers to some more specific questions.

• Frequently Asked Questions

The Transfer Option Timeline

April - may.

• Complete and submit the TO Reply Form by the expressed deadline in your email from CALS Admissions
• Attend a Transfer Option Introductory Information session (Invitations will be sent to your email)
• TO Check-in Webinar - Learn more about the application process (Will be recorded)
• Deadline for TO Change of Major requests
• TO application link will be emailed to you no later than January 31st.
• TO Application Webinar - Walk through the application process with CALS Admissions (Will be recorded)
• TO Application due March 15, 2025
• Financial Aid application due (if applicable)
• Transfer decisions will be released on a rolling basis

We openly share valuable knowledge.

Sign up for more insights, discoveries and solutions.

Transfer Option Frequently Asked Questions

The Cornell SC Johnson College of Business is pleased to offer transfer options (TOs) to a select number of first-year applicants. Due to first-year enrollment restrictions and the depth of the applicant group, we are unable to offer admission to many applicants who have shown outstanding academic potential and passion for our programs.

The TO is another way for these students to enter our college.

About Transfer Options

Can you tell me why the selection committee made this decision.

The TO allows us to continue to work with a select group of talented applicants whom we did not admit but who remain committed to Cornell and the Cornell SC Johnson College of Business.

Is there a decision appeal process?

No. All decisions are final and there is no appeal process.

If I accept the TO, am I obligated to complete the transfer process?

No. If you are not certain that you will want to transfer, we recommend that you complete the form now and withdraw later if you ultimately decide not to transfer. Saying “yes” to the transfer option is not binding and you can decide to withdraw from the transfer option at any time by communicating with the Cornell SC Johnson College of Business admissions office.

Can I use this TO decision to apply to another Cornell undergraduate unit?

This offer is valid only for the school within the Cornell SC Johnson College of Business that extended you the transfer option. Should your interests change, you must apply as an external transfer candidate to the Cornell program that best meets your current interests.

What support is available for incoming transfer students?

All incoming students, including transfer students, participate in required orientation programming. In addition, you are assigned an advisor in your school’s Office of Student Services to walk you through the onboarding process.

Will I be able to study abroad or take Cornell electives?

Students may fulfill a limited number of requirements during study abroad opportunities, with the majority of credits fulfilling free electives. Individual circumstances will determine the opportunity to study abroad. Some transfer students may be advised to consider a summer abroad versus a semester abroad. There are also international study opportunities available through select courses.

Transfer Credits

What courses should i take.

Students should take introductory business courses that are also first-year requirements for the Dyson School such as microeconomics, calculus, statistics, and a college writing course. These courses must be taken at college* before matriculating to the Dyson School.

We also recommend students take macroeconomics, an introductory biology course, chemistry, physics, or courses in the humanities to satisfy liberal arts requirements at the Dyson School.

*Note: College coursework taken in high school, before receiving your high school diploma, will not be considered as a requirement taken in college. If the course was taken in high school, and counted toward high school degree requirements, it will not transfer to the Dyson School.

Does it matter which college/school I attend to begin my college career?

We recommend you choose a school that is your next best fit and that will allow you the flexibility to take general-education and introductory-level business courses.

Cornell’s College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (CALS) has  articulation agreements  with 31 New York State colleges and universities. An articulation agreement matches coursework between schools and is designed to help students make a smooth transition when transferring to CALS. Admission to CALS is not limited to students attending an institution with an articulation agreement.

How will my credits transfer?

Transfer credits are evaluated on a case-by-case basis. View  guidelines (PDF)  on what credits may transfer to the Dyson School.

How will Advanced Placement (AP) or International Baccalaureate (IB) credit(s) transfer?

The Dyson School will only accept a maximum of 15 advanced standing test credits. To see what scores are accepted into the Dyson School curriculum, please refer to the Credit Placement Chart .

Note: The Dyson School does not accept advanced testing credit for calculus, statistics, microeconomics, or macroeconomics. Students applying to transfer to Dyson, must take these courses in college* before enrolling in the Dyson School.

*College coursework taken in high school, before receiving your high school diploma, will not be considered as a requirement taken in college. If the course was taken in high school, and counted toward high school degree requirements, it will not transfer to the Dyson School.

Will both my grade point average and college credits transfer?

Earning a “B” or better will allow earned credits to transfer. Your GPA does not transfer and is not calculated in your Cornell GPA.

How do trimester- or quarter-system credits transfer?

In your college catalog, there will be a paragraph on the school’s credit system, and it should also provide the conversion from that credit to semester hours. If not, you may want to contact the registrar of your college to ask how these credits will convert to the semester system.

For the quarter system, we generally calculate that 1 quarter-system credit = .666 semester credits. Please note that we do not round up (e.g., if the total number of credits towards graduation requirements = 15.9, you will receive 15 credits.)

What happens if I do not meet the conditions of the TO? For example, what if I don't meet the GPA or grade requirement?

Students who have not completed the TO requirements will still be considered for transfer admission, but will be reviewed with the regular transfer applicants.

The selection committee will evaluate each application on a case-by-case basis and take into account that the applicant was offered the TO.

I am considering attending a college/university outside the United States next year. Will that be OK?

We have found that students who attend institutions outside the U.S. often have a difficult time fulfilling the course requirements, because the content may vary greatly from what is offered at U.S. institutions.

I am considering attending a school/university that uses "shadow grading" or provides only pass/fail grades (no GPA). Is that OK?

Pass/fail grading or written evaluations will not satisfy the TO requirements. You will be required to submit grades to the admissions committee in order to demonstrate your academic performance in the courses you are taking.

Pass/fail grades will not count for credit. To be considered a transfer student, you must complete 12 or more college credits (post-high school graduation).

Can I take a required course pass/fall?

No. You must receive a grade in the course for it to count toward transfer requirements and to transfer for credit to Cornell. In Cornell’s view, taking a course P/F is like not taking the course at all. If your institution has a policy that all grades are taken P/F, you must ask to have your grades uncovered to receive credit.

How to Transfer

Do i need to complete a new application for transfer admission.

To reapply as a TO candidate, you must submit an abbreviated TO application and required supplemental documents. The TO application will be emailed in early December.

If you do not submit the Statement of Intent form accepting the transfer option or if you decline the transfer option, you are no longer a TO candidate. You may opt later to reapply to Cornell but will be required to apply as an external transfer student and your application will be reviewed accordingly.

Will I need to reapply for financial aid?

Yes, you will need to resubmit your application for financial aid at the time of application. Please use the  financial aid calculator  to receive an estimated financial aid package or visit  finaid.cornell.edu .

Important Dates

• December: Link to TO application will be emailed
• March: TO application and financial aid application deadline (application fee waived)
• April – June: TO decision notification
• Within three weeks of decision notification: Email with preliminary transfer credit evaluation

Transfer Option Frequently Asked Questions

The Cornell SC Johnson College of Business is pleased to offer transfer options (TOs) to a select number of first-year applicants. Due to first-year enrollment restrictions and the depth of the applicant group, we are unable to offer admission to many applicants who have shown outstanding academic potential and passion for our programs.

Upon official invitation, TO is another way for these students to enter our college.

About Transfer Options

Can you tell me why the selection committee made this decision.

The TO allows us to continue to work with a select group of talented applicants whom we did not admit but who remain committed to Cornell and the Cornell Peter and Stephanie Nolan School of Hotel Administration.

Is there a decision appeal process?

No. All decisions are final and there is no appeal process.

If I accept the TO, am I obligated to complete the transfer process?

No. If you are not certain that you will want to transfer, we recommend that you complete the form now and withdraw later if you ultimately decide not to transfer. Saying “yes” to the transfer option is not binding and you can decide to withdraw from the transfer option at any time by communicating with the Cornell SC Johnson College of Business admissions office.

Can I use this TO decision to apply to another Cornell undergraduate unit?

This offer is valid only for the school within the Cornell SC Johnson College of Business that extended you the transfer option. Should your interests change, you must apply as an external transfer candidate to the Cornell program that best meets your current interests.

What support is available for incoming transfer students?

All incoming students, including transfer students, participate in required orientation programming. In addition, you are assigned an advisor in your school’s Office of Student Services to walk you through the onboarding process.

Will I be able to study abroad or take Cornell electives?

Students may only fulfill their free elective credits during study abroad opportunities, so it may be very difficult to complete your core credits and study abroad. Individual circumstances will determine the opportunity to study abroad. Some transfer students may be advised to consider a summer abroad versus a semester abroad.

Will I be able to participate in the Culinary Institute of America (CIA) Alliance?

If you are interested in the CIA Alliance, we recommend that you contact  Emily Franco , director of the Nolan School/CIA Alliance, for more information.

Learn More About Culinary Institute of America (CIA) Alliance

Transfer Credits

What courses should i take.

Please refer to your TO letter for specific courses you should take during your year at another institution.

Does it matter which college/school I attend to begin my college career?

We recommend you choose a school that is your next best fit and that will allow you the flexibility to take general-education and introductory-level business courses. We do not recommend attending another hospitality program, as it can be difficult to fulfill transfer credit for our hotel administration core courses through other hospitality courses. Course syllabi must receive pre-approval from our office to fulfill hotel administration core classes.

How will my credits transfer?

Most transfer credits will fulfill non-hotel-administration (general-education) electives and free electives. While Cornell University will accept a maximum of 60 transfer credits, only 42 credits are needed to fulfill non-hotel-administration (distributive) and free electives.

On rare occasions, the Nolan School may accept transfer credit toward core courses  in the major. Up to 18 credits may be considered for transfer toward core required courses. Suggested core courses that may be considered for transfer credits include:

• HADM 1150 – Organizational Behavior and Leadership Skills
• HADM 1210 – Financial Accounting
• HADM 1410 – Microeconomics for the Service Industry

Prior to enrolling in a course  you wish to transfer into the core curriculum , please submit a syllabus and email the registrar for review at  [email protected] . This should be sent  before taking the course as there is no guarantee that courses will transfer as Nolan core courses. Please allow up to 10 business days for a response from the registrar.

How will Advanced Placement (AP) or International Baccalaureate (IB) credit(s) transfer?

Nolan School students are limited to a total of 15 test (AP, IB, GCE, A-level) credits  toward degree requirements.

