Cornell University Supplemental Essay Prompts & Writing Guide 2025-2026

Start by choosing one specific community that has genuinely shaped who you are, not just any group you've been part of. This could be your family, a cultural or religious community, an interest-based club, a volunteer organization, or even an online group. The key is to select a community where your involvement has been meaningful and where you've experienced real personal growth. Avoid listing multiple communities or trying to cover too much ground; depth matters far more than breadth in this 350-word essay.

Once you've identified your community, dedicate about 25% of your essay to briefly establishing what this community is and your role within it, then use the remaining 75% to explore how it has shaped your values, perspective, or identity. Cornell wants to see concrete examples and vivid details that bring your experience to life, not abstract statements about "learning leadership" or "gaining perspective." Show them a specific moment, conversation, or realization that illustrates the community's impact on you. For instance, if you're writing about a debate team, don't just say it taught you critical thinking; describe the time a teammate challenged your argument in a way that fundamentally changed how you approach complex issues.

Remember that Cornell is building a diverse student body with varied perspectives and lived experiences, so this essay is your opportunity to highlight what makes your viewpoint unique. If your racial, ethnic, religious, gender, or cultural identity has significantly influenced how you see the world, this is an appropriate place to discuss it (since Cornell can no longer directly consider these factors due to recent Supreme Court decisions). However, don't feel pressured to write about identity if another community has been more formative. The admissions committee values authenticity above all, so choose the community that genuinely matters most to you, whether that's a close-knit family unit, a robotics club, or a neighborhood you've worked to improve.

Finally, be specific about the impact this community has had on you and hint at how you'll bring that perspective to Cornell's campus. Avoid generic statements like "this community taught me to be open-minded" or "I learned the importance of diversity." Instead, show how your experiences within this community have shaped specific values, skills, or perspectives that you'll contribute to Cornell's collaborative academic environment. The essay should feel personal and reflective, revealing something about you that isn't visible elsewhere in your application.

This essay demands a clear narrative arc that starts with the origin of your interest in your chosen major, then evolves through your relevant experiences, and culminates in specific reasons why CALS at Cornell is the right fit for you. Start with a concrete moment or experience that first sparked your interest in the field. This could be a class, a project, a volunteer experience, research, or even a personal observation. Make it vivid and specific, but keep it brief because you have ground to cover. The goal is to show that your interest is genuine and rooted in real-world engagement, not just something you chose arbitrarily. Avoid generic statements about wanting to "help people" or "make a difference"; instead, show how your curiosity developed organically.

Once you establish that foundation, demonstrate how you've deepened your engagement with the subject over time. This is where you can mention academic coursework, independent projects, internships, or hands-on activities that expanded your understanding and confirmed your commitment. Be selective and focus on depth over breadth. Readers are looking for thoughtful reflection on what you learned from these experiences and how they shaped your goals. Consider mentioning a specific challenge or question you encountered that pushed your thinking further, or a moment when you realized the interdisciplinary nature of the field. This is particularly important for CALS, which emphasizes tackling complex, real-world challenges through purpose-driven science that crosses traditional boundaries.

Next, pivot to why Cornell CALS specifically is the place where you want to pursue this major. This requires serious research into the college's offerings: dig into the concentrations within your major, specific courses that excite you, faculty whose research aligns with your interests, hands-on learning opportunities, and unique programs that distinguish CALS from other institutions. Mention resources like Cornell Cooperative Extension, study abroad programs, undergraduate research opportunities, or interdisciplinary initiatives in areas such as digital agriculture, computational sustainability, or food justice. The key here is to be precise and authentic; generic mentions of "great professors" or "cutting-edge facilities" will not impress readers. Instead, explain why these specific resources matter to you and how they connect to your past experiences and future goals.

