What Does a 650 Word Essay Look Like

This guide covers each of the Cornell supplemental essay prompts with exercises and essay examples to help you along the way.

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What are the Cornell supplemental essay prompts?
How to write each supplemental essay prompt for Cornell University

Cornell "Why us" essays
Cornell "Short answer" essays
Cornell Engineering essays

What's the meaning of life? Answer in 150 characters. That's what a lot of supplemental essay prompts can feel like: Too much content to fit in a tiny amount of space. The Cornell essays are a bit different.

Sure, on the Cornell essays, you're still going to find a lot of the same themes you see from other schools. However, the Cornell supplemental essay asks you to apply to a specific school and gives you 650 words (the length of a whole personal statement) to explain what you bring to the table. That gives you a little bit more wiggle room than the average application.

If that doesn't make you feel better and you're still scared to start writing, that's okay too. We're here to help.

But before you dive right into the prompts, get an extensive, by-the-numbers look at Cornell's offerings in its Common Data Set, and for deeper insights into how the university wants to grow and evolve, read its about section that discusses their public engagement, missions, and impacts.

What are the Cornell supplemental essay prompts?

Prompt #1

In the online Common Application Writing Supplement, please respond to the essay question below (maximum of 650 words) that corresponds to the undergraduate college or school to which you are applying.

College of Agriculture and Life Sciences:
Why are you drawn to studying the major you have selected? Please discuss how your interests and related experiences have influenced your choice. Specifically, how will an education from the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (CALS) and Cornell University help you achieve your academic goals? (650 words)

College of Architecture, Art, and Planning:
1) What three words best describe you? (30 characters per word)
2) What is your "thing"? What energizes you or engages you so deeply that you lose track of time? Everyone has different passions, obsessions, quirks, inspirations. What are yours? (650 words)

College of Arts and Sciences:
Students in Arts and Sciences embrace the opportunity to delve into multifaceted academic interests, embodying in 21st century terms Ezra Cornell's "any person…any study" founding vision. Tell us about the areas of study you are excited to explore, and specifically why you wish to pursue them in our College. (650 words)

Cornell SC Johnson College of Business:
What kind of a business student are you? 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 convey how your interests align with the school(s) to which you are applying within the Cornell SC Johnson College of Business (Dyson School and/or School of Hotel Administration) (650 words)

College of Engineering:
1) What three words best describe you? (30 characters per word)
2) What are three words you would use to describe Cornell Engineering? (30 characters per word)
3) Students applying to the College of Engineering must submit two essays, responding to two of the three essay prompts provided here. Each response should be no longer than 200 words. Please select the two essay prompts that you will respond to below:

Option 1: Engineering is inherently collaborative. What does collaboration mean to you? What strengths do you bring to the collaborative process? (200 words)

Option 2: For you, what makes Cornell Engineering special? Why do you want to attend Cornell Engineering? (200 words)

Option 3: Diversity in all definitional forms is intrinsic to excellence in engineering. Indeed, devising the best engineered solutions to complex problems is often achieved by drawing from the diverse ingenuity of people from broadly different backgrounds, lived experiences, and identities. How do you see yourself contributing to the diversity and inclusion of the Cornell Engineering community? What is the unique voice you would bring to the Cornell Engineering community? (200 words)

College of Human Ecology:
How has your decision to apply to the College of Human Ecology been influenced by your related experiences? How will your choice of major impact your goals and plans for the future? (650 words)

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. (650 words)

How to Write each Supplemental Essay Prompt for Cornell University

How to Write the "Why Us" Essays for Cornell

Sure, 650 words can be daunting. But that also means you have tons of space to inject your own personality and creativity into the mix.

While all the Cornell prompts ask slightly different things, they essentially boil down to the same questions:

What excites you intellectually and extracurricularly?
How do your experiences reflect that excitement?
How will you bring those skills or experiences to Cornell?

And while we'll look at the prompt for the College of Arts and Sciences as an example, the tips below apply to the other Cornell prompts.

