Early Decision

We are delighted to welcome you to Cornell University!

We have put together information that will help as you prepare to become a member of the Cornell community.

First: You need to reserve your place in the class.

As you know from the acceptance letter, we hold a place for you in next year’s freshman class. Please confirm your acceptance of our offer by submitting your $400 deposit by midnight (EST) on January 16, 2023. You may pay your deposit online via your Application Status Page. The deposit will be credited to your bursar account in your first semester at Cornell.

In addition, we remind you that your admission to Cornell as an early decision candidate is binding. As part of the agreement, you must withdraw any applications you have filed at other colleges or universities. Cornell, as well as other colleges that participate in early decision, take the early decision commitment very seriously. If we learn that you have not withdrawn your applications to other institutions, you will jeopardize those applications as well as your place at Cornell. If you have concerns about keeping your early decision commitment, please contact us immediately.

Second: If you have applied for financial aid, or plan to, read this section.

If you have applied for financial aid:

You will receive an award notification directly from the Office of Financial Aid and Student Employment if you have completed the financial aid application process. If you met the November 21 deadline, you can expect to receive notification very soon.

If you plan to apply for financial aid:

The aid application deadline was November 21, 2022. U.S. citizens, permanent residents, undocumented students, and students with DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrival) who are admitted during early decision, but who have not initiated a financial aid application by February 15, 2023, will not be considered for Cornell aid. Federal grant and loan sources may still be available. If attending Cornell is contingent on your receiving financial aid, then you must apply for financial aid immediately.

We encourage you to contact the financial aid office directly (607.255.5145 or finaid@cornell.edu) if you have any questions about your financial aid award or the application process. While your early decision acceptance to Cornell is binding, you may be eligible to be released from your early decision agreement if your financial aid award does not make a Cornell education affordable for you and your family.

We expect that all students admitted under the early decision plan will submit the $400 deposit by January 16 at midnight (EST).

Next: You’ll hear from us in April.

In early April, you will receive information about housing and dining options, as well as access to your To-Do List at newstudents.cornell.edu. Application forms will be available on your To-Do List. All Ithaca campus first-and second-year full-time students are required to live on campus through the spring semester of their second academic year of enrollment. We will also let you know what tuition, room and board costs are expected to be for the academic year 2023-2024. Also, in April you’ll receive information about bursar procedures, the health history form, the final term grade report, your Cornell University email address, and other materials.

Finally: You’ll hear from other Cornell offices during the summer.

The university orientation program is scheduled for the week before classes start. You will receive details about the program during the summer.

You will need to pay for tuition, room and board for the semester prior to registration. If you are awarded financial aid through Cornell, your financial aid will be applied to your bill, which will be issued during the summer (final tuition schedules for 2023-2024 will be shared with all new students in April). Classes start on Monday, August 21, 2023.

Important Notes: Please read these carefully.

Regarding Your Acceptance:

As we noted in your offer letter, by accepting our offer of admission, you acknowledge that you will adhere to Cornell University’s Code of Academic Integrity. Our offer of admission is contingent upon you satisfactorily completing any school work in progress, and on you upholding high standards of character in all activities within and outside of the classroom. Should you encounter a situation where you cannot complete school work in progress, or you need to adjust your current course load, please speak first with your secondary school counselor and then contact the admissions office at Cornell.

Instructions for Deferral:

Deferral of your admission to Cornell University will only be considered if you have a compelling reason and have discussed this with your secondary school counselor. Requests for deferral must be made by March 1, 2023. Deferral of your admission to Cornell will be considered on a case-by-case basis.

Questions?

Please call us at the Undergraduate Admissions Office at 607.255.5241 or contact us by email at admissions@cornell.edu. We are happy to help!

Please note: Cornell University will be closed beginning Saturday, December 25, 2022, and we will re-open on Tuesday, January 3, 2023.