Finally, tie everything together by addressing your long-term aspirations and how CALS will prepare you to achieve them. CALS is deeply committed to educating students who will tackle real-world problems, so frame your goals in terms of impact rather than prestige. Whether you plan to pursue research, work in industry, or engage in policy or outreach, show that you understand how CALS' mission of purpose-driven science aligns with your vision for making a meaningful contribution to your field. Keep your tone sincere and reflective throughout. Admissions officers want to see that you've thought carefully about why this major, why CALS, and why Cornell, and that you're ready to be an active, engaged member of the CALS community.

This essay calls for you to show how your artistic interests connect to the BFA program at Cornell AAP, and it's fundamentally about demonstrating your readiness to build an integrated, interdisciplinary art practice. Start by grounding your essay in the work you've been doing as an artist. Choose one or two meaningful projects or artistic experiences that reveal both your technical skills and the intellectual questions driving your work. Be specific about your process: describe not just what you made, but why you made it, what problems you encountered, and how you've grown as an artist. Use vivid details that bring your creative practice to life so admissions officers can see the depth of your commitment.

The prompt emphasizes integrating "a range of interests and available resources at Cornell into a coherent art practice," which is your cue to demonstrate intellectual curiosity beyond studio work. Cornell's BFA program is unique in that it views students as both artists and scholars, allowing significant freedom to take electives across the university. Research specific studio facilities (such as Tjaden Hall's painting and drawing studios, The Foundry's sculpture spaces, or the photography darkrooms and print media facilities), but also identify courses or programs outside the Art Department that will inform your creative vision. Perhaps you want to combine digital media with computer science, explore environmental themes through courses in ecology, or integrate performance art with theater studies. The key is showing how you'll use Cornell's interdisciplinary structure to deepen your artistic voice rather than simply listing resources.

You should also articulate your artistic goals and how Cornell will help you achieve them. What kind of artist do you want to become? What themes, media, or questions do you want to explore during your time at AAP? The BFA program encourages experimentation across media (sculpture, photography, painting, printmaking, new media), so consider how you might push beyond your current practice. Reference specific faculty whose work resonates with you, mention exhibition opportunities like the Tjaden Hall Experimental Gallery, or discuss how the department's emphasis on critical dialogue through critiques and seminars will challenge you. Remember that AAP values artists who see their work as a way of understanding and communicating meaning in contemporary life, so connect your artistic practice to larger social, cultural, or philosophical concerns.

Finally, balance your discussion between past work and future vision. You need to prove you've already developed a serious artistic practice while showing you're eager to grow in new directions. Avoid generic statements about loving art or wanting to be creative. Instead, be concrete about your influences, your process, your conceptual interests, and how Cornell's unique combination of intensive studio culture and access to a world-class research university will allow you to evolve as both an artist and a thinker.

This essay asks you to do two main things: demonstrate how curiosity drives your learning, and show how Cornell's College of Arts and Sciences is the ideal environment to continue that journey. The prompt deliberately emphasizes "passion for learning," so your response should prioritize genuine intellectual enthusiasm over surface-level career ambitions. Start by tracing how your curiosity has shaped your past academic experiences, whether through coursework, independent exploration, conversations with mentors, or projects that sparked your interest. Admissions readers want to see the evolution of your thinking, not just a list of accomplishments.

When identifying which areas of study or majors excite you, you can discuss one or two (avoid spreading yourself too thin across many unrelated fields). What matters most is showing the depth of your engagement and explaining why these topics genuinely fascinate you. Cornell Arts and Sciences values interdisciplinary thinking, so if your interests naturally connect across departments (such as combining economics with philosophy, or biology with ethics), explain how you envision weaving those threads together through the college's flexible curriculum. You might reference specific distribution requirements, cross-listed courses, or special programs like the Humanities Scholars Program, the Milstein Program in Technology and Humanity, or opportunities to design your own interdisciplinary major through the Harrison College Scholar Program.