Here's the prompt one more time: Students in Arts and Sciences embrace the opportunity to delve into their academic interests, discover new realms of intellectual inquiry, and chart their own path through the College. Tell us why the depth, breadth, and flexibility of our curriculum are ideally suited to exploring the areas of study that excite you.

This is your classic "Why us?" essay, but it asks you to be a bit more specific about a particular part of Cornell college. Here's a quick step-by-step guide to getting started:

Spend 1 hr+ researching 10+ reasons why Cornell might be a great fit for you (ideally 3-5 of the reasons will be unique to Cornell and connect back to you).
Use this chart to map out your research.
Create an outline based on either Approach 1, 2 (recommended), or 3.
Bonus points: Write a first draft!

Some tips before you start writing your essay:

Remember that this is not just another personal statement. Don't repeat ideas that readers can find in other parts of your application. Bring something fresh to the table or add new dimensions to topics you've already mentioned.
Don't feel pressured to use all 650 words, but take advantage of how much space Cornell gives you. As you'll see in the example below, great essays don't need to reach the word limit to do their job. Sometimes, in fact, less is more.
Be specific. Whenever possible, offer memorable details or specific experiences. Don't just say you like science. Name the particular areas that interest you, what classes you've taken to foster your interest, what research you've done, how you've brought that interest to a certain community, or offer a (short!) specific story you associate with that interest. In addition, a little descriptive language (you'll see some in the example below) can help the reader understand you in a more visceral way. In other words, the way you describe something is just as important as what you're describing.
Show the reader you know your stuff. Cornell explicitly requires students to apply to a specific college. While you could include (perhaps at the end) a few details on why you're interested in Cornell in general, be sure to first share the specific programs, classes, clubs, events, and professors you're interested in at the specific school you're applying to.
Lastly, have some fun with it. Don't let a dull prompt prevent you from getting creative. As you'll see in the example below, some of the most impressive essays are the ones where applicants think outside the box.

Without further ado, here's a great essay sample for this prompt:

Example:

Dear Cornell,

When I discovered you, first through Andy Bernard's resounding a cappella in The Office and then by your amazing stem cell research, I couldn't help but think how perfect we'd be together. I would chart an educational path centered on interdisciplinary learning in your collaborative community, merging stem cells with linguistics; biology with beatboxing; outdoor adventure with poetry.

Cornell offers unique opportunities to expand my medical research interests. Advanced classes like the Regulation of Cell Proliferation, Senescence, and Death—one of the few classes in the country offered on epigenetic regulation and signal transduction-induced pluripotency—perfectly match my interests in stem cells. I am excited by the work of Dr. Brian Rudd at the Cornell Stem Cell Program, as it will allow me to build on my previous work in CRISPR-mediated T-cell development. To my knowledge, similar research is not being conducted anywhere else in the world, and I hope to study signaling pathways and T-cell development under his guidance.

Although I have remained focused on stem cell research, I also have great aspirations beyond molecular biology. A double minor in economics and linguistics will allow me to study interdisciplinary mechanisms and examine humanistic issues through a cultural lens. I relish analyzing market trends as my high school's Investment Team co-leader, and look forward to courses like Behavioral Economics and Public Policy, which will help me build a theoretical understanding of financial markets and relate individual behavior to public policy. A minor in linguistics will further my seven-year-long Spanish journey, and I look forward to academic opportunities encompassing Spanish poetry and poetry of the Americas.

While I may not be the archetype paper salesman (think Andy!), I too share a special connection with Cornell A Cappella. Many a middle school car ride were spent listening to Cornell Tarana, and it feels surreal that I may be experiencing campus life with the group I've loved and admired for so long. I hope to merge my background in beatboxing and Hindustani Classical music by singing with Tarana, learning from peers and sharing my love of South Asian music with the Cornell community.

A kid who grew up racing Hot Wheels on top of my mother's medical books, medicine was always prevalent in my life. Medicine now excites me because it is a perfect balance between intense scientific inquiry and dedicated personal connection. With Cornell's unique interdisciplinary environment, I would have the ability to expand my endeavors in medicine, develop a global view of community healthcare, and explore new avenues essential to my diverse aspirations.