With qualifying scores, Nolan School students may be awarded AP credit only in Free Electives, with two exceptions:

• AP Microeconomics-a score of a 5 will fulfill  HADM 1410
• IB Economics-a score of 7 will fulfill HADM 1410  and 3 free elective credits
• AP English Language and Composition or AP English Literature and Composition-a score of 5 will fulfill the  First-Year Writing Seminar

Will both my grade point average and college credits transfer?

Earning a C or better will allow earned credits to transfer. Your GPA does not transfer and is not calculated in your Cornell GPA.

How do trimester- or quarter-system credits transfer?

In your college catalog, there will be a paragraph on the school’s credit system, and it should also provide the conversion from that credit to semester hours. If not, you may want to contact the registrar of your college to ask how these credits will convert to the semester system.

For the quarter system, we generally calculate that 1 quarter-system credit = .666 semester credits. Please note that we do not round up (e.g., if the total number of credits towards graduation requirements = 15.9, you will receive 15 credits.)

What happens if I do not meet the conditions of the TO? For example, what if I don't meet the GPA or grade requirement?

Students who have not completed the TO requirements will still be considered for transfer admission, but will be reviewed with the regular transfer applicants.

The selection committee will evaluate each application on a case-by-case basis and take into account that the applicant was offered the TO.

I am considering attending a college/university outside the United States next year. Will that be OK?

We have found that students who attend institutions outside the U.S. often have a difficult time fulfilling the course requirements, because the content may vary greatly from what is offered at U.S. institutions.

I am considering attending a school/university that uses "shadow grading" or provides only pass/fail grades (no GPA). Is that OK?

Pass/fail grading or written evaluations will not satisfy the TO requirements. You will be required to submit grades to the admissions committee in order to demonstrate your academic performance in the courses you are taking.

Pass/fail grades will not count for credit. To be considered a transfer student, you must complete 12 or more college credits (post-high school graduation).

Can I take a required course pass/fall?

No. You must receive a grade in the course for it to count toward transfer requirements and to transfer for credit to Cornell. In Cornell’s view, taking a course P/F is like not taking the course at all. If your institution has a policy that all grades are taken P/F, you must ask to have your grades uncovered to receive credit.

How can I transfer my hospitality work experience?

All students must complete two units (400 hours each) of practice credit to fulfill Nolan School graduation requirements.

Once you have matriculated to an accredited college or university at which you will complete your TO requirements, work experience may count towards, but will not exceed, one full unit (400 hours) of practice credit. See Practice Credit requirements and guidelines.

How to Transfer

Do i need to complete a new application for transfer admission.

To re-apply as a TO candidate, you must submit an abbreviated TO application and required supplemental documents. The TO application will be emailed in early December.

If you did not submit the Statement of Intent form accepting the transfer option or if you declined the transfer option, you would need to begin a new Cornell external-transfer application if you re-applied.

Will I need to reapply for financial aid?

Yes, you will need to resubmit your application for financial aid at the time of application. Please use the  financial aid calculator  to receive an estimated financial aid package or visit  finaid.cornell.edu .

Do I have the option to complete an admissions interview?

No. Interviews are not required or offered for TO applicants.

Important Dates

• December: Email with link to the TO application
• March: TO application and financial aid application deadline (application fee waived)
• April – June: TO decision notification
• Within three weeks of decision notification: Email with preliminary transfer credit evaluation

Transfer Applicants

We are delighted you are considering transferring to Cornell Engineering. Since you are interested in our program, most likely you have completed at least one year of foundational math, science, computer programming and engineering college coursework at an engineering, engineering science or pre-engineering program. At Cornell Engineering, you can build upon that foundation in your selected engineering major. Students who have attended colleges, universities, and community colleges are welcome to apply to transfer into Cornell Engineering. We also welcome applications from international students.

Virtual Visit

Important Update to our Transfer Application Process

For the 2024-25 admissions cycle, the College of Engineering will accept transfer applications for the following majors: 

• Biological Engineering
• Biomedical Engineering
• Chemical Engineering
• Civil Engineering
• Earth and Atmospheric Sciences
• Electrical and Computer Engineering
• Engineering Physics
• Environmental Engineering
• Materials Science and Engineering
• Operations Research and Engineering

For the 2024-25 admissions cycle, the College of Engineering will not accept  external transfer applications for the following majors (this does not apply to current students wishing to apply for internal transfer to the College of Engineering from another college/school within Cornell University):

• Computer Science
• Independent Major
• Information Science Systems and Technology
• Mechanical Engineering

Information currently displayed on this page is from the previous admissions cycle (2023-24) and will be updated in early fall 2024 for the 2024-25 admissions cycle.

What You Need to Know

• You should apply as an external transfer student if you have graduated from high school and have earned over 12 credits at another college or university since your high school graduation. Current Cornell students who wish to transfer internally within the University should read through the information for internal transfers .
• The financial aid and transfer application deadlines are both March 15.
• We accept external transfer applications for fall entry only.
• We require a completed transfer course description form as part of the application. Forms are specific to your desired major. This document should be submitted after you have officially submitted your application.
• Taking the SAT or ACT is not required. If you have previously taken the SAT or ACT, it is recommended that you have an official score report sent to Cornell by the testing agency. It is not necessary to take the SAT or ACT if you have not previously done so.
• If you are an international transfer applicant for whom English is not the first language, you must submit a TOEFL or IELTS score.
• Still have questions after reviewing this site? Please contact us at [email protected] .

How to Apply

We accept the Common Application  (CA) including its College Report and Mid-Term Report. Remember to tell us about your coursework by submitting the course description form for your major in addition to your other application materials.

• Virtual Visit: Cornell Engineering
• Transfer Checklist
• Financial Aid
• Undergraduate Housing

Featured Spotlights

Investigating degenerative tendon disease and repair

Ph.D. student Lainie Eisner was drawn to Cornell specifically for its relationship with Hospital for Special Surgery in New York City. Read more about Investigating degenerative tendon disease and repair

Using tissue engineering approaches to better understand cardiovascular disease

Alex Cruz is a doctoral student in biomedical engineering from New Jersey. He studies tissue engineering approaches to calcific aortic valve disease under the guidance of Jonathan Butcher at Cornell. Read more about Using tissue engineering approaches to better understand cardiovascular disease

Assessing the feasibility (and advisability) of using Sunlight Reflection Methods

When Daniele Visioni was six months away from finishing his physics Ph.D. studies at Italy’s University of L’Aquila he took a long bus ride to Zurich, Switzerland to give a talk at an academic... Read more about Assessing the feasibility (and advisability) of using Sunlight Reflection Methods

Featured News

Committee to recommend final expressive activity policy.

The committee of faculty members, students and staff is in the process of reviewing the university’s interim expressive activity policy and will recommend a final policy early in the fall semester. Read more about Committee to recommend final expressive activity policy

Machine learning explains material’s thermal conductivity

Using a combination of machine learning and powerful X-rays, Cornell researchers have solved a mystery behind the unusual behavior seen in a class of materials with potential for thermoelectric energy... Read more about Machine learning explains material’s thermal conductivity

2030 Project plans climate-themed speaker series

A policy influencer, an entrepreneur, an academic and a journalist will offer their perspectives on how to make a difference in addressing climate change in the Cornell Climate Impact Speaker Series... Read more about 2030 Project plans climate-themed speaker series

Cornell University Internal Transfer

Search cornell admissions, start the process.

Learn about important dates, requirements, and the application itself. If you are still exploring your options, make sure to review the Navigating Internal Transfer page for helpful insight on how to approach this process.

Ready to Apply?

Application available October 1

Internal Transfer Application Timeline

What to Know Before You Apply

Review the following important information about the internal transfer process:

• You can only apply to one college or school per term.
• You must remain in your home college or school for two semesters before you can enroll in a new college or school.
• You should remain in good academic standing with your current college or school and be in contact with your home college advisor throughout the process.
• Your grades from your current term  are important, and your decision will be made at the end of the term when your final grades are available.
• The essay prompts are specific to the college or school that you are applying to.
• Internal transfer applicants are reviewed during a selection process, and spaces may be limited. There is no guarantee of admission even if you meet all the admissions requirements.
• Internal transfer decisions are final. There is no appeal process.
• If you are admitted through the internal transfer process, it is assumed that you will proceed with the transfer unless you proactively decline the offer. You can decline by notifying the admissions office of the college or school you were admitted into by the date indicated on your offer letter.
• While it is possible to apply for internal transfer more than once (to the same college or school or a different college or school than your initial application), this is not encouraged. Please be in touch with that college or school before submitting a new internal transfer application.

Review Requirements by College and/or School

The college of agriculture and life sciences, the college of architecture, art, and planning, the college of arts & sciences.

• The Cornell Jeb E. Brooks School of Public Policy

The College of Engineering

The college of human ecology.

• The School of Industrial and Labor Relations
• Charles H. Dyson School of Applied Economics & Management
• Cornell Peter and Stephanie Nolan School of Hotel Administration

Submit Your Application

Once you've explored your possible pathways, considered all of the impacts of internal transfer, and reviewed the appropriate requirements, you're ready to submit your application. Application Available October 1

View Your Decision

You will receive your decision via your Cornell email once it is available.

College and School Essay Prompts

The College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (CALS) community is committed to tackling the complex challenges of our times through purpose-driven science. Please describe how your interests and goals (both academic and professional), as well as any related experiences, have led you to apply for internal transfer to the major you have selected within CALS. How will joining this major and CALS enable you to pursue the opportunities and experiences you are seeking at Cornell?

In one essay, please discuss:

• How your interest in a given major and college has developed, and how you have explored it.
• Explain clearly and in a well-thought-out manner how your intended major and college could provide you with the tools and instruction you desire to achieve at Cornell, and why other options (double major, minors, etc.) are not useful.
• Describe the professional goals/interests you are considering. How will your target college help you to attain your goals?
• If you do not satisfy all the requirements for transfer to your intended college, state the reasons for this, and how you intend to fulfill those requirements.
• You can also talk about the activities that you have been involved in at Cornell and the community (work/volunteer experiences, clubs, research) and how they have shaped you.
• Is there anything else your target college should know about you (e.g. personal/family situations, independent study…) that you consider could further clarify your interest?