The second half of the essay should explicitly connect your interests to Cornell's offerings. Go beyond simply naming courses or professors; explain how specific resources will enable you to deepen your learning in ways that matter to you. For instance, if you're interested in cognitive science, you could mention how you'd take advantage of cross-departmental courses, undergraduate research opportunities through the Nexus Scholars Program, or collaboration with faculty across psychology, linguistics, and neurobiology. The key is to show that you've researched what makes Cornell Arts and Sciences distinctive (its "any person, any study" philosophy, absence of a rigid core curriculum, access to over 4,000 courses across the university) and that these features align with how you want to learn. Conclude by connecting your intellectual curiosity back to how you'll contribute to the Arts and Sciences community, whether through research, creative collaboration, or bringing fresh perspectives to classroom discussions.

Start by connecting your personal story with policy. The Brooks School values students who can demonstrate meaningful experiences that have led them to public policy, not just a general interest. Think about a specific moment or issue that ignited your passion for policy work. Maybe you witnessed how local zoning laws affected housing affordability in your community, or you volunteered with an organization that exposed you to systemic inequities in healthcare access. Use concrete details that reveal what sparked your commitment to understanding and shaping policy. This isn't about listing impressive activities; it's about showing genuine intellectual curiosity and a problem-solving mindset that has developed over time through your experiences.

The Brooks School is deeply interdisciplinary, emphasizing rigorous training across economics, statistics, sociology, and political science to tackle complex policy challenges. You should highlight how this interdisciplinary approach excites you and connects to your interests. Perhaps you're drawn to Health Care Policy because you want to combine quantitative analysis with understanding social determinants of health, or you're interested in Public Policy because you recognize that environmental issues require economic modeling, ethical reasoning, and community engagement. Reference specific aspects of the Brooks curriculum that align with your goals: mention courses, research opportunities, faculty members whose work resonates with you, or distinctive programs like Cornell in Washington or the DC Start Program if you're interested in hands-on policy experience. Avoid generic statements about Cornell's prestige or Ithaca's beauty. Instead, show that you understand what makes Brooks unique (its small, intentional community within a major research university, its focus on empirical research and data-driven solutions, its commitment to addressing contemporary social problems) and explain precisely why these characteristics matter for your development.

Close by articulating clear, thoughtful goals that demonstrate you've reflected on how a Brooks education will prepare you for impact. This doesn't mean you need a rigid career plan, but you should convey what kind of change you hope to drive and why Brooks is the right place to develop the skills and perspective to get there. If you're applying to Health Care Policy, perhaps you want to work on maternal health outcomes or pharmaceutical pricing reform. If you're applying to Public Policy, maybe you're passionate about education equity or sustainable urban development. Connect your past experiences to your future aspirations, showing how Brooks will bridge the gap. Remember that admissions readers want to see reflective, purposeful students who will contribute to classroom discussions and the broader community, so demonstrate self-awareness about what you bring to Brooks and what you hope to gain. Make every sentence count; with 650 words, you have room to be specific and thoughtful without rushing through ideas.

This essay is your chance to show Cornell that you're not just interested in business as a path to wealth or prestige, but that you care deeply about specific issues, have already engaged with them meaningfully, and understand how Cornell's unique resources can help you make an impact. The admissions committee wants to see genuine intellectual curiosity and a clear connection between your experiences and the specific school you're applying to, whether that's Dyson or Nolan.

Start by identifying one or two issues or topics you genuinely care about, grounded in concrete personal, academic, or volunteer experiences. If you're applying to Dyson, connect your interests to the school's motto, "Our Business Is a Better World," by showing how you've already tried to create positive societal impact through your actions. Perhaps you volunteered with an environmental organization, worked on a project addressing food insecurity, or helped a small business develop sustainable practices. For Nolan applicants, focus on experiences that demonstrate your understanding of service excellence, customer-centered thinking, or operational problem-solving. Maybe you worked in a family restaurant, organized community events where hospitality mattered, or led a project that required attention to detail and people skills. The key is to be specific: don't just say you care about sustainability or customer service. Instead, describe what you did, what you learned, and why it matters to you on a personal level.

