Application Details
Application and supplemental material deadline for Fall matriculation is January 15. This program does not offer Spring matriculation. Students may apply by submitting an online application.
General application requirements include:
- Academic Statement of Purpose
The academic statement of purpose is one of your primary opportunities to help the admissions committee understand your academic objectives and determine if you are a good match for the program. - Personal Statement
The personal statement allows you to provide the admissions committee with a sense of who you are as a whole person, and you should use it to describe how your personal background and experiences influenced your decision to pursue a graduate degree. - Two Letters of Recommendation
- Transcripts
- Upon submission of your application, you must upload unofficial transcripts from all colleges or universities you've attended. You must have a bachelor's degree from an accredited institution, or an equivalent international degree. (See Cornell's list of International Degree Equivalencies) There is no specific minimum grade point average used as a cut-off, although undergraduate coursework and grades are a factor in the admission decisions. Please note that admitted applicants who accept their offer will be required to submit official electronic transcripts to the Graduate School Admissions Office.
- Resume or CV
- Writing Sample
- GRE (school code 2098) or GMAT (school code 5JW-7J-88)
- TOEFL or IELTS scores (school code 2098)
Visit the Graduate School Admissions site for more information regarding the English language proficiency requirement, including standing exemptions.
Many applicants have an undergraduate or master’s degree in the social sciences (e.g., anthropology, economics, government, history, psychology or sociology), although this is not a prerequisite.
The Graduate Admissions Committee, composed of representatives from each of the areas of academic specialization within the ILR School, makes admissions decisions for the MS program. These decisions reflect consideration of both applicants’ academic record (grades and standardized test scores), and whether applicants’ academic interests, as expressed in their statement of purpose, can be pursued effectively at ILR, given the interests of faculty members.