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M.Eng. field of Electrical and Computer Engineering

Early Admission Policy

If you are a Cornell Undergraduate student and are interested in learning more about the 'Early Admission' option, please visit the College of Engineering's web site to learn more. Please note that this policy is NOT for students outside of the Cornell University community.

In addition to the College of Engineering's policy, the Electrical and Computer Engineering Department also has its own procedures that we require all 'Early Admission' candidates to follow. They are as follows:

1. ECE Undergraduate Students applying for the Early Admission Option for the 1-year MEng Program must have between 1 - 8 credits left to complete in their undergraduate degree program in the second semester of their Senior Year in order to be considered eligible.
2. Students may earn no more than a total of eight (8) credit hours towards their MEng Degree Program during their Early Admission Semester. Early Admission Applicants will be required to submit their completed application materials differently than normal applicants (see below).
3. When choosing the correct term/semester to apply for as an Early Admission student in the Cornell online graduate application, the correct term/semester to choose would be the actual first semester as an MEng Student (i.e. the semester after all undergraduate degree requirements are completed). The 'Early Admission Semester' is the student's final semester of their Senior Year.

Spring Term - Early Admission Semester (Fall / Spring MEng Program)

1. This option would apply to students whose final semester of their Senior Year and their Early Admission semester would occur during the Spring.
2. Applicants will be required to submit their completed application materials by November 1st.
3. A completed Early Admission Petition Form will also be required along with all completed materials. An Early Admission Petition Form should propose a full 2-semester course work plan along with a 2-semester Design Project Plan to commence in the first semester as a registered MEng Student. Upon approval by the MEng Committee, this will be the Student's contract with ECE. Any subsequent changes to the agreed upon and approved plan will require further review and approval by the MEng Committee.
4. Early Admission Applicants will be required to schedule a 5 - 10 minute interview session with the ECE MEng Director in order to establish their plan and intentions. Interviews will be held during the month of November.
5. Early Admission Applicants will be discouraged to try and complete their MEng Program with only one semester as an actual registered MEng Student (by utilizing their final semester of their Senior year to fulfill minimal undergraduate requirements, while taking courses to be used towards their MEng Degree). For all intents and purposes, this will make it appear as if the Student will have actually earned a MEng Degree in only one semester, and as a consequence, could potentially make the degree program seem weaker by potential employers.
6. Early Admission Applicants will be provided with their admission decision prior to the beginning of finals at the end of the Fall Semester.

Fall Term - Early Admission Semester (Spring / Fall MEng Program)

1. This option would apply to students whose final semester of their Senior year and their Early Admission semester would occur during the Fall.
2. Applicants will be required to submit their completed application materials by normal deadline of January 15th.   
3. A completed Early Admission Petition Form will also be required along with all completed materials. An Early Admission Petition Form should propose a full 2-semester course work plan to commence in the first semester as a registered MEng Student. Upon approval by the MEng Committee, this will be the Student's contract with ECE. Any subsequent changes to the agreed upon and approved plan will require further review and approval by the MEng Committee.
4. Early Admission Applicants will be required to schedule a 5 - 10 minute interview session with the ECE MEng Director in order to establish their plan and intentions. Interviews will be held during the month of February.
5. Early Admission Applicants will be discouraged to try and complete their MEng Program with only one semester as an actual registered MEng Student (by utilizing their final semester of their Senior year to fulfill minimal undergraduate requirements, while taking courses to be used towards their MEng Degree). For all intents and purposes, this will make it appear as if the Student will have actually earned a MEng Degree in only one semester, and as a consequence, could potentially make the degree program seem weaker by potential employers.
6. Early Admission Applicants will be provided with their admission decision along with the rest of the group of applicants, and prior to April 15th.
7. Students admitted for the Spring / Fall option as an Early Admission will have two different requirements:
1. Students would be required to enroll in ECE 5010 for two credits during their Early Admission semester during the fall. A requirement of this course is the submission of a Design Project Proposal, so this would not be required during the Admissions Process.
2. Students would be required to remain in Ithaca for the Summer and be enrolled in ECE 6931 and actively be participating in working on their Design Project with their Advisor. This would be for a minimum of at least two (2) credits.