Next, demonstrate your knowledge of the school by researching specific programs, courses, faculty, or student organizations that align with your interests. For Dyson students, you might mention the Grand Challenges Program (a four-year team-based initiative focused on real-world problems with external clients), specific faculty whose research resonates with you, or clubs like the Sustainable Global Enterprise initiative. If you're applying to Nolan, reference hands-on opportunities like the Hotel Leadership Development Program, working at the Statler Hotel, or how courses in real estate finance or data analytics will help you pursue your goals beyond traditional hospitality. Show that you've done your homework and understand what makes each school distinctive within the SC Johnson College of Business. You should convey that you see Cornell not just as a prestigious name, but as the ideal environment to deepen your impact in areas you're already passionate about.

Finally, tie everything together by showing how your past experiences have prepared you to contribute to Cornell's collaborative, impact-driven community and how the school's resources will help you achieve your long-term goals. Admissions readers want to see that you'll be an active, engaged member of the community, someone who will learn from and contribute to your classmates. Whether you're discussing Dyson's focus on ethical business practices and diversity or Nolan's emphasis on hospitality as a transferable skill that creates relationships and drives success across industries, make it clear that you understand the school's values and that your own values align perfectly. This is about demonstrating fit, not just qualifications, so be authentic, be specific, and show them the kind of business student you are today and the leader you'll become tomorrow.

Start by grounding your essay in a specific challenge you've observed or experienced firsthand. This should not be a distant global issue you read about, but rather something tangible that connects to your community, workplace, volunteer experience, or the career path you're pursuing. The admissions team wants to see that you have genuine insight into this problem because you've encountered it directly, whether that's food insecurity in your neighborhood, inadequate mental health resources in your school district, or unsustainable design practices you've noticed in local buildings. Make the opening personal and vivid so readers understand why this issue matters deeply to you, not just as an abstract concern but as something that has shaped your perspective and motivated your academic interests.

Once you've established the challenge, connect it explicitly to your chosen major and demonstrate that you understand how CHE's approach equips you to address it. If you're applying to Human Development, explain how understanding cognitive and social development across the lifespan will inform your solutions. If you're drawn to Design and Environmental Analysis, show how human-centered, sustainable design principles provide a framework for tackling your identified problem. The key is to move beyond surface-level program descriptions and demonstrate knowledge of specific courses, research opportunities, faculty expertise, or methodologies within your major that will give you the tools to make an impact. For example, rather than saying "I want to study nutrition to fight childhood obesity," you might explain how courses in community nutrition and health policy, combined with research opportunities in behavioral interventions, will allow you to develop evidence-based programs that address systemic barriers to healthy eating in underserved communities.

To strengthen your response, emphasize CHE's interdisciplinary philosophy by discussing how the breadth of majors within the college will enhance your ability to address the challenge from multiple angles. This is where you showcase understanding of CHE's mission: improving human lives requires collaboration across disciplines. Perhaps your primary interest is Policy Analysis and Management, but you recognize that solving housing inequality also requires insights from Design and Environmental Analysis on accessible built environments and from Human Development on how physical spaces affect child development. Mention how you plan to take advantage of courses outside your major, engage in cross-departmental research, or participate in college-wide initiatives that reflect CHE's commitment to inclusion, interdisciplinarity, impact, and innovation. This demonstrates that you're not just looking for a single major, but for an entire educational ecosystem that aligns with your values and your approach to problem-solving.

