There are four short essay questions on the Consider Cornell: Experience online application. Your responses to these questions will help us learn more about you and determine your fit for the program. Please limit your answers to 100-250 words per question.

Note that the information you choose to disclose in your short essay answers will likely be viewed by the faculty in the academic program of your interest.

Essay Question #1: Benefits of this Experience

This program seeks to help you make informed decisions about your path to graduate school. Please share how and why you would personally benefit from participating in Consider Cornell: Experience.

Essay Question #2: Research Interests

What are your research interests in your anticipated graduate field of study at Cornell? How have you pursued your interests through research, coursework, employment, creative experiences, etc. in preparation for graduate school?

Essay Question #3: Motivation for Graduate Study

What is motivating you to pursue graduate study in your field of interest? How will a graduate degree assist you in reaching your professional goals?

Essay Question #4: Potential Contributions to our Cornell Community

One of Cornell University’s core values is to provide a community of inclusion, belonging, and respect where scholars representing diverse backgrounds, perspectives, abilities and experiences can learn and work productively and positively together.

Please describe how you have engaged, facilitated and/or enhanced diversity, equity and inclusion efforts on your campus or in your community. You may provide details of lessons learned from any of your lived experiences.

Examples could include personal, academic and/or work experiences and may include but are not limited to:

• being a first-generation college student or graduate (no parent/guardian completed a baccalaureate degree)
• racial, ethnic, and/or cultural background(s)
• managing a disability or chronic health condition
• experiencing housing, food, economic, and/or other forms of significant insecurity
• being a solo parent
• gender identity and/or sexual orientation
• having served in the military
• holding DACA, refugee, TPS, or asylee status

You may also use this essay to share experiences that:

• provide insights into how your personal, academic, and/or professional experiences demonstrate your ability to be both persistent and resilient, especially when navigating challenging circumstances.
• engaged with others and have facilitated and/or participated in productive, collaborative endeavors.

If appropriate, please use this essay to address any blemishes, gaps or weaknesses in your academic record. In these situations, you will want to be honest, but brief. It is best to turn negatives into positives by focusing on how you have overcome obstacles, remained persistent in the pursuit of your goals and showed resilience.