1. Create an account
Create an account with Cornell SCE to start your application.
- After setting up your account, you will be emailed a PIN, which you will enter to complete your account creation.
- Note: You can save your progress and come back to finish later by hitting the “Continue” button within the application.
2. Complete your application form
Submit an application statement in English
Application statement
This statement is an important part of your application, and writing it is good practice for your college application essays. Please be thoughtful about your responses.
Your response should be in English and at a recommended length of 1,000 to 1,500 words with a maximum length of 2,000 words.
Application statement prompts for all students
- Tell us about the academic area that you are interested in pursuing during the Precollege Studies program.
- Explain what you are expecting to gain from this course.
- Describe why you are confident in succeeding in the program.
- What experience or background are you bringing to the study of your chosen topic?
- What do you think sets you apart from other applicants to this program?
Upload copies of the following documents
All social security and account numbers should be removed or blacked out
- Complete high school transcript
- Your most current grade report
- One teacher or counselor recommendation
International students
Submit your most recent English Language Proficiency scores, if required.
English Language Proficiency (ELP)
If you meet one of the following conditions, you likely do not need to demonstrate English language proficiency, but there may be some exceptions*:
- English is your native language.
- English has been the primary language of instruction throughout your secondary school career.
If you do not meet one of those conditions, you are required to submit an English proficiency exam score from the TOEFL, IELTS, or Duolingo English Test.
*There may be instances where a student who does meet the above criteria will still be required to submit an English proficiency exam score at the discretion of the Precollege admissions team. Situations could include, but are not limited to, a student’s recommender indicating that the student’s English language ability may not be sufficient, and/or the student’s submitted statement does not demonstrate a sufficient level of English language ability, despite having met the above criteria.
What if I haven’t taken any English language exams?
How do I submit my scores?
You must ask your test provider to submit your official test scores directly to us at the School of Continuing Education (Cornell SCE).
Learn about each test service’s score-submission process:
- Submitting TOEFL scores (Cornell’s TOEFL submission code is 2098)
- Submitting IELTS scores
- Submitting Duolingo scores
What if my scores don’t meet the requirements?
If your scores don’t meet the requirements above, we suggest that you work on strengthening your English language skills this year and apply in the following year.
Pay your application fee
A nonrefundable fee of $75 must be paid in our secure online system when you submit your application.
3. Check your online account
After you submit your application, you will receive an email with instructions for logging into your online account to
- Check the status of your application
- Upload additional materials (if required)
- View your admissions decision when available
Admissions decisions are usually made within two weeks of receiving your complete application.