Close by connecting your past experiences to your future vision in a way that shows continuity and purpose. Reference specific activities, volunteer work, jobs, or academic projects that have already prepared you to engage with this challenge at Cornell, and then project forward to articulate how you'll use your CHE education not just to understand the problem better, but to create tangible solutions during your time on campus and beyond. Avoid generic statements about "making a difference" or vague career aspirations. Instead, be concrete about the kind of impact you want to have, whether that's designing inclusive public spaces, developing nutrition interventions for vulnerable populations, advocating for evidence-based policy changes, or conducting research that informs best practices. The admissions committee wants to see that you have a clear sense of direction, that you've thought seriously about how Cornell Human Ecology's unique resources will advance your goals, and that you're ready to contribute meaningfully to a community dedicated to improving the human experience.

This prompt requires a dual focus: you need to identify workplace or labor-related issues that genuinely matter to you, and then demonstrate how those interests connect directly to what you'll study at ILR. The admissions committee wants to see that you understand what ILR actually is (an interdisciplinary program combining economics, law, history, organizational behavior, and human resources) and that your passion for work-related topics has roots in real experience.

Start by grounding your response in concrete experiences from your life, whether that's observing unfair treatment in a part-time job, noticing pay disparities in your community, participating in student government negotiations, or witnessing family members struggle with workplace issues. You'll need to move beyond generic statements about "caring about workers' rights" and instead show specific moments that sparked your interest. For example, perhaps you worked in retail and noticed how scheduling practices affected your coworkers' ability to attend school, or maybe you researched the gig economy after seeing delivery workers in your neighborhood. The key is authenticity: write about issues you've actually encountered or investigated, not ones you think sound impressive. ILR values students who see the world through the lens of work and employment, so demonstrate that you already think this way.

Next, you need to connect your experiences to ILR's interdisciplinary approach. Show that you've done research on what makes the school unique. This isn't just about listing courses or professors (which can feel generic), but rather explaining how ILR's combination of perspectives (legal protections, economic analysis, organizational design, labor history) will help you understand and address the issues you care about. For instance, if you're interested in workplace discrimination, you might discuss how studying both employment law and organizational behavior will give you tools to create systemic change. If you're passionate about income inequality, explain how ILR's labor economics and policy analysis courses align with your goals. The strongest essays show that you understand how complex workplace issues require multiple disciplinary lenses, which is exactly what ILR provides.

Finally, make sure your essay reveals your values and your vision for impact. ILR is fundamentally about improving working lives and promoting fairness in employment, so your response should reflect a commitment to these ideals. Whether you're interested in union organizing, human resources management, conflict resolution, or employment policy, be clear about why these topics matter to you personally and what kind of change you hope to create. Avoid being too abstract or theoretical: instead of writing about "solving labor issues globally," discuss specific problems you want to address and how an ILR education will prepare you to do so. The most compelling essays show both intellectual curiosity about the world of work and genuine concern for the people affected by workplace policies and practices.

The key to this 200-word essay is to showcase your personal connection to engineering as a problem-solving tool while staying grounded in specific moments or realizations that sparked your interest. Cornell Engineering values students who see engineering not just as technical knowledge, but as a way to create meaningful impact. Start by reflecting on a concrete experience (a project, a class moment, a real-world problem you observed) that made you realize how math, science, and technology come together to solve challenges. This could be as simple as fixing something broken, building a prototype, or understanding why a system works the way it does.

What matters most here is demonstrating intellectual curiosity and a problem-solving mindset, not listing your entire resume. Since there's a separate essay asking why Cornell specifically, this response should focus purely on why engineering resonates with you. Think about what kinds of problems excite you (they don't have to be grand or world-changing; local, everyday problems work just as well). Maybe you're drawn to the elegance of optimization, the challenge of designing under constraints, or the satisfaction of making something functional. Connect your interest back to how you think and what drives you intellectually.

Be authentic and avoid generic statements about wanting to help people or change the world without connecting them to tangible examples from your own experience. Cornell's admissions team wants to see that you understand what engineering actually involves: applying rigorous analytical thinking to messy, complex situations. They also value students who approach problems with both creativity and discipline, two qualities reflected in their core values of innovation and excellence. Keep your writing natural and conversational; this isn't the place for overly formal language or buzzwords. Instead, let your genuine enthusiasm and specific experiences shine through in a way that shows you've thoughtfully considered what it means to be an engineer.

