Cornell CALS is a unique school. One of eight undergraduate schools at the Ithaca, NY-based Ivy League university, CALS stands for College of Agriculture and Life Sciences.
They offer great degrees in subjects such as Agriculture, Climate Change, Biology, and Plants, among others. They also offer majors in Environmental Engineering and Biological Engineering. While most Big Red-bound engineers apply to the Cornell University College of Engineering (we even have a whole blog on it!), for some STEM applicants, CALS might be the better fit. When applying to Cornell, it is crucial to select the correct undergraduate school. You can only apply to one (however, once on campus, you can transfer to or take classes at another of Cornell’s undergraduate colleges). Once you have decided that CALS is the right school for you, the real work begins. It is a highly specialized school, meaning you need to be a highly specialized applicant.
There is a weird rumor that CALS is easier to get into than other Colleges at Cornell. That isn’t true. We suspect that this misconception stems from a rumor that they have a higher acceptance rate than other schools at Cornell. Two issues here. One, Cornell doesn’t publish specific rates from each school, so if you are seeing one, it is likely old or not confirmed. And two, CALS is a very specialized school looking for specific candidates. Even if they have a higher acceptance rate, it is because the pool of candidates is small; however, those candidates require a very specific profile to be accepted. TLDR: You can’t sneak into Cornell, and you should only apply to CALS if it has the right program for you. If you are serious about getting into CALS, you need to be a great candidate. Last year, Cornell’s acceptance rate was only about 8.4%. You need to be a top candidate if you hope to get in. But how do you do that? Well, let’s break it down.
Get the Grades
As with any Ivy League program, you need to have near-perfect grades to be a successful applicant. So shoot for that 4.0 unweighted. You also need to take the right classes. You should be taking honors, IB, accelerated, AP, or dual enrollment classes. While it is best to take as many advanced courses as you can, you should especially take any advanced classes related to what you hope to major in. For example, if you want to major in Biological Sciences, AP Bio needs to be on your transcript. Generally, advanced STEM courses will help you with CALS. You want to craft a competitive transcript.
You will also need excellent test scores. Cornell is no longer test-optional for the 2026 application cycle. Take the following with a grain of salt, as Cornell was test-optional last year and only about 61% of applicants actually submitted scores; however, the 50th percentile was 1540 on the SAT or 34 on the ACT. You should try your best to get similar (or better) scores!
Build a Niche
An academic niche is really just a fancy way of saying having a specific academic interest and a history of academic curiosity and involvement in that interest. It is always important to build an academic niche, but it is especially essential at a specialized program like those offered at CALS. Their majors range from Animal Sciences to Landscape Architecture to Information Science; it should be clear just from your application which major you are applying for. There are a couple of important steps you will need to take to build a strong niche.
Courses and Reading
The first thing you need to do to build a niche is find out what you like. Early in this process, you need to learn as much as you can about your academic interests. A great way to start is by reading books. We know what you're saying, “but I am a STEM kid.” Trust us, there are books about STEM topics. A lot of young people don’t read outside of school, so reading books can really set you apart. Reading not only gives you more knowledge, but also makes you a better writer and better at talking about your interests. You can supplement your book list with journal articles, podcasts, and even magazines, but books need to be on it.
You can also sign up for online classes. Many colleges offer pre-tapped, often free courses through third-party resources, such as Coursera. Online classes are a great way to learn more about your academic interests. You can also take courses at a community college or a college summer program.
in-School Extracurriculars
You need to look for clubs that fit with your niche. This will help you start to build a strong resume. For CALS students, related clubs could be anything from a community garden to a robotics team, depending on what you hope to study. Popular clubs for CALS students include 4-H, Cancer Research Societies, Environmental Service clubs, Solar Car teams, Science Olympiad, Green Teams, and many more. The more connected the club is to your academic interests, the better. If your school doesn’t have a related club, talk to your administrators about starting one.
Just signing up for clubs isn’t enough; you want to take on leadership roles and responsibilities in those clubs. Commit some time and effort to the extracurriculars that matter to you. Trust us, CALS will be more impressed with a “Co-Chair" than a “member.”
Out of School Extracurriculars
Just like in-school activities, your out-of-school extracurriculars should be focused, impressive, and related to your overall package. While you should be involved outside of school year-round, you want to maximize your summers, especially. There are a lot of great strategic activities that you can do during the summer, but an academic program at a university, an internship, and research are always strong choices.
Whatever you do, it needs to support your academic niche. For example, if you are a marine biology major, an internship at an aquarium is going to look better than one at a financial institution. However, if you are applying as an applied economics major, the financial institution is a great idea. If you hope to study Climate Change, volunteer for beach clean-ups and get involved with climate advocacy. You want your resume to tell a clear and impactful story.
Apply Early
As we mentioned earlier, Cornell’s acceptance rate was just over 8% last year. That is mostly true. The overall rate was 8%; however, the early decision acceptance rate was slightly higher at 9.3%. While it is not a huge difference, applying early is still the best chance at acceptance for qualified candidates. If you are serious about CALS, you need to highly consider applying early. It is never too early to make a plan and start your applications. We are looking at rising seniors, especially, don’t hesitate! Get those applications started.
CALS is a great program, but it is also a very specialized one. You need to make sure you are a specialized candidate. Whether you are a rising freshman or rising senior, you need to ensure that you are the complete package.
If you don’t know where to start, we can help! Ready to jump in? Contact us today!