How to Apply to Chemistry at Cornell University: The Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology in Arts and Sciences, Stating the Major on the Application, Applying into the Major After Introductory Courses, for Domestic, International (Including China) and Transfer Applicants

Cornell University (Ithaca, New York) offers the chemistry major through the Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology in the College of Arts and Sciences (A&S). The A&S major page says students can follow a traditional curriculum in depth or a flexible program, with research in inorganic, materials, organic, analytical and physical chemistry and chemical biology. This article covers chemistry only; biological sciences, chemical engineering and other majors are outside its scope, as are the pre-health routes the college lists (see the Cornell website).

1. Degree, college and how you enter the major

• Which college: Cornell's admissions office says you apply directly to one of its colleges or schools. Chemistry sits in Arts and Sciences, and the department page says applicants interested in chemistry should indicate their desire to major in Chemistry & Chemical Biology on the general application.
• Entering the major is a separate step: the department's chemistry major page says admission to the major requires satisfactory completion of several introductory courses in chemistry, mathematics and physics, and that students with a C or better are generally admitted: general chemistry (CHEM 2070/71 and 2080/81, or CHEM 2150), organic chemistry (CHEM 3570 or 3590), mathematics (MATH 1110 or AP/IB/CASE credit) and physics (PHYS 2207 or 1112 or credit). Students who finish three of these may apply early, but admission stays at the department's discretion; a C- or lower in an introductory course may require additional coursework, and students with more than one grade at or below C- "should not apply." Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis, and the department asks you to write to chemundergrad@cornell.edu first.
• Degree type: not stated on the department and A&S pages read; check the official course catalog. The A&S page says the chemistry degree involves 60 credits of required courses.
• Credits to graduate: the department's major page says 57 approved credits if graduating before December 2027 and 60 for December 2027 and beyond; the A&S page says 60. The two pages differ; check the official source.

2. Major requirements (department page)

• General chemistry: CHEM 2070+2071 and 2080+2081, or CHEM 2150 (honors general and inorganic chemistry, which requires AP Chemistry 5, IB Chemistry 6 or 7, or permission of the instructor; the advising guide adds that it requires AP calculus or concurrent enrollment in a college calculus course).
• Organic chemistry: CHEM 3570 and 3580, or honors CHEM 3590 and 3600.
• Physical chemistry: CHEM 3870 and 3880, or honors CHEM 3890 and 3900; 3890 requires one semester of multivariable calculus or linear algebra first. The page says students graduating before December 2027 are not required to complete two semesters of physical chemistry.
• Inorganic chemistry: CHEM 4100.
• Core laboratories: CHEM 2510 and either CHEM 2900 or 3030; eight laboratory credits are required, and independent research does not count for lab credit.
• Mathematics: MATH 1110 and 1120, or 4 AP credits and MATH 1910. Physics: PHYS 2207 and 2208, or PHYS 1112 and 2213, or PHYS 1116 and 2217; AP or CASE credit may substitute for some of these.
• Electives: at most four approved research elective credits count toward the major.
• Honors in Chemistry: a chemistry GPA (all CHEM courses at 2000 level or above) of at least 3.3 plus honors physical chemistry (CHEM 3890, 3900), honors laboratories (CHEM 3010, 3020, 3030) and the CHEM 4980 honors capstone; the page says the honors curriculum is certified by the American Chemical Society (ACS). To enroll in CHEM 4980 you must be a declared chemistry major with a cumulative GPA of at least 3.1, have completed one honors laboratory and CHEM 3890, and have a supporting statement from a research or faculty advisor.
• The department's sample non-honors plan runs general chemistry and calculus in year one, organic chemistry and physics in year two, physical chemistry in year three, and inorganic chemistry and electives in year four.

3. Prerequisites and advanced standing

• High school courses (A&S): 4 units of English, 3 units of mathematics including pre-calculus, 3 units of science and 3 units of one language (at least the third level for heritage speakers or students who started a language sequence before high school); an additional unit of advanced mathematics and science is recommended. The pages read do not state extra high school requirements for chemistry; the department advising guide suggests courses by high school chemistry background (minimal, standard or strong preparation).
• AP, IB and A-Level chemistry (department CASE page): AP Chemistry 5 earns 4 credits; IB Higher Level 6 or 7 earns 4 credits; A-Level A earns 8 credits and B earns 4 credits. Four credits equal CHEM 2070-71 or 2090-91; eight credits equal CHEM 2070-71/2090-91 plus 2080-81 and allow moving on to organic chemistry. AP credit is forfeited if you take CHEM 1560-61, 2070-71 or 2090-91 but kept if you take CHEM 2150.
• Advising guide: students with a year or more of high school chemistry, or AP 5 or IB 6/7, can take the standard CHEM 2070-71 and 2080-81 or go straight into CHEM 2150; after CHEM 2150 they may take honors organic chemistry CHEM 3590 in the spring of year one, finishing general and organic chemistry in three semesters. Students with little high school chemistry can take CHEM 1007/1008 (Learning Strategy Center support courses) alongside general chemistry, or the department problem-solving course CHEM 1729 first.
• CASE exams: the department runs advanced standing exams for CHEM 2070-71/2090-91 and 2080-81. They are in person and need no registration; the page lists spring 2027 on Monday 25 January 2027, 4:30-6:30 PM in Baker Lab 200; each exam may be taken once, and the department provides no study guides.
• Pre-health: the advising guide warns students planning medical, dental or veterinary paths to check with the Health Professions Advising Center before using AP/IB chemistry credit, because some programs do not accept it; students who complete CHEM 2150 can request a letter from the Director of Undergraduate Studies verifying general chemistry proficiency.