In 200 words, you need to identify the specific aspects of Cornell Engineering that match your interests and goals. Start by reflecting on what excites you most about engineering (the kind of problems you want to solve, the interdisciplinary approach you crave, or the hands-on experience you need). Then directly connect these personal passions to distinct Cornell Engineering resources. Avoid generic statements like "world-class faculty" or "cutting-edge labs." Instead, research and name specific opportunities like one of the 36 student project teams (Cornell Baja Racing, CUSail, Concrete Canoe), particular research labs aligned with your intended major, the Engineering Communications Program, or the Selander Center for Engineering Leadership. If you are interested in biomedical robotics, you could mention the EmPRISE Lab; if sustainability excites you, reference Engineers for a Sustainable World or specific faculty work. The key is showing Cornell Engineering is uniquely positioned to help you grow.

Cornell Engineering's core values (excellence, purpose, innovation, community, and collaboration) should subtly inform your essay. Highlight how you'll contribute to their collaborative culture or participate in multidisciplinary teams. Emphasize fit: describe how Cornell's Common Curriculum, affiliation process, or access to resources like the Experiential Learning Lab or High Voltage Laboratory aligns with your learning style. Be genuine and personal, not transactional. Admissions officers want to see that you understand what makes Cornell Engineering different from other programs and that you're genuinely excited to be part of this specific community.

Since the word limit is tight, prioritize depth over breadth. Choose two or three concrete examples rather than listing many vague ones. Paint a picture of yourself thriving within Cornell Engineering: perhaps you see yourself testing designs in the Experiential Learning Lab, conducting undergraduate research with a specific professor, or joining a project team that competes internationally. This specificity signals that you've done your homework and can already envision your place within the Cornell Engineering community. Your enthusiasm and clear vision for how you'll engage with Cornell Engineering's unique offerings will make your essay stand out.

Start by being honest and specific. Cornell Engineering doesn't want you to sound stereotypically impressive or pick something related to engineering just because you think that's what they're looking for. Instead, this is your chance to reveal a side of yourself that might not come through in the technical parts of your application. Think about what genuinely makes you smile during the day: it could be reading with your family, leading storytime for kids at the library, eating a traditional meal with your parents and hearing their childhood stories, or even deconstructing broken electronics for the satisfaction of solving the puzzle. The key is to choose something real and meaningful to you.

With only 100 words, you need to focus on one thing (or a short list) and use sensory details to bring it to life. Rather than writing "hiking brings me joy," paint a picture: "Breathing in the crisp early fall air, listening to the summer cicadas perform their final encore as I reach the peak of Bear Mountain brings me a sense of peace I can't find anywhere else." Show the reader what the experience feels like instead of just telling them you enjoy it. This approach makes your response memorable and reveals your personality in a way that generic statements never could.

Consider ending with a clear statement that directly addresses the prompt, but only after you've built up to it. Leading with vivid details keeps the reader engaged, and closing with your thesis ties everything together neatly. Remember, Cornell is reading thousands of essays, so make yours stand out by being authentic, using concrete imagery, and explaining why this particular source of joy matters to you personally.

With just 100 words, this essay demands that you go beyond the technical skills and academic qualifications already shown in your application. Cornell Engineering cares deeply about building a diverse, collaborative community where people from different backgrounds and with varied perspectives can come together to tackle engineering challenges. Your task is to identify what makes you distinct (not just different) and how that distinctiveness will enrich the College of Engineering. Think about the experiences, perspectives, or ways of thinking you bring that aren't immediately obvious from your transcript or resume. Perhaps you grew up bridging two cultures, you've had to navigate unique challenges that shaped how you approach problem-solving, or you have interdisciplinary interests that give you fresh angles on engineering questions.

