Undergraduate Applied Economics and Management (AEM) Application Requirements

What courses should I have taken in high school?

Secondary-School Subjects/Requirements:

• English: 4 units
• Mathematics: 4 units (including calculus if offered at secondary school)
• Science: 3 units (including biology and chemistry)

Secondary-School Subjects/Recommendations:

• An additional unit of science
• Advanced mathematics in grade 12 is preferred to AP statistics

Special Requirements:

• A resume submitted with your admissions application

Recommended additional preparation:

• Rigorous high school curriculum and an outstanding record of academic achievement
• Strong and demonstrated match with the school’s mission and opportunities
• Initiative, curiosity, teamwork, ingenuity
• Applicants are encouraged to explore our virtual visit options
• Interviews are not offered

Does Dyson require SAT scores, ACT scores, or other standardized tests?

For students applying to enroll for fall 2025, the Dyson School will be score-free. Any self-reported scores will not be reviewed. 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 found in the other application materials. This will be true for both the Early Decision and Regular Decision rounds of review.

For students applying to enroll for fall 2026 or beyond, applicants to all Cornell undergraduate colleges and schools will be required to submit standardized test scores.

Please refer to the Cornell University Undergraduate Admissions Standardized Testing Policies page for more information.

Will I receive credit for my AP courses?
Dyson will only accept a maximum of 15 advanced standing test credits. Review the Cornell University Registrar’s Advanced Placement and Advanced Standing information for a more comprehensive guide.

Note: Dyson 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 Dyson.

*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.

How can I make my application stand out? 

Admission is highly selective, but academics aren’t the only contributing factor to the Cornell Dyson acceptance rate. We also consider your extracurriculars, community engagement, professional goals, and leadership potential. Additionally, your supplemental admissions essay gives you a chance to share your story in more detail. We suggest you get familiar with Dyson and Cornell, including our mission and student opportunities, as you prepare to write your essay; it’s important to connect your goals and interests to Dyson!

Will I be required to have an admissions interview? 

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

Does Dyson offer application fee waivers? 

Cornell University is committed to equity and access for all students. If the $80 application fee causes financial hardship for your family, you may be eligible for a fee waiver. Please follow the Common App instructions to apply for a fee waiver.

For more information explore the Cornell University Financial Aid website.

How and when will I receive my decision? 

All decisions are released via an online notification system so it is important to keep your email address current. Visit the Application Timelines page for more information on deadlines and decisions.

What kind of previously earned college credits (non-test-based) will Cornell accept?

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

Cornell University does not accept college-level credit for courses physically taught in high schools or for courses 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” (excluding “C-“) is required for a course to be eligible for transfer credit.

How are international credentials evaluated at Dyson?

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

Is there an English Language proficiency requirement?

International freshman and transfer applicants for whom English is not the first language must submit an 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.

Do all of my application materials need to be in English if I went to school in a different country?

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

For more information refer to the Cornell University Office of Admissions.

Can international students apply for financial aid at Dyson? 

International students interested in details about financial aid for international applicants should refer to the Cornell University Financial Aid website.

How is my military training and experience considered during the admission process?

Military training and experience are among the many factors that we consider in our holistic admission review process. Applicants with appropriate academic preparation (either in high school or college) and the ability to articulate their intellectual interests as part of their admissions essay are often the most successful candidates.

Does Cornell offer credits for military training?

While all potential transfer credits are independently evaluated, we are not typically able to award credits for military training experiences.

What’s the difference between a transfer and a first-year applicant? 

You can apply as a transfer student if you’ve graduated from high school and have earned 12 or more credits from another accredited institution or if you are enrolled as a full-time student at another college or university. 

If you are coming directly from high school (or after a gap year), you’d be considered a first-year student. 

Note: You may only apply as a transfer student as a first-year, sophomore, or rising junior at your current school; if you’re currently a junior or senior, you are not eligible to apply.

Is there a minimum GPA or enrollment status needed to apply as a transfer student? 

If you’re interested in transferring to Dyson from another institution, you should have a minimum GPA of 3.5 and be in good academic standing during each of your previous semesters. If you are currently enrolled, you should be in good academic standing.

What college-level courses do I need to apply to Dyson? 

You should have taken—and have earned a B or better in—calculus, microeconomics, statistics, and one college writing or English composition course while enrolled in a college or university. 

While not required, taking macroeconomics, biology, and chemistry and/or physics can strengthen your application and prepare you for Dyson’s rigorous curriculum.

How many credits can I transfer to Dyson? 

Up to 60 credits from another accredited college or university may be transferred to Dyson. If you’re admitted, we’ll conduct an official credit transfer evaluation to determine which courses will transfer in.

Dyson will only accept a maximum of 15 advanced standing test (AP, IB, GCE, A-level) credits. Review the Cornell University Registrar’s Advanced Placement and Advanced Standing information for a comprehensive guide.

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

*College coursework taken in high school before receiving your high school diploma will not be considered 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.

What is considered in an application to externally transfer to the Dyson?

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 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 3.5 university/college GPA. Please keep in mind that transfer admission is selective and highly competitive.

How and when will I receive my decision?
Transfer decisions for the fall semester are released on a rolling basis.

All decisions are released via an online notification system so it is important to keep your email address current. Visit the Application Timelines page for more information on deadlines and decisions.