In one essay, please discuss: 

The Jeb E. Brooks School of Public Policy

In your application please discuss how your past academic and/or work experience has influenced your choice of major and how transferring to Cornell Brooks would further your academic interests.

• Your interest in a Human Ecology major, how it developed, and how you have tested it.
• Possible professional goals/interests you are considering, and how Human Ecology will help you attain those goals. 
• Your extracurricular, work and volunteer/service experiences, research, and other involvement at Cornell and in the greater communities. This can be submitted as a résumé, but you are also welcome to more deeply describe involvements that are CHE-related.
• Any other pertinent factors regarding your candidacy.

School of Industrial and Labor Relations

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.

The Cornell SC Johnson College of Business

Transfer Application Tips

Thoughtfully prepare for and approach the application process..

The College of Human Ecology (CHE) Undergraduate Admissions Staff offers the following Transfer Application Tips to help you thoughtfully approach the application process and present an application that reflects you as a person, an academic, and a community citizen.

New for 2024: Fiber Science applicants are required to complete a Fiber Science Index. More information will be posted this summer. 

Be sure to also review our  Transfer Admission Information and Special Requirements .

Understanding your interests, considering your academic strengths, and being well-informed about your options are critical as you make decisions regarding your transfer. This is especially true for the College of Human Ecology.

• Make this your own exploration of Cornell University, even if you have family, friends, or others in your community who attended or are familiar with Cornell University.
• Carefully review the College of Human Ecology's major-specific fact sheets  and  required preparatory coursework for transfers  when preparing to apply as a transfer. 
• Test your pre-professional interests through volunteer and work experiences. Consider what you enjoyed/valued about those experiences and how you might grow through further exploration and academic pursuits.
• Watch our recorded  College of Human Ecology information sessions . Contacting faculty and academic departments is discouraged unless you are interested in our design-based majors.

Your undergraduate transcript(s) reflects your academic rigor, preparation, persistence, and growth. Our most competitive candidates earn very strong grades in a parallel curriculum that includes our required coursework.

Completing the required foundational coursework prepares students to thrive in their transition to Cornell University and to graduate on time, and is critical in determining an applicant’s competitiveness. Admission, however, is not guaranteed even if the courses have been completed.

• Pursue the required preparatory coursework . An applicant’s competitiveness in our admissions process is largely based on the completion of our coursework requirements.
• Demonstrate strong performance in the required and recommended coursework. A GPA of 3.5 or above, with “As” and “B+s” in required preparatory coursework, increases an applicant’s competitiveness.
• Know that Cornell University and the College of Human Ecology adhere to our own policies regarding placement out of requirements due to Advanced Placement or other related credits. Advanced standing at another institution does not guarantee that Cornell will accept that credit. The  Advanced Placement Equivalencies  information outlines how AP credit may be used. A maximum of 15 pre-college credits from APs or other sources may be applied.

Your essays are the best way to convey your goals, experiences, motivations, what you consider important, and how those pieces impact your desire to attend the College of Human Ecology. A thoughtful and college-specific approach to the essays and application makes for a more compelling candidacy. The College of Human Ecology Admissions Staff is interested in applicants who can articulate a connection to the college mission and programs.

• Carefully read and respond directly to the College of Human Ecology supplemental admissions essay prompt. 
• Address how the College of Human Ecology is uniquely positioned to help you examine your interests, support your goals, and create purpose. Knowing what motivates your interest in and connection to the college and your chosen major helps us better understand your candidacy.
• Reflect on the experiences – academic, research, extracurricular, work, and volunteer – in which you have participated and that make CHE a compelling and meaningful choice. This can inform how you approach and write the supplemental essay. 

Design supplements  are  required  for Design & Environmental Analysis , Fashion Design and Management (Fashion Design and Fashion Design Management options), and Fiber Science  applicants, in addition to submitting the Common Application. These materials must be submitted by the  Common Application deadline  for critical evaluation by department faculty. Applications to those majors without the required supplement will not be reviewed.

• Carefully review the  design supplement instructions  for the major/option of interest, as these supplements are unique to the programs and require written and creative work. 
• Submit the design supplement, in addition to the Common Application, by  the deadline  that corresponds to your application timeline. 
• Those who are reapplying to these majors need to submit a new and updated design supplement as the supplement instructions have changed. 
• Draw on your creativity in all components of the design supplement. Refer to the FAQs associated with the specific design supplement you are completing for more information.  
• Appropriately credit images/photos/creative work if you use those owned by someone else. 

The Admissions Committee is interested in how you use your time in your school and greater communities, what engages, informs and tests your academic interests, and what you learned from those pursuits and how they are connected to the College of Human Ecology.

• Thoughtfully prioritize the extracurricular activities, work experiences, intern/externships, volunteer work, etc. you include. Your deepest and most relevant extras are of most interest to the Admissions Committee. Multiple page lists of activities/résumés are not helpful. 
• Reflect on what you learned about communities, institutions, people, and organizations as a result of your activities. Consider how those reflections might inform your approach to the supplemental essay. 
• Research experiences  can be presented as an entry on the Common Application listing or on a résumé. Should you want to include more information you can submit a short (100 word) overview of your research topic with a focus on the most significant aspect of it as a learning experience, why it matters, and/or how you were supported in this work. Research abstracts are not helpful. 

Letters of recommendation help the Admissions Committee understand your maturity, self-motivation, initiative, character, and role in the classroom and community. 

• Carefully consider who to ask and how that letter may support your candidacy. We prefer that faculty at your undergraduate institution write on your behalf. 
• Ask a science or math professor to submit a letter on your behalf if you apply to one of our natural science-based majors.
• Limit submissions to the number of letters required in the application instructions. 
• Use your best manners to request a letter of recommendation and to thank the letter writer afterwards.
• Inform us if you have impending deadlines by which you hope to have an admissions decision. Transfer decisions are made on a rolling basis. Delays in midterm grades or other information will delay a decision. We sometimes need final grades for the current semester's classes.
• Our faculty and academic departments are focused on teaching, advising, and conducting research as they work with our current students. Please do not contact our faculty/academic departments during the college search or admissions process.
• The “Additional Information” section of the Common Application is best used to contextualize your academic record, address a circumstance that might have impacted your performance, or clarify a specific aspect of your application. Please do not use it to include a second personal essay. 
• Email the CHE Admissions Office  with questions about academic programs, the admissions process, career development, and student life.
• Submit Financial Aid application forms early.
• Visit Cornell University's FAQs for more information.

Just one more step to start saving colleges!

Sign up for an account or login to start your college list.

Help with Cornell Transfer Essay

Question: I am applying for a junior level transfer to Cornell University. There is a particular essay question required by it: "Tell us what you'd like to major in at Cornell and why or how your past academic and work experience influenced your decision, and how transferring to Cornell would further your academic interests". How should I answer it? Should I write about the negative experiences I had in my current university or would that not be seen in a good light. As regards Cornell helping me in my academic interests, should I write about the curriculum of Cornell and its advantages?

Be as specific as possible when you explain why Cornell would be a good academic fit for you. For most students, this isn't an easy question to answer without offering a rather generic response. But, if you merely say, "Cornell has a strong psychology program (or anthropology, English, engineering ... .etc.)" you could really be writing about hundreds of other institutions, too. That sort of essay won’t make you stand out in a crowd or provide compelling evidence that you are well suited for Cornell. So hone in on classes, programs, or other opportunities that are unique to Cornell or that, at the very least, you won't find pretty much everywhere. Explain why these are right for you. Tie them to reading, research, paid or volunteer, work, travel or internships that you have already done and enjoyed, explaining why the Cornell classes provide a logical next step in your education.

And when it comes to pointing out why you want to transfer, put a positive spin on your negativity. Sure, that may sound like an oxymoron, but here’s an example of what I mean:

Instead of saying, “My current college isn’t very competitive and the class discussions are a real snooze,” try instead, “I’ve realized from my time at my current college that I am ready to face a more challenging academic environment. I'm the guy with the constantly raised hand in the classroom who can't wait to continue the discussion over lattes in the snack bar. I long to be in a community where other students share this passion."

Cornell admission officials really do pay attention to these essays and use them to help determine if the applicant has carefully researched Cornell and is applying for the right reasons. So do try to personalize the essay and make sure it connects Cornell to YOU. If you merely say, “Cornell’s Human Ecology program integrates academics, research and outreach into a distinct education ...,” you won’t be telling admission folks anything about you or anything they don’t already know. Instead, you’ll sound like you’re just parroting prose from the Web site … and, in fact, you will be! ;-)

(posted 12/29/2012)

Sally Rubenstone

Sally Rubenstone knows the competitive and often convoluted college admission process inside out: From the first time the topic of college comes up at the dinner table until the last duffel bag is unloaded on a dorm room floor. She is the co-author of Panicked Parents' Guide to College Admissions; The Transfer Student's Guide to Changing Colleges and The International Student's Guide to Going to College in America. Sally has appeared on NBC's Today program and has been quoted in countless publications, including The New York Times, The Washington Post, USA Weekend, USA Today, U.S. News & World Report, Newsweek, People and Seventeen. Sally has viewed the admissions world from many angles: As a Smith College admission counselor for 15 years, an independent college counselor serving students from a wide range of backgrounds and the author of College Confidential's "Ask the Dean" column. She also taught language arts, social studies, study skills and test preparation in 10 schools, including American international schools in London, Paris, Geneva, Athens and Tel Aviv. As senior advisor to College Confidential since 2002, Sally has helped hundreds of students and parents navigate the college admissions maze. In 2008, she co-founded College Karma, a private college consulting firm, with her College Confidential colleague Dave Berry, and she continues to serve as a College Confidential advisor. Sally and her husband, Chris Petrides, became first-time parents in 1997 at the ripe-old age of 45. So Sally was nearly an official senior citizen when her son Jack began the college selection process, and when she was finally able to practice what she had preached for more than three decades.

More on Applying to College

Authentic Voice in College Essays

That’s why you want to use your authentic voice when writing any college essay .

So what’s the problem? A student has shared an ess…

College Interview Prep Tips: Brainstorm, Research, Analyze, Generalize

I recently visited Washington University in Saint Louis and was lucky enough to set up an interview. By speaking with peers of mi…

Academic Index Scores: Why They Matter and How They're Calculated

Note: Click here for 10 Summer Programs You Can Still Apply For or keep reading to learn more about academic index scores.