4. Research

• The department says nearly 80% of chemistry majors engage in research, many from the sophomore year, continuing through summer fellowships and outside laboratories.
• Research can be for credit or pay, arranged with the research advisor; credit is through CHEM 4210 (inorganic), 4330 (analytical), 4430 (chemical biology), 4610 (organic) and 4770 (physical) research courses. The department does not enroll students in research credit; once you have an advisor you complete the A&S independent study form.
• It suggests discussing your goals with the Assistant Director before contacting faculty.

5. Rounds, materials and testing (reference for fall 2027 entry)

• Rounds (admissions): Early Decision (binding) 1 November for the application and fee or waiver, 13 November for other materials, decisions mid-December; Regular Decision 2 January for the application, 19 January for other materials, decisions late March. The admissions page prints no year; the international financial aid page states 1 November 2026 and 2 January 2027, which matches fall 2027 entry.
• Materials: Common Application; $85 application fee (a fee waiver can be requested through the Common App); official high school transcript and school report; counselor recommendation; two teacher recommendations; the Cornell supplement (with an A&S writing supplement); A&S does not require or offer interviews; SAT or ACT scores are required (SAT code 2098, ACT code 2726; self-reporting is allowed, official scores are required on enrollment).
• Not reviewed by A&S: apart from music recordings, no art portfolios, films, writing samples or papers.

6. By reader

US domestic applicants

• Tuition: the cost page separates endowed colleges from New York State contract colleges (by New York residency). Chemistry sits in A&S, an endowed college. The table listed under endowed colleges shows tuition $73,946, mandatory fees $1,024 (including a $424 student activity fee and a $600 Cornell Health fee), housing $13,744 and food $7,604, with a billed subtotal of $96,318, plus books $1,234 and personal expenses $2,182, and a total of $99,734 as printed. That table is captioned 2025-26; the page also has a 2026-27 heading but the text read gave no amounts under it, so check the official site.
• Aid: the admissions page says aid packages cover the difference between the cost of attendance and what a family can reasonably be expected to afford, and gives priority aid dates for domestic applicants of 15 November (ED) and 15 February (RD); details are on the financial aid site.

International applicants

• The admissions page says about 10% of students come from more than 125 countries, and that international admission is need-aware: interest in or need for aid is one factor.
• English: not required if you are a US citizen or permanent resident, English is your native language, or English has been your primary language of instruction for four years; otherwise submit a score. The listed minimums are TOEFL 100 (exams before January 2026), TOEFL 5.0 minimum and 5.5 recommended (January 2026 or later), IELTS 7.5, Duolingo 130, and Cambridge C1 Advanced or C2 Proficiency 191. Self-reported scores are accepted; official scores are required on enrollment.
• Aid: international applicants seeking Cornell grant aid must submit the CSS Profile (code 2098) when applying, by 1 November 2026 (ED) or 2 January 2027 (RD). Cornell says it meets 100% of admitted international students' demonstrated need with grants, an annual work-study award and reasonable loans. CSS Profile fee waivers are generally not available to international students. Grant aid above tuition and mandatory fees is taxable in the US and 14% is withheld unless a tax treaty applies.
• Credential evaluation and proof-of-funds details are not stated on the pages read; ask admissions.

Applicants from China

• Whether and how the gaokao is used is not published on the pages read, and neither are China-specific transcript or huikao rules. Check the Cornell admissions site and ask admissions.
• All the international requirements above apply: SAT/ACT, English proficiency, CSS Profile.

Transfer students

• Fall entry only: 15 March for the application and fee, 15 April for other materials, with decisions from late April through June. SAT/ACT is neither required nor expected.
• Materials include all college transcripts, the College Report, an Academic Evaluation from instructors who taught you in a full-credit college course, the Mid-Term Report and the transfer writing supplement.
• A&S transfer: at least 60 credits and four semesters at Cornell; to transfer as a junior you must have completed prerequisite coursework for the intended major (check the department website).
• Chemistry transfer credit (department): only chemistry courses are reviewed; courses need a laboratory component; the standard is "80% equivalency"; all graded exams must be taken in person under a proctor; minimum grade C; honors and elective courses are treated as "courses without equivalencies"; get written approval before enrolling elsewhere; reviews are generally monthly, so allow about six weeks; syllabi less than two years old are required.

7. Outcomes

• The department's undergraduate page says roughly equal portions of each chemistry class go on to graduate work in science and engineering, to medical school, or to other paths such as law or teaching. Detailed outcome reports are linked from the A&S page but were not read for this article.

8. Checklist

US applicants: 1 November (ED) or 2 January (RD); $85 fee; SAT or ACT required; two teacher recommendations plus a counselor recommendation; use AP/IB or CASE credit to choose between CHEM 2070/2080 and 2150; apply into the chemistry major after the introductory courses with C or better.

International applicants (including China): SAT/ACT; English evidence (TOEFL 5.0/100, IELTS 7.5, Duolingo 130, or exempt); submit the CSS Profile when applying if you need aid; gaokao use is not published, so ask admissions.

Transfer students: 15 March application, 15 April other materials; at least 60 credits at Cornell for A&S; written department approval for chemistry transfer credit.

Sources: Cornell University, Arts & Sciences: chemistry major; Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology: undergraduate; Department: the chemistry major; Department: Chemistry Advanced Standing Exam (CASE); Department: transfer credit; Department: undergraduate research; Department: advising guide; Arts & Sciences: admissions requirements; Admissions: first-year applicants; Admissions: transfer applicants; Admissions: testing and English policy; Financial Aid: cost to attend; Financial Aid: international students. Some dates on the pages carry no year; check that they refer to fall 2027 entry (the international financial aid page states 1 November 2026, 2 January 2027 and 15 March 2027). The cost page shows both 2026-27 and 2025-26 headings; use the latest figures on the Cornell site. The official course catalog (courses.cornell.edu) was not read.