Oh, Cornell, you are gorges. I long to hold your hand as I walk along the Beebe's scenic waterfront, take in picturesque sunsets on the Slope, put on awesome Tarana concerts on your hallowed ground. It is the perfect harmony of research, music, and holistic approach to my aspirations, that tells me you are the ideal place to nurture me into a globally aware physician-scientist!

Sincerely,

[Student Name]

— — —

Tips + Analysis

Be creative and add personality. This essay is essentially a love letter from the applicant to the College of Arts and Sciences. The author is able to weave her skills and experience into a really engaging structure that showcases both her sense of humor and playful nature.

Even if we didn't look too closely at the substance of this essay, we'd get a sense of who the author is just by how she approached the prompt and the way she chose to frame her answer. She loves watching The Office and has fond memories of racing Hot Wheels. Those details may not seem important, but they give us a fuller picture of who this person is and what kind of energy she would bring to a community.

Just because the prompts here are relatively generic doesn't mean your answer should be. Invest some time in thinking about how you can stand out, and inject personality into your answer.
Combine the unconventional. The best essays come out of nowhere. They take ideas, disciplines, and experiences that you wouldn't necessarily associate with one another and somehow make them seem like the perfect combination.

We wouldn't necessarily expect one person to enjoy "biology and beatboxing," but through the course of the essay, the author shows us how her love of both can be fostered at Cornell.
Be specific. Clearly, this applicant has done her research. She references specific programs, clubs, and classes she would like to explore if she were admitted. If you're a Cornell admission reader, the specificity of those references makes you feel the student values the school. That's why it's so important to look through a college's website before you apply. Think about your core values or what resources you absolutely need in a college setting, then try to find places for that within Cornell. Doing that research pays off in the long run.

Here's one more sample essay (for the College of Engineering):

Example:

Tell us about what excites you most about Cornell Engineering and/or studying engineering at Cornell University. How do you see yourself becoming a part of the Cornell Engineering community?

As I hiked through the dense forest on Mt. Rainier's Skyline Trail, I finally reached a clearing. I took in a breath of fresh air, enjoying the sweet scent of evergreen conifer, and saw a view I would never forget. Mountain goats grazing in a field of wildflowers against the snow capped peak of Mt. Rainier. I have always been amazed by the beauty of nature and I want to dedicate my efforts to preserving the planet. By combining a major in Mechanical Engineering and a minor in Robotics, I believe that Cornell will provide the education necessary for me to apply robotic technology to solve global environmental challenges.

As an aspiring mechanical engineer, I believe courses like Future Energy Systems and Intermediate Fluid Dynamics will teach me how to develop and implement renewable energy conversion devices to serve today's power hungry society. I would love to put my newfound knowledge to work by joining Professor Lindsey Anderson's energy transitions research team at the Atkinson Center for a Sustainable Future, developing co-optimized mechanical engineering solutions like smart technologies to make renewable fuel sources more accessible.

There is incredible potential for environmental robotics in the future and I am determined to use robotics to rethink environmental cleanup and recovery. Cornell's recent development of a minor in Robotics would be the perfect way to help me achieve that goal. Taking courses like Autonomous Mobile Robots would provide the knowledge necessary to design robots capable of replanting trees and promoting forest regrowth without human intervention. Additionally, learning about new cutting edge applications of robotics in Cornell's Robotics Seminar would be a dream come true. Jacopo Banfi's seminar in April 2019 discussed the necessary framework to plan multi-robot missions to overcome limited range communication modules. This novel framework would make it possible for robot fleets to be deployed in remote forests and oceans, with long-range human communication. I would be thrilled to attend the weekly sessions like these to learn about novel technology that could have huge potential impacts in the environmental field.

I really discovered the endless applications of robotics in the real world in my junior year of high school when I spent over 100 hours developing a solar-powered blimp designed to aid urban search and rescue for the Washington State Science and Engineering Fair (WSSEF). I'm especially excited to further my work with Professor Mark Campbell in the Autonomous Systems Lab to autonomize my blimp system and optimize it for applications in monitoring forest degradation and wildlife tracking.