7 Podcasts for Students Going Through the Admissions Process

Podcasts can offer a wealth of information to busy students, particularly when it comes to the college admissions process. We…

Avoid College Application Regrets: Tips For Getting It Right the First Time

Decision Day occurs each year on May 1st and is the deadline for students to inform the college of their choice of their intent t…

Get a student loan that goes beyond tuition.

Ascent offers cosigned and non-cosigned student loans with exclusive benefits that set students up for success.

Find Your Scholarship

Want to find money for school that doesn’t need to be paid back? Access insights and advice on how to search and apply for scholarships!

The Ultimate Guide to Transferring to Cornell + Essay

Here at PenningPapers, we’ve researched everything you need to know about transferring to Cornell. Cornell is one of the most common requests we get for transfer help; this is especially true since many of our clients want the prestige of an Ivy League university without having to face the difficulty of a single-digit acceptance rate.

There are many misconceptions about transferring to Cornell that we find many college counsellors and consultants don’t talk about. The biggest misconception is perhaps the level of difficulty in getting accepted into Cornell. Before we get to the guide, it’s important that you, dear reader, have a realistic understanding of what transferring to Cornell is like.

It used to be the case that students could get accepted into schools such as Cornell with strong grades, internships, and extracurriculars. Back in the 2012-13 admissions season , the acceptance rate for transfer students to Cornell University was 20.59%. That’s not very much different from the 2020 transfer season which had an acceptance rate of 17.09%, right?

Well, not really. Here’s why.

For universities all across the world, measuring the value of students is becoming infinitely more difficult. This is because there is an inflation of the value of student performance. So, what do we mean by this? Without boring everyone to death, here’s a short summary.

The value of getting an A in a class, a 5 in an AP test, and a leadership position in a club is decreasing over time. This is because public schools and even community colleges across the world are lowering the barrier of entry for high performance. There are many reasons for this, everything from schools artificially generating more “elite” students to even increasing the cost of real estate. Yikes!

So, even if the transfer rate is only slightly decreasing over time, that does not mean you get to slack off. Any acceptance rate below 25% is already challenging; but, it’s even harder to get accepted since most schools don’t know how to discriminate between one student and the other.

Cornell may still be accepting the same or fewer transfer students every year, but the unreliability of grade inflation has made it difficult for students to stand out. This devalues the validity of academic performance and increases the value of strong essays. (Not to say that you can slack off in your grades.) That’s actually why you’ll see students with perfect grades and a seemingly endless list of extracurriculars get rejected from these schools.

This trend is happening at a rate that is faster than most school counselors and consulting firms can actually handle. The idea that good grades and a strong set of extracurriculars could get you accepted is a thing of the past. In a modern era of grade inflation, fake or meaningless clubs, and unfair advantages like cheating through online learning during COVID, good grades alone can’t get you accepted into Cornell. Yet, we’ve spoken to many school counselors and consultants who are still stuck in 2012!

Let’s put this into perspective. Most people are getting consulting and counselling advice for their Cornell applications from outdated wisdom that came from a time when people believed the Mayan calendar would predict the end of the world in 2012. Unfair comparison? Maybe. It’s kind of funny, though!

Okay, so what’s the solution to this problem? It’s clear that transferring to Cornell is going to take more than grades and extracurriculars due to the performance inflation.

Well, there’s the essay.

That’s what this guide will cover more in depth. We’ll cover everything you need to know to write a good Cornell transfer essay that works.

Table of Contents.

• Cornell Transfer Essay Prompt.
• How to Write the Cornell Transfer Essay.

Cornell Transfer Essay Prompt

Cornell Transfer Writing Supplement Tell us what you’d like to major in at Cornell, and why or how your past academic or work experience influenced your decision, and how transferring to Cornell would further your academic interests. Responses should be no longer than 3000 characters. — Cornell University Official Website

Note that the official website has a bit of different wording from the Common Application essay prompt. While the website says you need to have approximately 650 words total, the Common app asks that your response be no longer than 3000 characters.

As we’ve said in the previous parts, the transfer essay needs to be written well. Transferring to Cornell is harder now than ever before. If you want to have any hope of getting accepted, having a strong essay that not only demonstrates your writing capabilities but also your strengths compared to the rest will help. In other words, you’ll need an essay that can help you stand out amongst the rest.

So, this question asks us essentially “Why Cornell?”

It’s safe to assume that all other students transferring to Cornell have a perfectly good reason for wanting to attend. After all, who is going to apply to a school that doesn’t accommodate for their future major and career path, right? Therefore the main objective of answering this question is to write something that shows your fit is stronger than the rest.

There are four different elements of your essay you will need to achieve this. Let’s get more in depth with them.

How to Write the Cornell Transfer Essay

There are four elements to writing a good Cornell transfer essay that stands out amongst the rest and proves to the admissions officers that you are the best fit. Ideally, you should fulfill all four of these elements if you want to have the bare minimum in your Cornell essay.

We know it’s rather obvious, but you’ll also want strong word choice, clever writing structure, and a compelling narrative voice to make the essay interesting and unique from the application pool.

If everything in the chart plus what we’ve said in the previous paragraph about a strong narrative voice sounds like too much to handle for the average college student, well, yeah… you’re right. It’s not easy to write an essay that stands out from the rest of the crowd. That’s why we recommend speaking with us for free college admissions essay help.

If transferring to Cornell sounds too rough because you can’t write the perfect essay, you’re not alone! You can schedule a free consultation with us, and we’ll help you with setting up an outline as well as provide advising on how to write your essay.

Leave a Comment Cancel reply

College Essay Editing Services From Professionals

Sign up for a free 30-minute phone consultation. we'll get back to you within 24 hours.

Get the Reddit app

Join the A2C Discord!

r/ApplyingToCollege is the premier forum for college admissions questions, advice, and discussions, from college essays and scholarships to college list help and application advice, career guidance, and more. A2C supports a welcoming and inclusive environment. Harassment, intimidation, and bullying are not tolerated.

I got into Cornell’s Transfer Option program.

Hey guys! I’ve been holding out on this post because I didn’t really know what this program was or if i was going to go through with it. I haven’t gotten into any of my non-safeties (mostly waitlists & now Cornell’s TO) but I think i’m going to go through with this instead of attending a safety! Basically, my first year I have to attend another school and fulfill some requirements, and then, if fulfilled, I get auto transfer to Cornell. Pretty cool, and it’s gonna save me some money + a degree from 🌽, so I think it’s my best option.

I was wondering if anyone else on here got this same offer, or if you’ve previously gone through this process (even if your offer is/ was from a different school). I’m kinda scared (obviously I don’t want to fail) but I’d love to speak with someone who has been/ currently is in this situation to learn more about the program.

Any who, I’m excited as of right now lol. Go Big Red!!!

By continuing, you agree to our User Agreement and acknowledge that you understand the Privacy Policy .

Enter the 6-digit code from your authenticator app

You’ve set up two-factor authentication for this account.

Enter a 6-digit backup code

Create your username and password.

Reddit is anonymous, so your username is what you’ll go by here. Choose wisely—because once you get a name, you can’t change it.

Reset your password

Enter your email address or username and we’ll send you a link to reset your password

Check your inbox

An email with a link to reset your password was sent to the email address associated with your account

Choose a Reddit account to continue

Cornell Office of Undergraduate Admissions

Search cornell admissions, college and school transfer admissions requirements, cornell college of agriculture and life sciences (cals).

Landscape architecture: Portfolio required; for details visit the  Landscape Architecture website . Learn more by visiting the CALS website .

Cornell College of Architecture, Art, and Planning (AAP)

Architecture (B.Arch): Portfolio of 15-20 images submitted via Cornell AAP SlideRoom . Required video interview. Learn more by visiting the  AAP website . Art:  Portfolio of 17 pieces of work; 10 of your choice + 7 AAP prompts, submitted via Cornell AAP SlideRoom .  Learn more by visiting the AAP website .

History of Architecture: Statement of purpose. 15 page writing sample. Learn more by visiting the AAP website . Urban and Regional Studies: Virtual alumni interview (not required). Learn more by visiting the AAP website .

Cornell College of Arts & Sciences

Consult A&S departmental websites to see what coursework is required for admission to your intended major. Learn more by visiting the Arts & Sciences website .

Cornell Jeb E. Brooks School of Public Policy 

Learn about required and recommended coursework by visiting the Brooks School website .

Cornell College of Engineering

Please review course requirements prior to application. Transfer applicants that are offered admission must submit the  major-specific course description form upon submission of the Enrollment Response Form. Learn more on the Cornell Engineering website. 

Cornell College of Human Ecology

All Majors: Review the College of Human Ecology’s  required and recommended preparatory courses for transfers  for more information. Your academic preparation and coursework choices for a possible transfer to the College of Human Ecology at Cornell University are critical components of the admissions process.

Design and Environmental Analysis: Design Challenge required; submit via Human Ecology SlideRoom . Fashion Design: Fashion Design Portfolio & Design Index required; submit via Human Ecology SlideRoom . Fashion Design & Management: Fashion Design Management Case Study required; submit via Human Ecology SlideRoom .

Fiber Science: Fiber Science Index required; submit via Human Ecology SlideRoom .

Recommended Additional Preparation: Review our transfer application tips . Learn more by visiting the Human Ecology website . 

Cornell SC Johnson College of Business: Charles H. Dyson School of Applied Economics and Management

Learn more about course requirements and recommendations by visiting the Dyson School website .

Cornell SC Johnson College of Business: Cornell Peter and Stephanie Nolan School of Hotel Administration 

Learn more about course requirements and recommendations by visiting the Nolan School website .  

Cornell School of Industrial and Labor Relations (ILR)

Please review the Transfer Guidelines on our  Admissions  page for more information.

Top Enrollment Resources

• How to Apply
• Visit & Connect
• Application Status
• Frequently Asked Questions
• Office of Financial Aid
• Apply for Aid
• Cost to Attend
• Types of Aid
• Office of the Registrar
• Academic Calendar
• Classes and Enrollment
• Courses of Study

Still need help? Look at the Frequently Asked Questions , or contact us .

