Transfer from community college to Cornell University

If I start at a community college, how hard is it to transfer to Cornell University later on? I'm especially interested in their economics program. I'd love to hear from someone who has gone through this transition and their experience!

It's great that you're already thinking about your future academic plans. Transferring to highly selective schools like Cornell from a community college can indeed be challenging, but it's definitely not impossible! Like first-year applicants, transfer students are also evaluated based on their academics and other supplemental factors like essays and extracurriculars.

Specifically, Cornell has a college dedicated to contract schools and transfer students called the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (CALS). So, it's important to understand that your chances of transferring may differ greatly depending on which undergraduate college at Cornell you are planning to apply to. Economists are in the College of Arts and Sciences and the Dyson School within Cornell, so you'd have to check the specific transfer rates for those schools, which vary year to year.

From an academic performance perspective, focus on achieving a high GPA in your community college. Highly-ranked schools like Cornell generally prefer transfer students with a GPA of 3.5 or better. It's equally important to make sure you complete course prerequisites for your intended major. For economics at Cornell, you would likely need to complete calculus and perhaps further courses in math or statistics, along with some introductory economics coursework.

In addition to your academic record, your extracurricular activities and personal essays are integral parts of your application. Cornell is looking for students who will positively contribute to their community, so make sure to get involved in clubs, leadership, volunteering, or work experience related to economics or your other interests. In your essays, you should articulate why you want to study economics at Cornell specifically and how your experiences have shaped your interest in the field.

Knowing from former transfer students, it's often a mix of feelings: excitement, challenge, and a drastic change of pace. The workload is more intense, competition is inevitable, and the campus life can be very different. However, they also recount that being surrounded by a multitude of resources and smart, passionate peers, provides a high level of intellectual stimulation and personal and professional growth.

Lastly, make sure to connect with your community college advisors and reach out to the Transfer Admissions Office at Cornell for specific questions and guidance about the process. They are there to support you through your transfer process.