Today's environmental problems can't be solved entirely with engineering. Government policy plays a huge role in the fight against climate change and Cornell's unique flexibility would allow me to take Environmental Policy and Governance classes in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences. Taking The Politics of Human-Environment Relations would broaden my perspective on the complex interrelationship between humanity and the environment, giving me insight into how policy can synergize with mechanical engineering to solve pressing environmental issues.

Through the Cornell Engineering Co-op Program I would be able to gain invaluable industry experience and exposure to current applications of engineering in the environment. Companies like Droneseed and The Ocean Cleanup are already using drone swarms to replant native trees and robots to clean up ocean trash. And there is potential for so much more.

Earth gives us clean water to drink, fresh air to breathe, and beautiful places to explore. We have an obligation to play a role in sustaining the health of our planet. At Cornell, I would receive an excellent education in Mechanical Engineering and Robotics that would empower me to achieve my dream--applying robotics to save our home.

— — —

Tips + Analysis

Be imaginistic and descriptive. Although the format of this essay is different from that of the first example, it still incorporates great, evocative language. While content is absolutely important, it's only half the battle. You have to be able to convey information in a compelling way for your readers to care.
Show a clear plan for the future. The applicant demonstrates that she's interested in mechanical engineering and has a pretty good idea of how she'd build on that interest at Cornell. She gives specific classes and connects those to her career path. Don't be scared off by this if you're feeling undecided or don't know what you want your future job to be. You don't always have to say with certainty what you'd major in, but you do want to give readers a good sense of your interests and name some specific ways you could explore those further. In fact, if you feel like you're into a lot of different things, it's okay to own that in your essay. Find cool connections between some of those interests and emphasize how this makes you multi-faceted!
Get outside the college bubble. In this essay, we get a clear sense that the applicant is passionate about sustainability and the environment. She talks about how much she values nature and cites a few companies that are already doing important work to solve environmental problems. While she talks a great deal about her interest in Cornell-specific resources and programs, she also shows how she can make the use of her college experience in the real world. This demonstrates the depth of her knowledge and the impact of her ambition on the greater community.

If you're looking for more examples of how you can tackle the Cornell Essays, here's a complete guide—read it through and pay close attention to the "Why Cornell" example. (Obvs.)

How to Write the short answer essays for Cornell

College of Architecture, Art, and Planning:
What three words best describe you? (30 characters per word)

Get creative. These don't all need to be adjectives. Also, hyphenated words of your own creation or short three-word phrases (like "nerdy animal whisperer") are fair game. Just watch the per-word character count.

Here's how other students have handled this type of prompt.

Examples:

1. Sister

2. Athleisure-lover

3. Hermione

— — —

1. Hungry

2. Petrichor

3. Retrouvailles

— — —

1. Nocturnal

2. Expressive

3. Nurturing

— — —

How to Write the Cornell University College of Engineering Short Answer Prompts #1 & #2

College of Engineering:

1) What three words best describe you? (30 characters per word)
2) What are three words you would use to describe Cornell Engineering? (30 characters per word)

See tips and advice above for the same "three words that best describe you" above—they apply to both these prompts, which are new this year for the Cornell College of Engineering. Short answer questions like these are kinda common for elite colleges (in fact, USC has the exact same "three words best describe you" prompt), so you may run into more of these on your college application journey. If so, you may find this comprehensive guide to the short answer questions helpful.

