Hey everyone, I'm applying to colleges and I'm really interested in Cornell's College of Agriculture and Life Sciences. Can anyone tell me about the acceptance rate for this program? Also, what qualities do they look for in applicants?
Hey! Cornell's College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (CALS) is a fantastic program! While Cornell does not release the acceptance rates for specific colleges within the overall university, CALS is known to have a slightly more favorable rate than the one for Cornell overall, which is usually just below 10%. So, CALS may have an acceptance rate between 15-20%, although it's impossible to provide an exact number.
As for the qualities they look for in applicants, Cornell CALS values students who are passionate about the specific areas of study they offer, such as environmental science, animal science, food science, and agricultural business, among others. Demonstrating a strong background and interest in these fields through your course selection, extracurricular activities, and personal passions will make your application more compelling. It's essential to emphasize how your experiences have shaped your commitment to studying these subjects and what you plan to do with the knowledge you gain at CALS.
Additionally, a strong academic profile, including high grades in rigorous courses, especially in science and math, will be important. And while Cornell is currently officially test-optional, at such a selective school, you ideally want to put as many gold stars on your application as possible, so investing time and energy into earning a strong SAT or ACT score would be worth your while. CollegeVine's blog contains more detailed guidance about how to navigate test-optional policies: https://blog.collegevine.com/does-test-optional-mean-test-optional/.
Lastly, in your essays, showcase your genuine passion for the subjects you're interested in and articulate specific reasons why CALS is the ideal fit for you. You can read more about how tackle Cornell's specific supplemental essays, including the one for CALS, on CollegeVine's blog as well: https://blog.collegevine.com/how-to-write-the-cornell-university-essays.
Best of luck with your application to CALS at Cornell!
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