• Undergraduate Programs
• Graduate Programs
• Concentrations
• Extracurricular Opportunities
• Research Topics
• Research Groups
• Academic Leadership
• Graduate Students
• Administrative Staff
• Alumni Press Releases
• Get Involved
• Giving Opportunities
• Newsletters
• Recruit Students
• Academic Support
• Community Outreach
• Experience and Employment
• Mental Health Resources

Student Organizations

Orie m.eng handbook (2024-2025), orie meng at cornell, introduction, brief history of the school, meng program overview and learning outcomes, master of engineering program requirements, prerequisites, credit hours, course requirements, other course eligibility, engineering design project, other requirements.

• Good Academic Standing
• MEng Exit Survey

Concentration and Minor Requirements

Applied operations research, data analytics, financial engineering, information technology, manufacturing and industrial engineering, strategic operations, systems engineering minor.

• Policies and Procecdures

Academic Integrity

Early admission for cornell undergraduates, academic advisors, arrival on campus, registration and course enrollment, extramural and transfer credits, transfers between cornell meng programs, changing concentrations, extending operations engineering programs to a third semester, financial aid, merit-based financial aid, need-based financial aid, employment opportunities, university resources, career services, health and counseling services.

Welcome to Cornell! This handbook is a guide to the Master of Engineering (MEng) program in Operations Research and Information Engineering (ORIE).

The sections that follow outline the expectations and requirements of the MEng program, the courses and concentrations offered, various policies and procedures, and support resources that are available to you. We look forward to getting to know you and are confident that you will have a challenging and rewarding educational experience!

Operations Research and Information Engineering has a long history at Cornell. Industrial Engineering courses were first taught in 1895 through the Sibley School of Mechanical Engineering. Operations Research courses were introduced in 1955. In 1961, the Department of Industrial Engineering and Administration and the graduate field of Industrial Engineering and Operations Research were established. In 1965, the undergraduate program in all engineering disciplines was changed from five years to four years (and the BEng degree to BS). The Master of Engineering program was established in the same year to give those students who desired BS and MEng degrees in ORIE the opportunity to pursue them both within a five-year timespan.

In the decades since, the School of ORIE and the MEng program have grown and flourished. The ORIE MEng at Cornell is recognized globally as a top-rated professional degree program, producing outstanding thought leaders who solve problems and create positive impact.

The ORIE MEng is highly valued in the marketplace and continues to be an attractive option for well-prepared undergraduates in a variety of fields, including Operations Research as well as Industrial Engineering, Computer Science, Information Science, Mathematics, Finance, Statistics, and many other quantitative disciplines.

As a 2 or 3-semester professional degree program, its focus is on professional development in the field of Operations Research and ensuring future success in your career. This is different from a research degree , which is focused on in-depth research and development for a future in academia. If you are interested in a research degree in ORIE, please see our Ph.D program page .

All MEng degree programs at Cornell share the following five Learning Outcomes . Below each outcome is its interpretation within the context of the ORIE MEng program:

• Mastery and Application of Core Disciplinary Knowledge ORIE MEng students will master core disciplinary knowledge entailing fundamental theoretical concepts, modeling methods, solution techniques, and computational skills in the areas of optimization, stochastic modeling, statistical modeling, and data science. They will apply these concepts by engaging in team-based project work with real organizations to address real problems.
• Assessing a complex organizational or management need for which ORIE techniques are relevant and applicable.
• Synthesizing an accurate, coherent problem description, including (where applicable) mathematical representations of key elements.
• Developing logical solution approaches to address the problem.
• Contribute to team-based problem-solving efforts.
• Promote good team dynamics.
• Resolve conflict by exercising strength-based communication to build consensus.
• Communication of Knowledge, Ideas, and Decision Justification ORIE MEng students will develop the skills to speak, write, and present in a manner that is clear, concise, convincing, visually effective, and at an appropriate level for the target audience.
• Recognizing personal strengths and weaknesses.
• Embracing opportunities for improvement.
• Building a contact network.
• Developing "storytelling" skills to effectively engage and sell ideas to others.

Students in the ORIE MEng program fulfill these Learning Outcomes by satisfying general curriculum requirements, which include a minimum number of credit hours in various types of courses, course requirements (including ORIE Core, colloquium, and project preparation courses), and participation in a capstone engineering design project.

Seven concentrations and minors are currently associated with the ORIE MEng Program:

• Applied Operations Research Concentration (AOR)
• Data Analytics Concentration (DA)
• Financial Engineering Concentration (FE)
• Information Technology Concentration (IT)
• Manufacturing and Industrial Engineering Concentration (MIE)
• Strategic Operations Concentration (SSO)

The primary difference between concentrations and minors is that concentrations have requirements designed specifically for ORIE students, while minors have requirements that allow for participants from other disciplines (i.e., outside of ORIE).

Due to structural differences, certain requirements may only apply to FE students. To differentiate, all other concentrations may be referred to as simply "Operations Engineering" (OE).

Each of these options is designed to meet certain educational objectives and has corresponding elective requirements that must be met in conjunction with the general requirements. Students in the Financial Engineering concentration also have the option of completing the Financial Data Science (FDS) Certificate as part of their studies. Details for each concentration and the FDS Certificate are given below.

The capstone component of the ORIE MEng program is the team-based engineering design project, which all students complete with the guidance of a Cornell faculty advisor. The MEng project provides an intensive learning experience that is fundamentally different from the completion of a traditional individual Masters’ thesis. It is intended to prepare students for the professional arena by having them engage in project work with an organizational partner that involves real data, deadlines, and deliverables. ORIE MEng students are expected to play major roles in all aspects of their projects, including formulating and analyzing the problem, managing the partner relationship, monitoring the project timeline and milestones, and delivering the final results.

The ORIE MEng program is designed to begin in the fall semester. Due to the sequencing of course offerings, course prerequisites, and the timeline for project activities, we strongly encourage completing the MEng program in the traditional fall-spring cycle (Operations Engineering) or fall-spring-fall cycle (Financial Engineering). Although some students are admitted to the ORIE MEng program in the spring semester, spring admission is typically limited to well-prepared applicants who are already enrolled at Cornell during the preceding fall semester and are able to participate in professional development and project activities that take place in the fall.

Prior to Enrollment

• A standard engineering calculus sequence , including linear algebra (with eigenvalues and eigenvectors) and vector calculus, similar in content and rigor to Cornell's MATH 1910 , MATH 1920 , and MATH 2940 .
• An introductory engineering probability and statistics course that covers theoretical fundamentals and is similar in content and rigor to Cornell's ENGRD 2700 .
• An intermediate-level computer programming course in a general programming language such as C++, Java, or Python, similar in content and rigor to Cornell's ENGRD 2110 . Courses that entail programming applications, but where programming is not the primary focus are not acceptable substitutes. Courses in statistical modeling applications, such as R, MATLAB, and SAS, are not acceptable substitutes by themselves.

ENGRD 2700 and ENGRD 2110 are offered each semester and during the summer at Cornell. Information is available at the Summer Session Office . Prerequisite course work completed more than five years prior to the start of the MEng program must be retaken or reinforced in an approved manner.

Please note that certain concentrations have additional prerequisites. Failure to satisfy program prerequisites will jeopardize a student's academic standing at Cornell and may result in a mandatory concentration change or (in extreme cases) a leave of absence until all prerequisites are met.

While Enrolled

This section details the credit hour, course, and project requirements each student must fulfill to receive the Master of Engineering degree in ORIE.

Students should consult the ORIE Graduate Field Administrator (279 Rhodes Hall) to confirm that their specific course selections meet the general requirements. Although academic advisors will assist students in course selection, it is ultimately the student's responsibility to plan their course of study and to ensure that all degree requirements are satisfied.

The Cornell Course Roster is the most up-to-date list of course offerings and descriptions. Certain courses found in the Appendices may not be offered each year.

• Register as a full-time MEng student for two or more semesters.
• "Full-time" means enrolled in 12 or more credit-bearing hours. This is especially important for international students, as it is also a condition of your F-1 visa status.
• Credit bearing does not include audited courses.
• Early Admit students must enroll in at least one semester as a full-time student following the completion of the hybrid semester.
• Complete a minimum of 30 credit hours of approved technical coursework.
• "Approved Technical Coursework" will necessarily include all courses listed in the Appendices. Other courses that have direct professional relevance and are suitably technical may be counted on a case-by-case basis. This will require a petition, which must be approved by both your ORIE academic advisor and the MEng Program Director.
• These courses must be distributed as follows:
• At least 28 of these credits must be letter-graded. The only permissible S/U credits are those associated with the practicum and colloquium courses.
• At most 8 of these credits may be earned at the SC Johnson College of Business (SCJ).
• Strategic Operations students may count a total of 12 credits from SCJ.
• You may take more than the allowed member of credits at SCJ, but the maximum that may be applied to your MEng degree is 8 (12 for SSO).
• In each semester as a full-time ORIE MEng student, at least 10 of your credits must count towards your MEng degree. Please see Extension Requests for third-semester exception rules.
• File a study plan with the Graduate Field Administrator at the beginning of each semester detailing all courses in which you are enrolled or intend to enroll for that term. The plan template is found on the Resources page. Your study plan must be approved by your academic advisor.
• Fulfill ORIE Core course requirements. You must successfully complete:
• 12 or more credit hours of Core coursework; comprised of:
• 3 or more credits hours in each Core category:
• Optimization Modeling
• Stochastic Modeling
• Data Science and Statistical Modeling
• 8 or more credit hours in ORIE Department-labeled courses;
• 3 or more credit hours in your first semester as a full-time mEng student.

Two courses are considered foundational for Optimization Modeling and Stochastic Modeling. These are ORIE 5300 and ORIE 5500. We recommend that all students new to ORIE take both prior to (or concurrently with) other core or concentration classes. ORIE 5300 is a prerequisite for most courses in the Optimization Modeling category, and ORIE 5500 is a prerequisite for most courses in the Stochastic Modeling category and the Data Science and Statistical Modeling category.

Listings of all eligible Core courses may be found in Appendices A-C . Although certain courses appear in multple categories, a student may count a course in at most one of the categories.

