| About Cornell’s Military-Connected Community  

Cornell University is a leader in the realm of world-class, Ivy League education.  If you are considering Cornell, you want to be challenged, you want to engage with others, and you want to effect change in the world.   

Cornell is ranked as the #3 Best College for Veterans by U.S. News & World Report for the 2019-2020 academic year and offer a number of programs nationally and globally ranked in the top 10.    

It is true that Cornell offers “Any Person, Any Study,” and Veteran and military students are certainly no exception.  As both a federal land-grant institution and a private endowed university, Cornell has been described as the first truly American university due to its founders’ revolutionarily egalitarian and practical vision of higher education, and its’ dedication to outreach and public service.  Cornell offers 80 formal major fields of study for undergraduate students and over 100 graduate fields of study; a listing can be found here, Fields of Study.  

Cornell serves over 200 veteran students and 150 military dependents and spouses.  We work to assist veterans and their dependents in navigating the higher education system and help to ensure the best use of educational benefits for which they may be eligible.  Cornell is also a Yellow Ribbon institution. Visit the GI Bill® page (link it to the page) on this website for more in-depth information. 

Cornell passionately endorses undergraduate research, providing unique learning opportunities in fields in which you are interested, and which will help define your interests. Work closely with faculty, alumni or industry professionals, gain access to state of the art lab equipment and technology, and be surrounded by people who are impassioned about learning and teaching; no matter your reason, undergraduate research can provide the path to confirm your career decisions and lead you to an entirely new, unique life and career plan. 

At Cornell, you will join a small, select group of over 200 student Veterans, dependents, active duty, National Guard and Reserve members attending as undergraduate and graduate students, in addition to nearly 200 Tri-service Army, Navy and Air Force ROTC program participants.   

Veteran and military students at Cornell benefit from comprehensive financial aid packages, extensive world-class academic opportunities, student Veteran organizations, a full range of Veteran’s academic and social support programs and services led by our Undergraduate Veterans Education Support Team.  Veteran applicants will be assisted through the university and VA application processes via our Admissions Outreach Peer Counselors and new undergraduate student Veterans will have the opportunity to work with a Peer Sponsor during their transition to the university. 

|  Top 10 Reasons to Attend Cornell

•  Your New Cornell Family!
  • The Big Red Family will welcome you with open arms; whether it’s at orientation, in the dorms or your apartment complex, in your classes, and more! You’ll find your community here, and we are happy to have you.

• Student Organizations
  • If you enjoy playing sports, we got it. If you like volunteering, we got it. Even if you like watching squirrels, we got it! With over 1,000 student organizations to choose from, there are endless opportunities to follow your passions here at Cornell, whether they are new or old. If you don’t see something that you fancy, you can also create an organization and invite your friends.

• Ithaca is Gorges!
  • You’d be hard-pressed to find a campus more beautiful.  The gorges are gorgeous and they’re on your campus!  Hang out behind the Watch Tower and take in the beauty of Cayuga Lake; you’ll find yourself stopping on the way to class when you encounter the next awe-inspiring view.
• Learning from the Best
• Leaders in your field, authors, poets, Nobel laureates, politicians…the people you read about are here to teach you.

| Transitioning to Cornell  

The transition from military life to the life of a college student can be a daunting change. Cornell is there to help with this transition by offering services and programs that can mitigate these challenges and provide educational tools moving forward. Cornell provides opportunities for veterans to discuss this transition and learn about available resources. The following are resources for students who need information on student health insurance, student disability accommodations, counseling services, career exploration, and other important applications and documents.

—

Student Health Insurance: The Student Health Plan is automatically added and billed to your account and students must “opt out” to remove the plan. The fee for this health plan is covered for student veterans using the Post-9/11 GI Bill®. For more information on plans, please contact Student Health Benefits at:

Email: studentbenefits@cornell.edu

Main Office Phone: 607-255-6363

SHP+ Phone: 607-255-5467

Website: https://studenthealthbenefits.cornell.edu/

— 

Career Exploration: Many student veterans view their career exploration as an event, when it should be viewed as a process, both in terms of scope and time invested. Given the majority of student veterans at Cornell are transfer students, it is imperative you embark on your career exploration journey right away. Cornell boasts a centralized Career Services office and each college maintains its own dedicated Career Services office. As part of Cornell’s Division of Student and Campus Life, central Career Services offers comprehensive career services to all students. Staff members assist with a variety of services, including helping you learn about your skills and interests and how to best articulate them confidently in resumes, cover letters, interviews and personal statements. They are a great place to identify and explore career options and discover how to implement an effective strategy to attain your desired career outcomes. Visit their website for more information, or contact Career Services at:

Email: career@cornell.edu

Phone: 607-255-5221

Address: 103 Barnes Hall

Website: www.career.cornell.edu

 —

Student Conduct & Policies: There are a host of policies regarding student conduct, and they can be found on the Student and Campus Life website under Student Conduct and Policies. Policies addressing such issues as the Code of Academic Integrity, Alcohol and Other Drug Use, Prohibited Discrimination, Protected-Status Harassment, Sexual Harassment, and Sexual Assault and Violence are readily available and are integral to the expectations of conduct for all members of the Cornell community.

—

Personal Finance: The Personal Finance at Cornell webpage is a great resource as you hone your financial literacy. Everyone values money in different ways, and therefore they set different priorities for themselves, balancing their wants and needs in different ways. Learn the essentials of budgeting, saving, interest, debt, credit & debit cards, student loans and insurance. Enroll in the CashCourse, where you can receive free online financial education courses, establish a personal dashboard to track progress and have access to a variety of financial tools.