Requirements

There are no exceptions to the following requirements:

  • To attend a precollege course, you must be at least 15 years of age on or before the start of your class.
  • You must be a high school sophomore, junior, or senior (or the international equivalent) at the time you apply.
  • You must have the demonstrated academic ability, maturity, and intellectual curiosity necessary to undertake college-level work.
  • See individual courses for specific eligibility requirements.

For classes marked as open to sophomores

  • You must be in grade 10 (or the international equivalent) at the time you apply.

For classes marked as open to juniors/seniors

  • You must be in grade 11 or 12 (or the international equivalent) at the time you apply.

Frequently asked questions

Can high school freshmen attend?

Unfortunately, high school freshmen are not eligible for Precollege Studies.

What if I've graduated from high school?

If you will have graduated from high school by the time you start your precollege course you are not eligible for Precollege Studies. Instead, please register through Cornell's Courses for Credit website as a visiting student.

I'm an international student. Do you require my test scores?

Test scores are required for international students under these circumstances:

  • Your current high school does not use English as its official language of instruction OR
  • All classes at your high school are not taught in English

To learn more, see International applicants for minimum scores and additional information.

Do you require interviews or a specific GPA?

Precollege does not interview prospective students. Instead, we get to know you through your application materials.

We also do not require that you earn a specific GPA, although students who maintain an average of B+ and above in high school classes generally perform well in our precollege program. We look at your entire application when making the admissions decision.

Can I miss a day or two of class?

You must be able to attend your class in its entirety. Please remember that the content of Cornell's three- and six-week summer courses is equivalent to that of courses offered during the university’s fifteen-week fall or spring semesters. Thus, missing any class time during the summer will put you in serious academic jeopardy. See class attendance requirements.