How to Write the Cornell University College of Engineering Essay Prompt #3

3) Students applying to the College of Engineering must submit two essays, responding to two of the three essay prompts provided here. Each response should be no longer than 200 words. Please select the two essay prompts that you will respond to below:

Option 1: Engineering is inherently collaborative. What does collaboration mean to you? What strengths do you bring to the collaborative process? (200 words)

Option 2: For you, what makes Cornell Engineering special? Why do you want to attend Cornell Engineering? (200 words)

Option 3: Diversity in all definitional forms is intrinsic to excellence in engineering. Indeed, devising the best engineered solutions to complex problems is often achieved by drawing from the diverse ingenuity of people from broadly different backgrounds, lived experiences, and identities. How do you see yourself contributing to the diversity and inclusion of the Cornell Engineering community? What is the unique voice you would bring to the Cornell Engineering community? (200 words)

Option 1: Engineering is inherently collaborative. What does collaboration mean to you? What strengths do you bring to the collaborative process? (200 words)

This prompt is pretty straightforward: It's essentially asking you to describe your approach to collaboration. The key here is to show rather than tell. Lots of people can describe collaboration from afar in similar ways (i.e., "Making sure all voices are heard," "Dividing up responsibilities equally," etc.). However, nobody else has had your unique life experience. Choosing a specific time or situation that embodies your approach to collaboration will not only make it easier to write by grounding it in a particular narrative, but it will also help set you apart from other applicants. The more details and specific examples you can include, the better you're able to communicate specific insights into who you are, and what matters to you.

If you're struggling to come up with a specific example, we find that it helps to brainstorm some communities of which you're a part, then think of how you've collaborated with others in those communities. Ordinarily, we'd recommend reading this extensive guide to the community essay to help brainstorm communities that'll generate the most collaboration-minded content. But since this prompt is specific to Cornell's College of Engineering, we'd recommend finding engineering-related communities and examples of collaboration to focus on for this essay, whether it's your engineering club, an internship, a lab at school, or even a group of friends who joined forces on a relevant project in your community.

After brainstorming and settling on a topic, just start writing! You can always write it long and then cut it later. We find it helps to get all your ideas out on paper so you have a starting point.

Option 2: For you, what makes Cornell Engineering special? Why do you want to attend Cornell Engineering? (200 words)

This prompt is your classic "Why us?" essay, but specific to Cornell's College of Engineering. See the discussion and tips at the top of this guide (in this section: How to Write the Cornell University "Why Us?" Essay Prompts), since they'll apply to this prompt too. But instead of speaking to Cornell as a whole, you'll focus your 200 words on Cornell Engineering.

Many schools have a supplemental essay prompt that asks students to reflect on their experiences and demonstrate, essentially, how those experiences would allow them to add to the diversity of a college community. This one is similar, but asks you to think particularly about the role of diversity in the engineering community and profession.

One common question or confusion is what exactly schools mean by "diversity." While this can refer to things like ethnicity, class, or sexuality, and those can be strong topics to write about, don't feel like diversity is limited to these. Instead, think expansively—what is a perspective that you'd bring to campus, particularly one that others might not? If you're interested in a more specific look into what exactly "diversity" means, check out this post.

One great way to start thinking about what you would bring to Cornell's engineering community is to brainstorm communities you're a part of. And remember, community can mean a lot of different things. It can be places you've interacted with, actions you've taken, interests you've pursued, circumstances you've been in, or identities you inhabit. After you've brainstormed a list of these, connect them back to engineering. How might your passion for yard sales inform your approach to building machines? How might your identity as a queer Asian-American influence the way you conceptualize projects? How might your obsession with badminton affect how you work in group settings? These are the kinds of questions you should be asking yourself. Then, once you're starting to see some clear connections between the community you're a part of and the perspectives you bring to engineering, you can start writing. Don't be afraid to write it long and cut it shorter after you've gotten everything important on paper. Just let the ideas flow and use your brainstorming to guide you.

Special thanks to Luci for contributing to this post.

Luci is an audiophile and storyteller with a love of all things radio and writing. In the wild, you might catch her struggling through a NY Times crossword puzzle, snuggling her abnormally fluffy dog Oreo, or saying her favorite expression "cool beans." Crosswords, cute dogs, cool beans. What more could you ask for?

Top values: Interpersonal connections | humor | openness to new experience

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What Does a 650 Word Essay Look Like

Source: https://www.collegeessayguy.com/blog/cornell-supplemental-essay

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