How to Transfer Within Colleges at Cornell University

Some students who earn admission to Cornell University and subsequently enroll in one of its seven undergraduate colleges realize in time that while Cornell is for them, the undergraduate college within Cornell is not for them. And while Cornell’s administration has historically made a big fuss about how difficult it is to transfer within colleges at Cornell, if a student approaches the process correctly, rest assured, it can be done. In fact, over the years, we at Ivy Coach have helped many students transfer undergraduate colleges within Cornell. So, what exactly does the process of internally transferring at Cornell entail?

Cornell’s Internal Transfer Process Varies by College

As Winny Sun reported a few years back for The Cornell Daily Sun in a piece about Cornell’s internal transfer process, “The process for transferring to each college can vary considerably. While all students looking to transfer must fill out the same internal transfer application, which asks applicants for a 600-word essay on why their ’academic or career goals have led’ them to ’pursue an internal transfer,’ some colleges have more requirements than others.”

Sun went on, “For instance, while the College of Arts and Sciences requires that potential transfers have at least a 2.7 G.P.A., AEM notes that most of its successful applicants have ’at least a 3.3,’ in addition to also asking for a resume and supplemental transfer application. Acceptance rates for internal transfer vary by college and program and depend on the unique applicant pool each semester, explained Florencia Ardon, program manager and advisor at the Office of Internal Transfer and Concurrent Degrees.”

Internal Transfer Essay Requirements by College

Below is a breakdown of the internal transfer essay requirements by college within Cornell for the 2026 academic year:

College within Cornell	Internal Transfer Essay Prompt
The College of Agriculture & Life Sciences	By applying to Cornell’s College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (CALS), you are also applying for direct entry into one of our 20 majors. From here, you would be part of a community dedicated to purpose-driven science; working within your major and across disciplines to tackle the complex challenges of our time.  Why are you drawn to studying the major you have selected and specifically, why do you want to pursue this major at Cornell CALS? You should share how your current interests, related experiences, and/or goals influenced your choice. Responses should be no longer than 2500 characters.
The College of Architecture, Art, and Planning	How do your interests directly connect with your intended major at the College of Architecture, Art, and Planning (AAP)? Why architecture (B.Arch), art (BFA), or urban and regional studies (URS)? B. Arch applicants, please provide an example of how a creative project or passion sparks your motivation to pursue a 5-year professional degree program. BFA applicants, you may want to consider how you could integrate a range of interests and available resources at Cornell into a coherent art practice. URS students you may want to emphasize your enthusiasm and depth of interest in the study of urban and regional issues. Responses should be no longer than 3000 characters.
The College of Arts & Sciences	At the College of Arts and Sciences, curiosity will be your guide. Discuss how your passion for learning is shaping your academic journey, and what areas of study or majors excite you and why. Your response should convey how your interests align with the College, and how you would take advantage of the opportunities and curriculum in Arts and Sciences. Responses should be no longer than 3000 characters.
The Jeb E. Brooks School of Public Policy	Why are you interested in studying policy, and why do you want to pursue this major at Cornell’s Jeb E. Brooks School of Public Policy? You should share how your current interests, related experiences, and/or goals have influenced your choice of policy major. Responses should be no longer than 3000 characters.
The College of Engineering	How do your interests directly connect with Cornell Engineering? What draws you to the particular major you are applying to and how would transferring to Cornell Engineering further your academic interests? Responses should be no longer than 3000 characters.
College of Human Ecology	Identify a challenge in your greater community or in the career/industry in which you are interested. Share how the CHE education, your CHE major of choice, as well as the breadth of CHE majors, will help you address that challenge. Responses should be no longer than 3000 characters.
School of Industrial and Labor Relations	Using your personal, academic, or volunteer/work experiences, describe the topics or issues that you care about and why they are important to you. Your response should show us that your interests align with the ILR School. Responses should be no longer than 3250 characters.
The Cornell SC Johnson College of Business	Tell us what you’d like to major in at Cornell, and why or how your past academic or work experience influenced your decision, and how transferring to Cornell would further your academic interests. Responses should be no longer than 3000 characters.

The Correct Approach to Cornell’s Internal Transfer Process Leads to Success

Students should focus their Cornell internal transfer applications not on why their current undergraduate college isn’t right for them but instead on why their academic and career ambitions inspire them to wish to attend the undergraduate college to which they hope to earn admission as internal transfers. After all, admissions officers evaluating the applications of internal transfers understand that students’ interests and dreams can change since they applied to Cornell out of high school.

And while the internal transfer process isn’t easy, keep in mind that Cornell would much prefer students transfer internally within the school than transfer to another university entirely, as external transfers hurt the Ivy League school’s rankings. So, as difficult as the administration may make it seem to internally transfer, know that if one approaches the process correctly by meeting with the right advisors, earning strong grades, submitting a wow essay, and getting involved in the right Cornell extracurriculars, it’s absolutely in the cards.

Ivy Coach’s Assistance with Cornell Internal Transfer

Internal transfer applications, the requirements for which vary by college within Cornell, became available on March 1, 2026. The application deadline for all internal transfer applications is May 1, 2026, with final decisions released in mid-June 2026.

If you’re interested in optimizing your case for internal transfer at Cornell, fill out Ivy Coach’s complimentary consultation form, and we’ll be in touch to outline our internal transfer service.