First year students at Cornell are incoming students who are attending a residential college for the first time, coming from high school or home school. First year students may have completed courses for credit at a local college or community college and can request to have those credits applied towards their graduation requirements. Fall semester applications open in August and are accepted until our class is filled.

Cornell considers transfer students to be any student who has completed college work after high school graduation or home school equivalent. Transfer students may be choosing to switch institutions to complete their undergraduate degree, or they be returning to college after a break. Students who have completed an A.A. degree often transfer to Cornell to complete their four-year degree. Cornell works with community colleges nationwide to admit students who have earned an A.A. degree, conferring junior status when they enter Cornell. Applications are accepted for fall and spring entry each ye