http://admissions.cornell.edu/apply/what-cornell-looks

Whether you're a first-year or transfer applicant, there’s no magic formula that guarantees you will (or won’t) get into Cornell. Yes, it’s true what you may have heard: Admission to Cornell is highly selective, with less than 20% of applicants admitted each year.

But our need-blind admission process means that we don’t consider economic circumstances when reviewing applications. Access and affordability are extremely important to us, as are diversity and inclusion. Our admission process is highly individualized, and we spend lots of time evaluating if you’ll be a good fit for the culture and philosophy of our university. The result is an incredibly rich mix of students which is one of the best things about Cornell.

So what do we look for?

Your Intellectual Potential

Have you challenged yourself with the highest-level courses? How have you demonstrated your passion for learning?

Your Character

Honesty. Open-mindedness.Initiative.Empathy for others. Your values are important to Cornell. Do your application essaysand recommendations reflect your strongest personal attributes?

Your Involvement

Extracurricular activities.Community involvement.Workplace experience.Leadership. What special talents or interests have you developed?

Your Reasons for Choosing Us

Whether you’ve decided on a major or not, how do you plan on taking advantage of the exceptional learning environment at Cornell? Why is it the right place for you?

Cornell fully supports equality of opportunity. No one is denied admission because of race, religion, national or ethnic origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, or disability.

Essays

Students also frequently ask us what we are looking for in the application essays they submit. Here are tips to consider:

Tip #1: Give careful thought to the questions asked, but don’t try to write the answers that you think we want to hear; give us the answers that tell us about you.

Tip #2: In your essay, help us understand your thoughts and feelings about something that is important to you. We are interested in the topic you choose, how you develop your idea, and how well you express yourself.

　　不管你是新生也好，转学生也罢，没有任何魔法公式可以保证你进入康奈尔、是的，你听到的没错：康奈尔的录取是具有高度选择性的，每年只有不到20%的申请者能够进入康奈尔。

　　但是，我们不考虑学生支付能力的录取过程意味着我们在评阅申请者时并不考虑他们的经济条件。作为具有多样化和包容性的我们，访问和负担能力是极其重要的。我们的录取过程十分具有个人特色，录取委员会官员们会花费大量时间来评估你是否与我们的文化和理念相匹配。我们最终会录取一群令人难以置信地丰富的学生的混合，这对康奈尔来说，也是极好的一件事情。

　　你的智力潜能

　　你选择过高难度课程来挑战自己吗？你展示过自己学习的激情吗？

　　你的性格

　　诚实，开放，主动，同情心。对于康奈尔来说，你的价值观是很重要的。你的申请文书和推荐信里反映出你最强的个性特点了吗？

　　你的参与性

　　课外活动，社区参与，职场经验，领导能力。你从中发展了自身什么样的能力和兴趣？

　　你选择我们的原因

　　不论是否选择了专业与否，你计划怎样利用康奈尔独特的学习环境？为什么说康奈尔大学是你的至上选择？

　　康奈尔为每位申请者提供绝对公平的机会。不会因为种族、地域、国家、种族起源、性别、性取向、年龄或者残疾等因素，剥夺任何优秀申请者的录取机会。

　　短文

　　学生经常会问我们在他们提交的短文寻找什么，以下建议仅供参考。

　　1.仔细思考问及的问题，但是不要试图写一些你自认为我们想要的答案，给我们讲述那些关于你的事情。

　　2.你的短文会帮助我们理解你的思想，感受那些对你来说十分重要的事情。我们感兴趣的是你如何进行主题的选择，如何发展自己的想法，以及如何恰如其分地表达。