• You must receive a letter grade in all Core coursework.
• You may not "double-count" any Core coursework towards your Concentration requirements.
• Specific exceptions to this rule are found within Section III , detailing individual Concentrations.
• You may not transfer credits from your previous institution for any coursework, including Core coursework.
• If your previous institution is Cornell University, please see the relevant discussion under Policies and Procedures .
• You have completed or are completing your Undergraduate degree at Cornell University.
• You have taken at least six (6) letter-graded credits of Cornell coursework in the core area you wish to waive.
• At least three (3) of those credits must be from ORIE Department-labeled courses.
• Undergraduate classes that co-meet with their graduate-level counterpart (e.g. ORIE 3300/5300, CS 4780/5780) are preferred, but students coming from the College of Arts & Sciences may have alternative equivalents that should be discussed with your advisor.
• This waiver modifies the Core course requirements as follows:
• 8 or more credit hours of Core coursework; comprised of:
• 3 or more credit hours in each unwaived Core category;
• 6 or more in ORIE Department-labeled courses;
• You are subject to all other credit hour requirements (e.g., a total of 30).
• Fulfill ORIE concentration or minor requirements.
• Receive an S in ORIE 5915, the ORIE 1-credit Career Practicum class, during your Fall semester.
• Financial Engineering: You must take this course in your first Fall semester - it is not available at CFEM.
• Early and/or Spring Admits whose schedules make ORIE 5915 an impossibility must work with the MEng or CFEM Director to determine an appropriate substitute.
• Receive an S in your concentration's 1-credit Colloquium class .
• Financial Engineering: ORIE 5210, taken during your CFEM semester.
• Operations Engineering: ORIE 5920 (formerly ORIE 9100), taken during your Spring semester.
• Successfully complete one of two Project Preparation courses during the Fall semester.
• ORIE 5100: Manufacturing Systems Design: A Consulting Boot Camp is a 4-credit course that also fulfills Stochastic Modeling Core requirements.
• ORIE 5110: Case Studies is a 1-credit course that only fulfills the Project Preparation requirement.
• Financial Engineering: You do not have to fulfill this requirement.

Most technical courses at Cornell offered by the College of Engineering, the College of Computing and Information Science (CIS), and the Department of Mathematics that are numbered 5000 or above, and taken for letter-graded credit, may be allowed to count toward the ORIE Master of Engineering degree, subject to core and concentration requirements. However, exceptions apply. Please refer to the sections below and appendices for details.

Courses that are not allowed to count toward the ORIE MEng Degree include:

• Courses numbered at the 4000-level or below (these are undergraduate courses);
• Any course that is substantially similar to one you have already taken at Cornell or elsewhere (for credit or audit);
• Teaching Courses

Courses that are permitted only if petitioned for :

• Any SCJ course not found in the Appendices under O: Approved Business Courses or your concentration;
• This includes all courses beginning with NBA, HADM, and ENMGT.
• Any course found in Appendix P ;
• Any courses outside of Engineering, CIS, and Math.

You must successfully complete an approved engineering design project. MEng projects are team-based and have industrial, financial, or government-related organizations as partners and/or sponsors. The specific goals and expectations for MEng projects will be presented prior to team assignment. You will be able to rank the projects in the order of your preference, which will be considered during team assignment.

For all projects, your group must submit a final written report signed by your faculty project advisor, and deliver a final oral presentation to the partner organization.

Project Courses are designed so that you receive 5 credits for your workload, typically 1 credit in the Fall and 4 in the Spring.

Precisely which courses you should enroll in (and when) will vary by your concentration and matriculation path.

• For standard matriculants, follow these guidelines:
• Operations Engineering (except for Strategic Operations and Systems Engineering):
• Fall: ORIE 5980 (1 credit)
• Spring: ORIE 5981 (4 credits)
• Financial Engineering:
• CFEM: ORIE 5220 (5 credits)
• Spring: NBA 6500
• Systems Engineering Minor:
• Fall: SYSEN 5900 (3 credits)
• Spring: SYSEN 5900 (3 credits)
• For non-traditional matriculants:
• OE Spring Admits: You may enroll in ORIE 5980 during the Fall semester before your matriculation and transfer the credit to your MEng degree if and only if those credits will not be counted towards your Undergraduate Degree requirements. If you are unable to take ORIE 5980 either because of scheduling or enrollment issues, enroll in ORIE 5981 in the Spring for 5 credits .
• OE Early Admit Pathway: If your hybrid semester is in the Fall, you may enroll in ORIE 5980 during that semester. Those credits must not be counted towards your Undergraduate Degree requirements. If your hybrid semester is in the Spring, or you are unable to take ORIE 5980 in the Fall because of scheduling or enrollment issues, enroll in ORIE 5981 in the Spring for 5 credits .
• FE Spring/Early Admits: You will always participate in CFEM, so you will enroll in ORIE 5220 for 5 credits during your CFEM semester.
• Students enrolled in ORIE 5981 are required to reconvene in-person in Ithaca to work on their MEng projects at least two weeks before spring semester classes begin. For Spring 2025, clases begin on Tuesday, January 21st.

Full commitment, participation, and teamwork are expected of all students.

This section outlines miscellaneous requirements that you must fulfill to receive your Master of Engineering degree in ORIE.

• Good Academic Standing - You are expected to maintain good academic standing throughout your degree program and must achieve it to graduate. To attain good standing, you must:
• Satisfy all prerequisites prior to beginning the program;
• Carry a course load that enables you to complete the program without unecessary delay, including credit hour requirements outlined above;
• Achieve a grade point average (GPA) of 2.50 or better in each semester;
• Achieve a cumulative GPA of 2.50 or better across all courses satisfying the requirements of the MEng Degree;
• Attain a C- or better in every graded course taken; and
• Resolve any incomplete course grade within one semester of the submission of the incomplete.

Cornell uses a grading system with "+" and "-", and assigns decimal grade points to grades as folows:

If you fail to maintain good academic standing during a term, you will be notified of your status in writing and will be invited to meet with appropriate ORIE faculty to discuss the situation. Extremely poor performance – for instance, failing to meet three or more of the criteria for good standing – may lead to a mandatory leave of absence from the MEng program at the discretion of the MEng Program Director. This includes students who enter the ORIE MEng program with prerequisite deficiencies and subsequently fail to attain good academic standing during the first term. Students who fail to attain good academic standing for two consecutive semesters typically will be asked to withdraw from the MEng program.

• MEng Exit Survey - You must complete the mandatory MEng Exit Survey administered by the College of Engineering, which will be provided near the completion of your degree. This survey must be completed to receive your degree.

This section outlines additional prerequisites and course requirements for each concentration and minor associated with the ORIE MEng program. Upon enrolling in a concentration, you must provide an attestation and/or certificate or transcript verification that you have successfully completed the necessary prerequisite coursework at a degree granting institution. In creating your study plans, note that certain courses may not be offered every year.

Any requirements listed are in addition to those listed in Section II , the overall program requirements.

The Applied Operations Research concentration (AOR) is the most general of the concentrations and allows the most flexibility with respect to elective courses. The AOR concentration is appropriate for students with undergraduate degrees in ORIE who want to increase the breadth of their exposure to operations research and its applications, as well as for those with undergraduate degrees in other fields who want to gain a solid foundation in the theory and practice of ORIE.

• Additional Prerequisites: None.
• You must complete 12+ letter-graded credit hours of approved ORIE department-labelled coursework . This excludes :
• Project courses (ORIE 5980/5981)
• Practicum courses (ORIE 5915)
• Colloquium courses (ORIE 5920)
• Independent study courses
• You may "double-count" courses taken to satisfy your Core requirements.

The Data Analytics (DA) concentration focuses on the theory and tools needed to make fact-based, data-driven decisions associated with the development, pricing, promotion, and distribution of ideas, goods, and services. Students admitted to the DA concentration who have not completed the prerequisites will be assigned to the AOR concentration until the prerequisites are met. Some students may need three semesters to complete the DA concentration due to elective course prerequisites, enrollment limits, or the timing and sequence of course offerings.

• Additional Prerequisites: You must complete a two-semester sequence of calculus-based probability and statistics theory , similar in content and rigor to Cornell courses ENGRD 2700 and ORIE 3500. Courses in which probability and statistical methods are used, but where theory is not the primary focus are not acceptable substitutes, nor are professional exam credentials (e.g., CFA, FRM).
• You must complete 3 or more concentration-specific courses , which total to 9 or more credit hours.
• One course must come from the Data Science and Statistic Modeling Core List (Appendix C) . This effectively means that you must take 2 separate DSSM Core classes - one to satisfy the program requirements, and one to satisfy your concentration requirements. Cornell Undergraduates: If you choose to waive the DSSM Core, you may not apply any waived credits towards your concentration requirements. If you do not waive the DSSM core, you may apply 3 credits towards your concentration requirements, provided that they follow the guidelines laid out in Policies and Procedures.
• One course must come from the Data Analytics Electives List (Appendix D) .
• At most 3 credits may come from SCJ courses.
• You may not take ORIE 5500 or STSCI 5090 for MEng credit: these courses duplicate the prerequisites necessary for admission into this concentration.

The Financial Engineering concentration (FE) prepares students for careers that involve the quantitative analysis and management of financial instruments and risk. Such jobs frequently involve: (1) mathematical modeling and analysis of stocks, bonds, options, currency exchange rates, and other structured products; (2) developing quantitative models to help corporations understand and manage their exposure to risk; and/or (3) implementing algorithms to monitor, price, and trade financial instruments. As such, the concentration enables students to gain deep and broad knowledge of financial markets and investment strategies and innovations. FE is specifically designed to be a three-semester concentration (Fall-Spring-Fall), with the third semester taking place at Cornell Financial Engineering Manhattan (CFEM) in New York City.

In certain cases, and capacity-permitting, it may be possible for well-prepared Cornell ORIE undergraduates to complete the FE program in two semesters (starting in the spring and finishing at CFEM the following fall). Please consult the MEng Director for eligibility and details.

You will receive a Dean's Certificate in Financial Engineering in addition to your diploma on successful completion of this concentration.

