Early Decision - International
We have prepared 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.
Second: If you have applied for financial aid, read this section.
If you have applied for financial aid and have demonstrated financial need, you will receive your financial aid award very soon. Please review your financial aid award and contact the financial aid office (607.255.5145 or intl-finaid@cornell.edu) with any questions.
If you applied for financial aid and we determined that you do not have demonstrated financial need, you will be notified by email.
Please note that while your early decision admission to Cornell is binding, you may be eligible to be released from your early decision agreement if you were not awarded financial aid due to the absence of demonstrated need or if your financial aid award does not make a Cornell education affordable for you and your family. If you determine that it is necessary for you to be released from your early decision commitment, please contact the Undergraduate Admissions Office (vls5@cornell.edu) by January 16, 2023. If you contact us, we will withdraw your offer of admission, and this will allow you to apply for admission and financial aid at other colleges and universities.
Third: Consider the Early Decision agreement.
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 If we learn that you have not withdrawn your applications to other institutions, you will jeopardize those applications as well as your place at Cornell.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. Again, please note that you may be eligible to be released from your early decision agreement under the provisions outlined in the second item above.
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 obtaining a student visa, bursar procedures, the health history form, the final term grade report, your Cornell University email address, and other materials.
We encourage you to register for Prepare, the Office of Global Learning's pre-orientation program for international first-year and transfer undergraduates. It gives you an early start on your Cornell experience by introducing you to important resources for international students and helping you make friends from around the world.
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 intl-inquiry@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.