The key to success here is specificity. Rather than making vague claims about being a "hard worker" or a "creative thinker," show Cornell a concrete aspect of your identity or experience that will genuinely add something new to their classrooms and labs. For example, if you come from a rural background where you learned to fix farm equipment with limited resources, you might explain how that taught you to design with constraints in mind and consider end-user needs in ways your peers might not. If you've worked in service roles or caregiving, you could discuss how understanding human needs and communicating across knowledge gaps will inform your approach to user-centered design. Cornell Engineering values innovation, collaboration, and purpose-driven work, so tie your unique voice to these institutional priorities wherever possible.

Avoid simply restating accomplishments or listing demographic facts about yourself. The admissions committee wants to understand how your unique perspective will shape conversations, influence group projects, or lead to unexpected insights. Will you challenge assumptions? Bridge divides? Ask questions others wouldn't think to ask? Make sure your answer is forward-looking: focus on what you will contribute, not just who you are. This is your chance to show Cornell that admitting you means admitting someone who will make the community richer, more dynamic, and better equipped to solve complex problems.

With only 100 words and the word "meaningful" anchoring this prompt, Cornell Engineering's admissions committee is asking you to be selective and reflective rather than impressive or comprehensive. They want to understand not just what you do, but why it genuinely matters to you and what it reveals about who you are as a person. The best essays here zoom in on a single activity or responsibility, then spend most of the time exploring its significance; avoid the trap of spending too many words describing what the activity is and instead focus on what the activity has done for you and what you've learned about yourself through it.

You don't need to choose something engineering-related or even academically impressive to stand out. In fact, many applicants will default to predictable choices like robotics teams, Girls Who Code, or Science Olympiad. If your most meaningful activity is something from that category, that's fine, but your response needs to distinguish itself by finding an unexpected angle; perhaps you discovered that robotics taught you about collaboration across different perspectives, or how to navigate failure without shame, rather than just technical skills. On the other hand, you could write about leading your school's newspaper, caring for a younger sibling, playing in your church choir, or volunteering at a library. Admissions officers want to glimpse what kind of person you are when you're not in the classroom, what brings you genuine fulfillment, and what your priorities reveal about your character and values.

The key to making your response land is to include concrete details and honest reflection. Show, don't tell. Rather than saying "this activity taught me responsibility," describe a specific moment where you realized your role mattered, or explain how your relationship to the activity has changed over time. Ask yourself: What would your life be missing without this? What have you grown to understand about yourself through this experience? How have you impacted others? These questions should guide your reflection and help you write something that feels authentic rather than polished.

With just 100 words, you need to be surgically precise. Don't waste a single word on generic praise or explaining what the award itself is; instead, launch directly into why it matters to you on a personal level. Cornell's admissions team already knows what most awards are, so your job is to reveal something about who you are as a person and how you think about challenges. Use this essay to showcase a side of yourself that isn't coming through as clearly in your other engineering essays, particularly your "Why Engineering" responses.

The award or achievement you choose should ideally connect to your engineering mindset in an unexpected way. Rather than picking something like "Science Fair Champion" and saying it shows your passion for STEM, consider awards or accomplishments that reveal character traits admissions committees may not have seen elsewhere in your file. For example, if you won an award for community service, leadership in a non-academic setting, or artistic recognition, explain how that achievement shaped the way you approach problem-solving or collaboration. Cornell values students who bring multifaceted perspectives to the engineering community, so demonstrating that you're not a one-dimensional applicant can work in your favor.

Focus intensely on the emotional or transformative impact this achievement had on you rather than the credential itself. What did you learn about yourself? How did it change the way you see challenges ahead? Cornell wants to understand your mindset and values, not just your accomplishments. Show reflection and genuine insight into why this particular moment or recognition mattered so much, and connect it meaningfully to who you'll become as a member of their engineering community.