Undergraduate · Cornell ILR
Cornell's School of Industrial and Labor Relations offers one major, Industrial and Labor Relations, which studies people and policies in the workplace through organisational psychology, economics, labor history, statistics, management and law. Applicants apply to the school directly, with 16 units of coursework including four of mathematics, a 650-word prompt about the issues they care about, and the SAT or ACT. For an A-level or IB student the question is whether the workplace and society are the subject you want to study, and whether the profile Cornell describes is yours.
Official information · read 31 October 2026, no entry-year label
Taken from Cornell Undergraduate Admissions' First-Year ILR Applicants page, its First-Year Applicants page and its Standardized Testing Policy page, read on 31 October 2026. The pages carry no entry-year label, so for a 2028-entry application every statement below is evidence for the previous cycle and may change; check Cornell's pages for the 2028-entry details.
Cornell says all ILR students have the same major, Industrial and Labor Relations, with required courses in organisational psychology, economics, labor history, statistics, management and law, then electives across Cornell.
ILR applicants need at least 16 units of high school coursework, including 4 of English and 4 of mathematics. Cornell notes a strong record in related courses such as social studies, history, economics and psychology.
The 650-word supplement asks which topics or issues you care about and why, and should show how your interests align with the ILR School.
Cornell says first-year applicants are required to submit SAT or ACT scores. A-level or IB results do not replace them on the pages read.
Cornell says no activity or club matters more than others; what matters is how your experiences helped you understand the importance of ILR topics.
Official sources
Read on 31 October 2026 on Cornell Undergraduate Admissions' First-Year ILR Applicants page, its First-Year Applicants page and its Standardized Testing Policy page, which describes 2027 entry. The pages carry no entry-year label. The pages do not mention A-levels or the IB by name, and the ILR School's own admissions pages, Cornell's English-proficiency scores, deadlines and financial aid were not read and are not stated.
The school
Cornell describes ILR courses as covering topics critical to for-profit and non-profit organisations, from leadership, group dynamics and the impact of technology on work to negotiations, globalisation and workers' rights. The programme is flexible and interdisciplinary and prepares students for careers in law, business, government, international affairs, academia, labor and non-profit work. Applicants apply to the school directly, and every student takes the same major, so there is no major-specific admission to choose beyond the school itself.
Other Cornell colleges
Cornell lists nine colleges and schools to apply to. Avandy has separate guides to Duffield Engineering and Nolan Hotel Administration, and the other colleges have their own pages.
work, organisations and policy are the subject, with economics, psychology, law and statistics as tools.
business is the focus. Avandy's Nolan guide covers hospitality business; the Dyson School has its own rules.
your interest is a specific field such as engineering or architecture; Avandy has guides to Duffield and Architecture.
Coursework and testing
ILR applicants need at least 16 units of high school coursework including 4 units of English and 4 of mathematics. Cornell says successful applicants have a strong record in related courses such as social studies, history, English, government, economics and psychology. First-year applicants must submit SAT or ACT scores and may self-report them. The pages read do not mention A-levels or the IB by name, and this guide states no score.
A decision framework
This is Avandy's own framework, not Cornell's.
The prompt asks for them, and the school's whole curriculum is built around them.
Cornell notes a strong record in social studies, history, English, government, economics and psychology.
Four units of mathematics are listed for ILR applicants.
Planning for 2028 entry
Cornell's pages carry no entry-year label, so nothing on them is confirmed for 2028 entry. Use them to understand the structure of the application, then check Cornell's own pages for the 2028-entry details.
These are the best guide to what to prepare. Cornell has not confirmed them for 2028 entry.
This guide has not read them. Check Cornell for the values that apply to your application year.
Read Cornell's ILR admissions page, check four years of mathematics against your curriculum and plan the SAT or ACT.
Support
Avandy provides independent academic and admissions support. It is not affiliated with Cornell University or any of its colleges or departments. Preparation sits within the Avandy Trinity Advisory Model: a Strategic Admissions Consultant, a PhD-level Academic Mentor and a Subject-specific Tutor, working to the actual requirements of each course. Support here is limited to understanding the requirements and planning the applicant's own work; Avandy does not write or edit essays, does not submit any materials and has no partnership with Cornell. No outcome is promised.
Questions
No. Cornell says all ILR students have the same major, Industrial and Labor Relations.
At least 16 units of high school coursework, including 4 of English and 4 of mathematics.
Cornell says first-year applicants are required to submit SAT or ACT scores.
The 650-word supplement asks you to describe topics or issues you care about and why, and to show how your interests align with the ILR School.
Not on the pages read.
No. They are Cornell's wording with no entry-year label. Check Cornell's pages again when Cornell publishes its 2028-entry requirements.
Students and families
Tell us about the student's curriculum, their mathematics and English record, their interest in work and society and the topics they care about, the universities on the list, and the intended year of entry. A senior adviser will review the academic profile before recommending how to prepare.
