MAE - Academics

Students applying to the Master of Engineering program from outside of Cornell must submit an application, college transcripts, letters of recommendation, and GRE test scores. (See below for admission requirements for Cornell undergraduates.) International students from non-English speaking countries are required by the Graduate School to achieve minimum scores on each of the subsections of the TOEFL exam (see below).

The Application

The Graduate School application must be submitted online. The application fee is $95; in cases of extreme financial need, the Graduate School will consider a request for a fee waiver. A letter of request for a waiver and documentation of need must be sent to Anne Haessner.

The Deadline

M.Eng. students are admitted in both the Fall and Spring semesters. The deadline for Spring 2012 is November 1, 2011, and for Fall 2012 admission, the deadline is February 1, 2012. This is the deadline for the applicant to submit the application; a reasonable amount of time is allowed for letters of recommendation and official test scores to be received once the application has been submitted.

Selecting a Field

The Sibley School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering offers three master of engineering degrees: Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, and Engineering Mechanics; you must choose one field at the time of application.

Selecting a Concentration

Each field has a number of concentrations from which to choose.

Statement of Purpose

This should be a one-page summary explaining why you wish to pursue a Master of Engineering degree.

Letters of Recommendation

Three letters of recommendation are required and should be sent electronically. Recommendations may be requested electronically by providing the name and email address of each recommender on the application.

Graduate Record Examination (GRE)

Applicants are required to take the GRE general test; a subject test is not required.

University Code: 2098; Department Codes: 1599 (Mechanical), 1601 (Aerospace), 1699 (Engineering Mechanics). Official scores must be sent directly from ETS to Cornell University. Do not send copies of unofficial scores. GRE scores are valid for five years.

TOEFL Examination (if applicable)

The TOEFL exam is required of all international applicants from countries where English is not the official language unless the applicant has studied for at least two years in a country where English is the official language and the language of instruction was English. Official scores must be sent directly from ETS to Cornell University. Do not send copies of unofficial scores. Please use University Code 2098; department codes are 68 (Mechanical), 63 (Aerospace), 69 (Engineering Mechanics). University minimums for the iBT version of the TOEFL are: Writing, 20; Listening, 15; Reading, 20; Speaking, 22. You must receive the minimum score on each subsection.

Transcripts

A copy of the transcript from each college you have attended is required; electronic copies of official transcripts uploaded into your application are preferred. You will only need to send hard copies of official transcripts if you are admitted and plan to matriculate.

Résumé or CVn>

You are not required to submit a resume or CV; however, if you wish, you may send a scanned copy of your resume or CV to be placed in your file; include a list of publications, if applicable, with your CV.

Do Not Send

Please do not send published papers, CDs, or any additional materials not listed above. A writing sample is not required.

Admission Requirements for Cornell University Undergraduates

Deadline for spring admission is November 1; fall admission deadline is February 1.

Steps to apply:

1. Application: Visit the Graduate School web site and fill out the application online for the semester in which you will actually be a graduate student (not the first semester where you will still be an undergraduate). An application fee of $95 is required. Do not be concerned about selecting a concentration or research interest; you have to pick one in order to continue with the application process but it does not matter for M.Eng. admission purposes.
   
2. Statement of Purpose: This can be submitted online with the application. Your statement of purpose should be 2-3 paragraphs about why you want to earn your M.Eng. degree.
3. Letters of Recommendation: If you have a GPA of 3.0 or above, you will need one letter of recommendation from a faculty member; if your GPA is below a 3.0, you will need two letters of recommendation. (It is rare for a student with a GPA below 3.0 to be admitted; it would be considered a provisional admit requiring a 3.0 in the first semester of the M.Eng. program to continue in the program). You can request that letters of recommendation be sent electronically by supplying the e-mail address of the recommender.
4. Transcripts: You do not need to send a transcript.
5. Graduate Record Exam: Cornell Undergraduates do not need to submit GRE Scores.

Early Admission

Cornell applicants may apply for early admission to the M.Eng. program if you have between one and eight credits left to complete your bachelor’s degree.

For early admits, the last semester of your undergraduate program serves as the first semester of your M.Eng. program although you are not officially a graduate student until you complete your B.S. degree.

The steps to apply are the same, except you will also need to complete an Early Admit Petition available from the Graduate Field Office. This petition must be signed by your undergraduate field coordinator and handed in to the MEng Mailbox in 108 Upson Hall.