Apply directly to a school
Cornell says you apply directly to one of its colleges or schools. Within the SC Johnson College you must choose between Dyson and the Hotel Administration major in the Nolan School.
Undergraduate · Cornell Nolan
Cornell Nolan School of Hotel Administration: applying for hospitality business
At Cornell you apply directly to a college or school, and the SC Johnson College of Business asks you to choose between the Dyson School of Applied Economics and Management and the Nolan School of Hotel Administration. Nolan expects 16 units of high school coursework including pre-calculus, a unit of Chemistry and three years of a foreign language, a resume and a written supplement, and the SAT or ACT. For an A-level or IB student the central decision is whether hospitality business, rather than general business or another Cornell college, is the right application, and whether the profile Cornell describes matches yours.
Official information · read 31 October 2026, no entry-year label
What Cornell says about Cornell Nolan
Taken from Cornell Undergraduate Admissions' First-Year SC Johnson College 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.
Coursework: pre-calculus, Chemistry and a language
Nolan applicants need at least 16 units of high school coursework: 4 of English, 4 of mathematics with pre-calculus, 2 of science including Chemistry, and 3 of a foreign language.
A resume and a written supplement
SC Johnson College applicants submit a resume and a 650-word supplement answering 'What kind of business student are you?'.
The SAT or ACT is required
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.
Work or service experience
Cornell says it likes students with experience of work or service, which about half of its first-year students have.
Official sources
- Cornell Undergraduate Admissions: First-Year Applicantsadmissions.cornell.edu
- Cornell Undergraduate Admissions: First-Year SC Johnson College Applicantsadmissions.cornell.edu
- Cornell Undergraduate Admissions: Standardized Testing Policyadmissions.cornell.edu
Read on 31 October 2026 on Cornell Undergraduate Admissions' First-Year SC Johnson College 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 Cornell's English-proficiency scores, deadlines, financial aid and the Nolan School's own pages were not read and are not stated.
Choosing a school
Nolan or Dyson, and why the choice is made at application
Cornell says to apply to whichever school you believe is the right fit and gives different profiles. A Dyson student might want to solve economic and business challenges, work in marketing, analytics, finance or investment banking, or connect business with food and agriculture. A Nolan student might want to lead in the global hospitality industry, learn the business of hospitality, dive into real estate, launch a business, gain proficiency in financial services or harness data and technology. Because applicants choose a school at the point of application, the decision is part of the application itself, not something deferred.
Coursework
Nolan's requirements differ from Dyson's
Nolan asks for 16 units: 4 of English, 4 of mathematics with pre-calculus required and calculus strongly recommended, 2 of science including 1 of Chemistry, and 3 of a foreign language or completion of the third level. Dyson asks for calculus if offered, 3 units of science including Chemistry and Biology, and does not list a language. The pages read do not mention A-levels or the IB by name, so an international student should ask their school how its curriculum will be described and read Cornell's international guidance.
Mathematics
Pre-calculus is required; Cornell says calculus is preferred to AP Statistics and strongly recommended.
Science
Two units including Chemistry; a third unit is recommended.
Language
Three units of a foreign language, or successful completion of the third level.
Testing and materials
SAT or ACT, a resume and a business-focused supplement
Cornell says first-year applicants are required to submit SAT or ACT scores and may self-report them, with official scores required for enrolling students. Applicants to the SC Johnson College also submit a resume. The Common Application writing supplement asks what kind of business student you are, using personal, academic or volunteer or work experience, and should show how your interests align with the school you chose. The pages read do not state a score, and this guide states none.
A decision framework
Three questions before you commit
This is Avandy's own framework, not Cornell's.
Is hospitality the business you mean?
Nolan is a specific school. If your interest is general business or economics, Dyson or another college may fit better.
Does your school curriculum cover the required units?
Pre-calculus, Chemistry and a language are expected. Check how your A-level or IB subjects map.
Can you show work or service experience?
Cornell says about half of first-year Nolan students have it. Keep an honest record.
Planning for 2028 entry
Planning for 2028 entry: what carries over and what is awaiting publication
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.
The school choice, the coursework, the resume and supplement and the SAT or ACT requirement: read 31 October 2026 with no entry-year label
These are the best guide to what to prepare. Cornell has not confirmed them for 2028 entry.
Deadlines, test-score details, English-proficiency requirements and financial aid: not stated here
This guide has not read them. Check Cornell for the values that apply to your application year.
What to do now
Decide between Nolan and Dyson, check the coursework against your curriculum, plan the SAT or ACT and draft a resume.
Support
Independent support with planning your own application
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
Questions applicants ask
Do I apply to Cornell or to the Nolan School?
Both: Cornell says you apply directly to one of its colleges or schools, and SC Johnson College applicants choose between Dyson and Nolan.
Do I need the SAT or ACT?
Cornell says first-year applicants are required to submit SAT or ACT scores. The pages read do not say A-level or IB results replace them.
What coursework does Nolan expect?
At least 16 units, including pre-calculus, 2 units of science with Chemistry, and 3 units of a foreign language or the third level.
Is a resume required?
Yes. Cornell says applicants to the SC Johnson College must submit a resume.
Does Cornell name A-levels or the IB on these pages?
No. The pages read do not mention them by name.
Are these the rules for 2028 entry?
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
Talk to us about Cornell Nolan
Tell us about the student's curriculum, their mathematics, Chemistry and a language, their work or service experience and the resume they would submit, the universities on the list, and the intended year of entry. A senior adviser will review the academic profile before recommending how to prepare.