
Applicant Help and FAQs
Thank you for your interest in the Cornell Engineering Management Program. We are currently accepting applications for both our on-campus program and distance learning programs. To help you prepare your online application, please review the guidelines and tips below.
We also have a number of FAQs at the bottom of the page that address the most common questions we receive. We hope this information is helpful and we look forward to receiving your application!
Our Programs
The on-campus program is a full-time, residential Master of Engineering degree program in Ithaca, NY. Applicants do not need work experience to apply.
The distance learning program is a part-time, online Master of Engineering degree program for working professionals. Applicants need at least 2 years of work experience to apply.
Dates and Deadlines
- On-campus Fall 2023 Deadline: February 1, 2023
- Distance Learning Summer 2023 Deadline: May 31, 2023
- Fellowship Deadline for both programs: February 1, 2023
- Decisions for Fall 2023/Summer 2023: Rolling and typically 6 weeks after submitting a complete application. All decisions are made by mid-March.
- Financial aid awards sent: mid-March
Application Materials
A complete application includes:
- A Statement of Purpose
- A Technical Writing Sample
- Transcripts from each college or university previously attended (unofficial transcripts, official transcripts are needed prior to matriculation).
- A combination of three letters of recommendation, professional and academic.
- Official TOEFL or IELTS scores from international applicants. We do not accept the Duolingo test.
- Undergraduate degree in engineering, mathematics, or science, conferred by an accredited college or university.
- Application fee of $105. The program does not provide fee waivers.
Writing Sample Guidelines (Technical Writing Sample and Statement of Purpose)
We require a technical writing sample that demonstrates your ability to synthesize and communicate quantitative information. The writing sample should be no more than 5,000 words and can include figures. Acceptable documents include but are not limited to a technical analysis, project report, written review of technical material, an internal company report, white paper, published article, and project/report from a previous Engineering course. We do not accept PowerPoint presentations/slides. Ideally, the technical writing sample should have been written in the past 3 years. If you were a coauthor, provide an introductory paragraph that specifically highlights your role and contribution.
If you or your employer have concerns about confidential material, you can choose to redact portions of the document containing sensitive information or data. You can also write a brief critical review of the work in question that omits any confidential material or data. If portions of the document are removed, we respectfully request that the submission is coherent and still allows the Admissions Team to make an informed decision about the candidate.
If you do not have previous work that meets these guidelines, we recommend that you write a critical review of a published research paper in your field. These guidelines are intentionally flexible because applicants represent a diversity of STEM backgrounds. On the application itself, you will only be able to upload one file. Thus, if you include an introductory paragraph, you will want to splice it into the final document or pdf prior to uploading.
The technical writing sample is distinct from the Statement of Purpose. The Statement of Purpose helps the admissions committee understand your academic objectives and determine if you are a good match for the program you are applying to. The goal of this document is to impress upon the admissions committee that you have solid background and experience, and that you have the potential to be successful in graduate study. The Statement of Purpose is also a place, if necessary, to address any blemishes, gaps, or weaknesses in your academic record. In these situations, be honest but brief. Focus on how you overcame obstacles, remained persistent in the pursuit of your goals and showed resilience. Share what you learned from the particular experience, and how it led you to become a better scholar or person.
We also recommend reviewing the statement of purpose guidelines from the Graduate School: Graduate School statement of purpose guidelines
Letters of Recommendation
References are a required part of the Graduate School application. Students must submit the names and contact information for their references directly on the application. References can be professional or academic. Those listed in the application receive an email with a link to an online form to complete the reference. Referees can upload or type directly into the text box provided.
We recommend contacting your references early. Letters of recommendation can be received up to 2 weeks after the application deadline, but a lack of letters in an otherwise complete application delays our admissions decision. We prefer letters on company letterhead, but if that is not possible, your recommenders can submit a standard letter.
Current Cornell students who are applying for the Early Admit program need only two letters of recommendation. Where the application asks for contact information for a third person, Early Admit students should add contact information with engmanagement_grad@cornell.edu.
Transcripts
The online application requires you to upload an unofficial copy of each official transcript. Official transcripts are required for admitted students who have accepted an offer of admission from Cornell.
Missing Materials
If we receive an incomplete application, we will follow up with you about any missing materials and give you an opportunity to send missing files to us via email. These will be added to your application by our admissions staff.
Fellowships/Funding
All applicants are considered for merit-based funding through the College of Engineering. Approximately 12% of incoming students receive partial merit-based funding. The Lester B. Knight or McMullen Diversity Fellowship require supplemental essays. Please review the “Tuition and Scholarships” page for either the On-Campus or Online Learning program for additional information and guidelines.