• Additional Prerequisites:
• A sequence of calculus-based probability, statistics, and stochastic processes , similar in content and rigor to Cornell courses ENGRD 2700, ORIE 3500, and ORIE 3510. Courses in which probability and statistical methods are used, but where theory is not the primary focus are not acceptable substitutes, nor are professional exam credentials (e.g., CFA, FRM).
• An introductory finance course with a strong focus on mathematics, not economics or accounting.
• It is strongly recommended that you have experience with differential equations at least at the level of Cornell course MATH 2930.
• Python and/or C++ are the preferred coding languages for FE students.
• You must complete 12 or more letter-graded credit hours of coursework from the Financial Applications Electives (Appendix E) list.
• 6 or more credit hours must be earned during your CFEM semester, via courses numbered 52XX. This does not include your Project course, ORIE 5220. ORIE 5252-5257 are "Special Topics" courses and are taught by professionals affiliated with CFEM. Topics vary from year to year. ORIE 5258: Python for Finance, is designed for first-semester FE students located in Ithaca. It is not part of the Special Topics sequence and can not be taken while at CFEM.
• Any courses taken for Financial Applications credit may not count towards your Core requirements.
• You may not take ORIE 5500 or STSCI 5090 for MEng credit: these courses fulfill the prerequisites necessary for admission into this concentration.
• You may not take ORIE 5510 for Stochastic Modeling core credit, but you may count it towards the 30 credits necessary for your MEng degree.
• You may not take ORIE 5630 for DSSM core credit, but you may count it towards your Stochastic Modeling core.
• You must complete the CFEM Exit Survey in addition to the MEng Exit Survey. This will be provided near the end of your CFEM semester. It must be completed to receive your degree.

C*. Financial Data Science (FDS) Certificate

If you are interested in data science, you may complement your studies with the FDS Certificate by fulfilling the requirements below. All must be succesfully completed for letter-graded credit . This framework is designed to enable you to add value to an organization immediately by cultivating critical skills in big data collection, manipulation, storange, and access, as well as machine learning theory, algorithm implementation, and evaluation.

• Complete ORIE 5270: Big Data Technologies , which is offered in the Spring for 2 credits and is foundational for the framework.
• Complete at least one course listed in Appendix F . Some of these courses are also permitted to satisfy Core or Elective requirements.
• Complete an FDS-eligible Special Topics course while at CFEM. The eligible courses will be announced prior to enrollment in your CFEM semester, and still apply to your Elective requirements.
• Complete an FDS-eligible Project while at CFEM. The eligible projects will be announced prior to your enrollment in your project section.
• Participate in non-credit-bearing workshops while at CFEM. Details will be announced as they become available.

The Information Technology (IT) concentration prepares students to participate in the development, acquisition, and integration of information systems (particularly those embodying OR approaches) to ensure that strategic business needs are satisfied. Students who elect this concentration will be introduced to the essentials of information technology and ways to design and manage IT transformations.

• Technology and Infrastructure (Appendix G)
• Information Economics and Strategy (Appendix H)
• Managing IT Implementation (Appendix I)
• At most 1 course may be counted towards both the ORIE Core and an IT Elective requirement.

The Manufacturing and Industrial Engineering concentration (MIE) prepares students to use their operations research skills to improve manufacturing environments and associated processes across the supply chain network. This concentration covers aspects of design, production, and distribution of goods and services, as well as fundamentals of modern manufacturing technology including computer-aided design, analysis, and management of manufacturing processes. Students admitted to the MIE concentration are expected to have a working knowledge of probability and statistics as well as strong disciplinary credentials. Industrial experience is advantageous but not required.

You may find tht you need an additional semester to finish both the MEng degree requirements as well as the Concentration requirements.

• You must complete the following Manufacturing Focus courses, details on which may be found in (Appendix K) :
• ORIE 5100: Manufacturing Systems Design: A Consulting Boot Camp
• NBA 5530: Accounting and Financial Decision Making; or NBA 5020: Managerial Accounting and Reporting
• ORIE 5920: Enterprise Engineering Colloquium
• CEE 5900: Project Management; or ECE 5830: Introduction to Technical Management; or SYSEN 5930: Project Management and Leadership for Complex Systems
• ENGMT 5940: Economics and Finance for Engineering Management; or SYSEN 5140: Economic and Financial Decisions for Engineers
• NBA 6410/6420: Supply Chain Strategy/Analytics sequence; or ORIE 5126: Principles of Supply Chain Management
• Courses from the Manufacturing Focus or Electives lists may also be counted towards the ORIE Core requirements.

The keystone of the Strategic Operations concentration (commonly called the Semester in Strategic Operations or SSO) is the SSO Practicum offered by the Johnson School. Taken in conjunction with related courses, the SSO Practicum provides a comprehensive look at how business and operations strategies are aligned and executed for success, including product design, logistics, quality control, corporate organization, employee organization and compensation, marketing, and globalization. Graduate students from the College of Engineering, the Johnson School, and the School of Industrial and Labor Relations participate.

SSO course material is integrated with company site visits and team-based project work with industry partners. The ORIE MEng project requirement is fulfilled within the context of the SSO framework.

You should plan to complete most or all of your Core requirements during your Fall semester, as the majority of the SSO-specific programming is only offered in the spring.

• Additional Prerequisites: Strong background in operations research and/or relevant professional experience.
• You must complete the following Strategic Operations courses:
• ORIE 5126: Principles of Supply Chain Management May also be counted towards your Core.
• NCC 5080 ( or NCC 5580): Managing Operations
• NBA 6500: Strategic Operations Immersion Practicum
• You must complete 3 or more credit hours of concentration-specific electives, found in Appendix M . You may enroll in courses outside of SSO during your spring term, so long as the courses do not conflict with site visits or other mandatory SSO activities.
• You may count up to 12 SCJ courses, instead of the 8 allowed for other concentrations. All SSO-required courses count towards this total.

The Systems Engineering Minor prepares students to meet the increasing need from industry for engineers who go beyond the expertise in a particular engineering discipline. Within this minor program, students with diverse interdisciplinary skills integrate engineering system components, ensure total system operability, and evaluate various economic forces in the marketplace.

• You must complete the following courses, details of which may be found in Appendix N :
• ORIE 5140: Model Based Systems Engineering
• ORIE 5142: System Analysis, Behavior, and Optimization
• CEE 5900: Project Management
• You must complete both semesters of SYSEN 5900. This project course is central to the minor, and requires significant time commitment throughout the academic year. Most team projects encompass system design, analysis, integration, implementation, and participation in competitions.

Policies and Procedures

The Cornell University Student Code of Conduct establishes expectations applicable to all students. The Code centers around the core values of: purposeful discovery, free and open inquiry and expression, a community of belonging, exploration across boundaries, and changing lives through public engagement. The full text of the code is available here .

Every MEng student is expected to exhibit courteous, professional, and honest behavior in all aspects of their role as a Cornell student, including but not limited to all communications with faculty, staff, alumni, recruiters, project partners, and fellow students. Discourteous, negligent, or deceitful behavior may result in action being taken against the student in accordance with Cornell University policy. In extreme cases, a student may be required to withdraw from the MEng program.

Cornell University is committed to providing a safe, inclusive, and respectful learning, living, and working environment for its students, faculty, and staff members. If you have any questions or concerns about incidents involving potential sexual harassment, assault, gender discrimination, or other related forms of violence, please visit the Sexual Harassment and Assault – Response and Education (SHARE) website . This site offers information about SHARE partners who provide services, support, reporting options, education, and advocacy.

For immediate reporting of conduct concerns, please see ORIE department leadership or, in an emergency, contact the Cornell Division of Public Safety by telephone at 911 or 607-255-1111.

The School of Operations Research and Information Engineering adheres to the policies and procedures of the University on academic integrity. MEng students are subject to these policies and procedures. Take time to familiarize yourself with the complete Code of Academic Integrity . The rapid growth of online resources and natural language processing resources can complicate maintaining integrity. Further, specific academic integrity rules may vary from course to course.

If you ever are in doubt of the rules, consult your instructor before submitting the assignment. Don’t guess! The process for adjudicating integrity violations is stressful and time-consuming for students and faculty alike and is easily avoided by up-front communication.

The Early Admit Pathway is designed for high-performing Cornell seniors who have completed the vast majority of their undergraduate-level coursework and hope to get a head start on completing their MEng degree.

Provided that the eligibility requirements are met and your admission to the program is approved, you will register as an undergraduate student for your final semester as an undergraduate, but you are able to enroll in and count credits towards your MEng degree as appropriate. This is referred to as your "hybrid" semester.

During your hybrid semester, each course that you take may count towards either your Bachelor's or your MEng, not both. See the Transfer Credit section below for details.

You will be considered an undergraduate for financial aid purposes and will not pay MEng tuition rates until you matriculate as a full-time MEng student. If you are receiving United States Federal Student Aid, you must be enrolled in at least 6 credits which count towards your Undergraduate degree to retain that aid.

Matriculation to the MEng program is expected the semester immediately after your hybrid semester. Attempts to defer matriculating as an MEng student may jeopardize any credits earned during that semester.

Eligibility requirements are maintained by the College of Engineering, which has stated that an eligible student will:

• need between one (1) and eight (8) credit hours to complete their bachelor's degree during their hybrid semester, including any special designations;
• submit and obtain Graduate Field Administrator approval of an early-admit pathway petition;
• apply for early admission by the published deadlines (generally, by October 1 for spring early admit and December 1 for the following fall early-admit); and
• complete their bachelor's degree by the end of their hybrid semester.

Each MEng student will be assigned an academic advisor just prior to the start of the fall semester (or spring semester for spring admits). You should contact your advisor as soon as possible for advice on course selection and study plan approval.

The ORIE MEng program is in-person, rigorous, and fast-paced. Therefore, it is important that all students arrive on campus with ample time to get settled and start your studies.

All ORIE MEng students, regardless of concentration or campus, are required to arrive by the first day of classes. If you are unable to arrive by the first day of classes, contact the Graduate Field Administrator in advance to discuss the delay and whether a leave of absence or withdrawal is appropriate. The College of Engineering provides information about Leaves and Withdrawals on their website .

If you have not attended any of your classes in-person during the first week and you have not requrested a voluntary leave of absence or withdrawal, ORIE will begin the withdrawal process for you.

In addition, newly-matriculating ORIE MEng students and fall early-admits (fall hybrid semester) are expected to be on the Ithaca campus by the beginning of M.Eng Connect, which is held the week before classes begin. The report date is stated in your admission offer letter. You will be checked in at MEng Connect, where you will receive your Student ID if you are new to Cornell. If you do not check in for MEng Connect and have not indicated that you are going to be late, ORIE will begin the withdrawal process for you.

