First-Year Applicants
Before you apply
You are a first-year applicant if you'll complete high school during the 2024-2025 academic year or if you've graduated from high school but have earned fewer than 12 credits at a college or university.
If you are an international applicant, see additional information for international students.
Choose a major
Choosing a college major that suits your interests, skills, and personality is an important decision. Here are a few important questions to ask yourself as you begin to make your choice:
- Do you enjoy a particular academic subject?
- What issues and subjects are you passionate about?
- What extracurricular and/or work activities have you enjoyed the most?
- What do you envision as your future career?
- In what subjects are you academically strongest?
Because you apply directly to a major at CALS, you'll dive into your major as soon as you set foot on campus. Successful applicants are selected based on their academic and personal fit for that course of study.
To help you answer these and other important questions you may have, take some time to explore the more than 20 majors that CALS offers. The CALS Admissions Team is here and eager to help. Please contact us if you need more information or have specific questions. The best way to reach us is through email. Our email address is: cals_admissions [at] cornell.edu

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