Transfer Option Frequently Asked Questions

You must respond to the Transfer Option offer by using the Transfer Option Response Form. The TO Response Form must be submitted by the expressed deadline. No deposit is required.

Saying "yes" to the Transfer Option is not binding and you can decide not to pursue the Transfer Option at any time by communicating with the CALS Admissions Office (cals_admissions [at] cornell.edu (cals_admissions[at]cornell[dot]edu)).

The Transfer Option and Waitlist are separate decisions made by the Selection Committee.  All decisions are final and there is no appeal process. 

A Transfer Option Candidate may request a major change.  Please provide a one page statement explaining why you would like to change your major in CALS and please share your future goals related to this major.   Candidates requesting a change of major during the academic year should also include an unofficial transcript and a copy of your spring course schedule, if available.  

Major change requests should be sent to cals_admissions [at] cornell.edu (cals_admissions[at]cornell[dot]edu) by December 1.

You cannot request a change of major to Applied Economics and Management, Biological Engineering, Environmental Engineering, Global and Public Health Sciences, or Information Science. The Selection Committee reserves the right to deny any change of major request.

Your Transfer Option is only valid for fall of the following year.  If you are planning on taking a gap year, you would need forgo the TO and apply to Cornell as a traditional external transfer applicant.  During the review process, the Selection Committee would see that you were awarded a TO previously and give your application every consideration.

The transfer option is only valid for the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (CALS).  If you are interested in transferring to another college at Cornell you should apply as an external transfer applicant.

Please keep in mind that as a CALS student you will have the opportunity to either double major or minor in CALS or minor in any of the other 6 colleges at Cornell.  You can view a list of all of the minors available to Cornell students here.

While there are no specific GPA requirements or course requirements for you final semester of HS, we encourage you to work hard and get the best possible grades.  A successful end of your senior year will only make your transition to college (and later to Cornell) easier.  We will request a final transcript (showing your final senior grades) at the time of application however, the Selection Committee will put the most weight on your college transcripts and if you have met the TO requirements.

You will need to complete the Transfer Option application (no fee) and submit it along with a final official high school transcript, an official college transcript, a mid-term grade report (for your spring semester courses) and a college report to be considered for admission.

Students will be asked to provide two short answers to the following: 

1.    Reflect on a meaningful experience from your first year of college that deepened your interest in your chosen major. How did this experience shape your academic and/or career goals? Consider reflecting on a specific course, academic endeavor, or extracurricular activity. (150 words)
2.    What opportunities at Cornell CALS offer enrichment or something new to your college experience, thus motivating you to pursue the Transfer Option? (150 Words)

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.

Whether you enter as a freshman or transfer, all students who are interested in studying abroad are encouraged to do so.  We have amazing programs through Cornell Abroad but also through CALS Exchange, which is a program specifically for CALS Students. 

• Learn more about the various international opportunities CALS offers

Cornell does not have a preference for which school you attend next year.  You may attend any 2- or 4-year accredited institution, preferably in the U.S.  It is extremely important that you choose a school where

1. You can see yourself being happy for the remainder of your college career.
2. You will be able to complete the course requirements for your transfer option.

We have found that students who attend institutions outside the US often have a difficult time fulfilling course requirements because the content may vary greatly from what is offered at US institutions.  Please attend an institution in the US or your country of residence.  You will have an opportunity to study abroad upon arrival at Cornell.

Attending a school that is on the quarter system is OK.  CALS semester system awards transfer credit for quarter system credits by calculating .67 credits per credit of study at an institution on the quarter system. A 5-credit quarter system course is equivalent to a 3 credit semester course. If your major requires 2 semesters of a course (ex: Biology), plan on taking two 5-credit quarters of Biology. 

Pass/Fail grading or written evaluations will not satisfy the Transfer Option requirements - you will be required to submit grades to the CALS 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).

Your major has a list of required coursework that you will need to complete in order to transfer.  Find your major on the "Course Requirements by Major" tab on the Transfer Option home page, click the "Transfer" tab, and follow the Sophomore requirements. 

AP/IB credit may be used to fulfill required coursework for transfer. Please use the AP/IB Chart and the CALS Transfer Credit Policy to see which scores will count for credit. The following restrictions apply:  

• AP/IB credit can only be used to fulfill ONE of writing requirements; the other must be taken during your freshman year.
• AP Literature may not be used to fulfill the writing requirement for Communication.
• AP Biology credit cannot be used to fulfill the requirement for the Biological Sciences, Biology and Society, Environmental and Sustainability Sciences, or Food Science majors.
• AP Chemistry may not be used to fulfill the requirement for Food Science.
• Information Science will not accept AP Statistics.

Please report any scores that you plan on using towards requirements on your TO application and have any new scores (since your freshman application) be sent to Cornell next spring.

NOTE: Requirements for a specific course will not automatically be fulfilled if your first-year institution accepts AP/IB credit for that course. Please refer to the AP/IB Chart to see our score requirements. If you do not receive the minimum score for Cornell or if you are applying to a major that does not accept AP/IB credit for specific courses, you will need to take the class your freshman year.

Cornell University does not accept credit for courses sponsored by colleges or universities but taught in the high school to high school students, even if the college provides a transcript of such work. 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.

Students that have not completed the Transfer Option requirements will still be evaluated as a Transfer Option applicant. While our most successful applicants have completed all requirements, our admissions process is holistic, which means we consider all parts of an application. During our review, we consider whether candidates have the academic backgrounds (rigor, coursework and grades) to be successful at Cornell CALS; whether the personal attributes and extracurricular experiences shared demonstrate a solid connection with the CALS approach and mission; and that thoughtful fit is expressed for the candidate’s desired major, within Cornell CALS.

No.  You must receive a grade in the course for it to count towards transfer requirements and to transfer for credit to Cornell. In the eyes of Cornell, a P/F course 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.