As an ORIE MEng student, you are required to register every semester in order to gain access to campus resources. To qualify as a registered student, you must:

• Complete course enrollment;
• Settle all financial accounts, including the current semester tuition;
• Satisfy New York State and university health requirements; and
• Clear any and all holds from the College of Engineering, the Graduate School, the Judicial Administrator, Cornell Health, and the Bursar’s Office.
• Be physically present at the appropriate campus.

You can check your registration status and view your holds by visiting Student Center . Upon arriving to campus, students should check in with the Graduate Field Administrator to ensure that ORIE has all necessary documentation.

In general, all Bursar holds must be cleared before a student will be allowed to enroll in classes. See the Registrar Calendar for the complete timeline of course enrollment and add/drop deadlines for the academic year. Note that certain courses may not be available for enrollment until the semester begins.

We recognize that flexibility is sometimes necessary when unusual circumstances arise. Please use this petition form to do the following:

• Request for a course to satisfy Core requirements
• Request for a course to satisfy Concentration/Elective requirements
• Request for a course's credits to count towards your MEng degree
• Change your Concentration
• Extend your program a third semester (International students: see Extending Operations Engineering Programs to a Third Semester below)
• Waive a program requirement (Colloquium, Practicum, etc.)
• Wave a Core Area requirement

The above are all processes that happen at the Department level. The College of Engineering Registrar handles petitions related to enrollment and student status, and they keep a list of relevant petitions on their website that allow you to request the following:

• General Petition
• Enrollment Petition
• Release of Information Form
• Over 20 Credits in One Semester Petition
• Time Conflict Permission Form

You may transfer up to 9 credit-hours towards your ORIE MEng degree, provided that all of the following apply:

• The credits were earned at any of Cornell's colleges or divisions;
• The credits are letter-graded;
• The credits are not applied to any other degree or credential;
• The credits satisfy ORIE MEng Degree Requirements;
• You have obtained program approval within three weeks of the start of your first MEng semester or hybrid semester, whichever is earlier.

For Early Admit students, any transferred credits are distinct from those earned during your hybrid semester. However, you are only able bring a maximum of 15 credit hours from your time as an undergraduate with you; e.g. if you are taking 8 credits of MEng coursework during your hybrid semester, you can only transfer a maximum of 7 credits from prior semesters.

Decisions concerning the denial of transfer credits are final and may not be appealed to the MEng Academic Committee. No other transfer credits are accepted by ORIE.

The College of Engineering sets the policy for transfers between Cornell MEng programs. Upon accepting an offer of admission to an MEng program, students are required to register in that program for at least one semester and are expected to make progress towards the degree requirements for that program. Students who wish to transfer to another MEng. program after their first semester must inform and receive approval from both programs. Approval depends on several factors and is not automatic. Students seeking this approval should consult with the ORIE MEng Director. If approved, the transfer will be effective at the beginning of the subsequent semester. Other transfer rules apply as outlined in the College of Engineering Rules for the Master of Engineering Degree. Financial aid in the form of fellowships and scholarships will need to be reviewed to determine if it is transferable.

Within the ORIE MEng program, there are limited options to change concentrations after admission. Changes into the Financial Engineering concentration are not permitted. Requests for changes into the other concentrations/minor will be considered on a case-by-case basis and require the approval of the faculty advisor and ORIE MEng Director.

Like other professional graduate degrees, the MEng has a planned program timeframe. Barring unforeseen emergencies, major illnesses, or other extreme circumstances, you are expected to complete your degree requirements on schedule with your cohort. For ORIE Operations Engineering MEng students, this means finishing in two semesters. However, it may be difficult to complete the requirements for a particular concentration in two semesters because of gaps in your background and/or the sequence and timing of courses offered.

In most cases, the School of ORIE will allow an MEng student to pursue a third semester of study, provided that they follow the extension request process outlined on the associated petition form and submit all necessary documentation prior to the stated deadline, which is usually the Friday following April 15.

International students should pay particular attention to the extension guidelines presented by Cornell’s Office of Global Learning .

Any ORIE MEng student who extends their program to a third semester is subject to additional academic requirements and costs, as detailed next. You must accept responsibility for meeting these additional requirements and costs as a condition of having your Extension Request approved.

• You must complete a minimum of 12 credit hours of coursework.
• At least 6 must be letter-graded credit hours that count towards your MEng Degree.
• At least 3 of those must be in ORIE department-labelled courses.
• You may enroll in SCJ courses during your extended semester, however the limit on countable SCJ credit hours from your concentration still applies.
• At most 1 course may be Audited. Audited courses do not count as credit hours.

MEng students who request Program Extensions are not eligible for pro-rated tuition and should expect to pay for a full additional semester of study, including tuition and fees, living expenses, and student health insurance. If you are an international student, financial certification may be required as part of the I-20 extension process.

Extensions are not available to FE students due to the design of the CFEM semester.

The ORIE MEng degree is a self-funded investment in yourself and your future that will pay off both financially and with enhanced career opportunities. Over the past several years, not only has the ORIE MEng average starting salary been $10,000-$15,000 higher than the average starting salary for our undergraduates, but MEng students often enter the professional arena with a higher status or an advanced trajectory because of their additional training and experience.

The current tuition and fees for the ORIE MEng program may be found on the University Bursar's website under the Master's Degree (Tier 1) entry.

Cornell also offers a convenient installment plan to pay tuition and certain other bursar billed items. For more information, see the Cornell Installment Plan (CIP) site , or contact the Bursar directly at 607-255-2336.

Two types of financial aid are available to MEng students: merit-based aid and need-based aid. Only merit-based aid is made available to professional degree students via the School of ORIE and the College of Engineering. Need-based aid for professional degree students comes primarily from federally or privately funded loan programs. Each is described in more detail below. In addition, students may seek part-time employment to help defray program expenses.

All applicants to the ORIE MEng program are automatically considered for merit-based financial aid as part of the admissions process. There is no separate aid application – you should highlight your achievements and contributions on your application to the program itself. Merit-based aid for ORIE MEng students primarily comes in the form of partial tuition fellowships, and are largely funded via donations from generous alumni.

The College of Engineering also offers the Knight Scholarship , a program for MEng students who are interested in a future MBA degree from the Johnson School. You may indicate interest on your application to the program, and will be contacted about your essay prior to the deadline if you choose not to upload it with your application itself. Knight Scholarship applications are typically due February 1st, while the Fall cycle application deadline is December 1st.

MEng financial aid is awarded on a discretionary basis, based on applicants’ qualifications and the availability of funds.

Cornell currently participates in two federally funded student loan programs: the William D. Ford Direct Loan and the Federal Graduate PLUS loan. These programs are available to U.S. citizens and permanent residents who are matriculated toward the degree. More information may be found at the Graduate School Fellowships page.

For underrepresented United States citizen students, the GEM Engineering Fellowship provides financial assistance and a paid summer internship. This fellowship covers tuition, fees, and provides a stipend for living expenses for the graduate academic year. Note that the MEng degree may not be explicitly mentioned on some of their materials, but MEng students are eligible.

There are currently no need-based programs for international students administered by the University or the Department.

Any student who can prove their identity and eligibility to work in the United States can explore part-time jobs available on or off campus. Non-work study positions are listed by the Office of Financial Aid and Student Employment .

Course assistantships are available to MEng students on a limited basis. These are hourly positions with varying responsibilities, but MEng students are typically designated as Course Assistants, not Graders. Depending on availability, the Graduate Field Administrator will contact qualified students approximately one month before a semester begins.

ORIE MEng students are able to hold assistantships in other departments, but individual departments have their own recruitment priorities and procedures.

Legally, as a full-time student you can work up to 20 hours per week. That said, you should not work over 10 hours per week due to the rigor of the program and the time commitment of searching for employment. Historically, students who have attempted to manage a 20 hour workload alongside their responsibilities as an ORIE MEng student have found themselves seriously underperforming in both.

The MEng Programs Support Office , the Cornell Engineering Career Center , and the University Career Services Offices all offer programming for MEng students on how to approach the job search, resume preparation, interview preparation, and more.

In addition to organizing Cornell Career Days in September, these offices offer extensive on-campus opportunities to connect with hundreds of companies each year. Plan to take advantage of the extensive opportunities available to enhance your job search skills and make contact with employers. Upcoming sessions and workshops will be posted online. You should plan to prepare for recruiting early since interviewing begins early in the fall semester.

The demands of the ORIE MEng program can make it difficult at times for students to maintain a healthy work-life balance. Getting sufficient sleep, maintaining a healthy diet, and exercising can make an enormous difference in your graduate school experience. For more information about available resources, please see the Graduate Field Administrator, or visit:

• The Cornell Health Center
• Cornell Fitness Centers
• Cornell Mental Health Care

There are hundreds of student clubs and organizations at Cornell for individuals with special professional or social interests, which can be found at the Student & Campus Life website .

Specific groups frequenty of interest to all ORIE MEng students are:

• MSLC - Each year, nominations are solicited from the ORIE MEng class for candidates to serve on the MEng Student Leadership Committee . The members of this committee organize social events and outings, arrange for industry speakers, and collectively act as spokespeople for the ORIE MEng class. If you are interested in being a member of the committee, please contact the MEng Program Director.
• INFORMS - The Institute for Operations Research and the Management Sciences is the flagship organization for Operations Research and Analytics professionals. The Cornell student chapter of INFORMS serves the purpose of introducing students to the professional aspects of the field, career opportunities, and a variety of social activities. MEng students are welcome to join the Cornell INFORMS chapter. Through guest speakers from industry and a variety of activities, members benefit from the opportunity to meet other students and professionals and to learn about the latest developments and opportunities in ORIE. The national INFORMS organization offers career-related information, including job postings, career fairs, and other valuable resources.
• SWE - The Society of Women Engineers is a professional, non-profit, educational service organization of undergraduate and graduate engineers and men and women with equivalent engineering experience. The Cornell Student Section of SWE promotes women in Engineering by advocating for the importance of diversity and by uniting resources to encourage academic, leadership, professional, and personal excellence for the entire Engineering community of Today and Tomorrow. Every year Cornell’s SWE chapter hosts numerous programs and events that are of interest to MEng students, including over 100 company information sessions.