Frequently Asked Questions

Cornell University has extended its two-year suspension of the SAT/ACT requirements to 2023 and 2024 applicants. It has been left up to individual undergraduate colleges to determine whether they will be score-free or test optional in their application processes. The Cornell SC Johnson College of Business will be score-free and will not use test results as a part of our admissions review for students seeking admission through fall of 2025. Instead, we will proceed with a holistic review of every application—excluding the use of SAT/ACT test results—with an increased emphasis on evidence of academic preparation, creative exploration, and potential in the other application materials. This will be true for both the Early Decision and Regular Decision rounds of review. Please see the the Undergraduate Office of Admission page on Standardized Testing Policies for more information.

The Early Decision deadline for first year applicants is November 1^st. The Regular Decision deadline for first year applicants is January 2^nd. Please visit the Application Timelines page on the Cornell University Undergraduate Admissions website for more details.

Please familiarize yourself with the requirements and recommendations listed on our Dyson Admissions page and feel free to contact dyson_admissions@cornell.edu if you have further questions.

The Cornell admissions process is highly individualized, and our admissions committee will holistically review each part of your application to weigh your academic qualifications and your ability to handle our standard of academic rigor. In the event that circumstances prevent you from meeting all of our listed requirements, we encourage you to utilize the Additional Information section of the Common App to provide context and demonstrate your readiness despite the missing requirement(s).

The Cornell SC Johnson College of Business is highly selective but we review applications holistically, meaning that we take all parts of your application into consideration. Successful applicants are challenging themselves academically, partaking in meaningful extracurriculars available to them in their communities, and are able to highlight experiences and passions that align with our program.

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.

When applying to the SC Johnson College of Business, students must choose to apply directly to either the Hotel School or the Dyson School. However, they also have the option to choose the other school as an alternate. Most students have a clear path and should apply to whichever school they believe is the right fit for them based on the curricular and extra-curricular offerings of the school. This alternate option should only be used by students who can clearly articulate their academic path in both schools, and they will need to fully explain those interests in their supplemental essay. Choosing both schools will not increase a student’s chances of admission, as application review remains highly selective for all academic programs at Cornell. Please note that during Early Decision application review, students will only be considered for admission to their primary choice.

Academic credit from other accredited schools may be considered for transfer towards the Dyson School of Applied Economics and Management B.S. requirements. Limitations and restrictions will be based on a case-by-case evaluation.

Cornell University does not accept credit for college-level courses taught in and offered by high schools (virtually or in-person) where enrollment is limited to high school students, even if the sponsoring college provides a transcript of such work.

An official college transcript noting a letter grade of at least a “C” is required for a course to be eligible for transfer credit.

Dyson’s Grand Challenges curriculum is one of the exciting components of the undergraduate experience that attracts and sets apart our students. It is required and therefore built into your course sequence. You’ll work with faculty and peers on real community challenges, making the world a better place through business and service. For more information, please see The Grand Challenges curriculum page.

Interviews are not offered as part of the Dyson School’s undergraduate admissions process.

International freshman and transfer applicants for whom English is not the first language must submit and English Language Proficiency Exam score.

The examinations that meet this requirement include:

• TOEFL iBT, minimum score of 100
• IELTS, minimum score of 7.5
• DuoLingo, minimum score of 120
• iTEP, minimum score of 5.5
• PTE Academic, minimum score of 70
• C1 Advanced or C2 Proficiency, minimum score of 191

You may be eligible for a waiver if you meet certain criteria. For more detailed information on application instructions for international students, please visit the International Students page on the Cornell Undergraduate Admissions Office website.

For information on how international credential credits may transfer to Cornell, please review the guidelines outlined on the university Courses of Study website.

Yes. If your transcript or any other materials are not in English, please submit an original copy and an official, certified English translation.

Yes. Students currently studying at another institution are eligible to apply as external transfer students. The Dyson School only accepts transfer students to begin in the fall semester, so students need to complete a full year at another institution and apply during the spring semester. For more information on the requirements and recommendations for prospective Dyson transfer students, please see our External Transfer Applicants page. Please also familiarize yourself with the Transfer Applicants page on the Undergraduate Admissions site for more general guidelines regarding transfer admission to Cornell University.

Transfer applications are accepted only for the fall semester. Fall-semester transfer applications are due by March 15^th. For more information about transfer student application deadlines, please see the Transfer Admission Timeline chart on the Undergraduate Admissions Application Timelines page.

We expect you to have taken calculus, microeconomics, statistics and one college-writing/English-composition course.

We also recommend taking macroeconomics, biology, and chemistry and/or physics. While these courses are not required, they will strengthen your application and prepare you for the Dyson curriculum. For more specific guidance, please see our External Transfer Applicants page.

Generally speaking, the Cornell SC Johnson College of Business has no preferences regarding the institution from which a student transfers. One point of note: About a quarter of our transfer students each year come from community colleges.

As applications are reviewed, the most important factors considered include:

• Ability to articulate your interests in the Dyson School and why you feel you must depart your current institution to pursue these interests via the application essay (part of the Writing supplement)
• Academic credentials from applicant’s current institution
• Recommendations from applicant’s college/university professor(s)

Also reviewed:
–    Involvement in extracurricular activities
–    Academic credentials from high school

In the final analysis, college coursework and application essay(s) are the most important factor in the transfer admission decision. Admitted students generally have achieved at least a 3.0 university/college GPA. Please keep in mind that transfer admission is selective and highly competitive.