Requirements

Open to:

• Cornell Undergraduate Students

GPA Requirements:

Minimum GPA: 3.80

Note: An endorsement from Cornell is required to apply for the Beinecke. The deadline by which members of the class of 2026 should apply for Cornell's nomination for the Beinecke is 4pm ET on February 1, 2025.

U.S. citizens or U.S. nationals in the junior class with a record of financial need. 

Students who intend to pursue graduate study in the arts, humanities, or social sciences, and who must have a record of receiving need-based financial aid to support their undergraduate study. Students without such a record are not eligible.

Interested Cornell applicants, after doing some research of their own, should reach out the Office of Fellowships (meetings by appointment) for specific submission instructions for the Cornell endorsement deadline. The Fellowships office is glad to advise applicants on essays, the choice of recommenders, and other application strategies. 

Applicants must review the official information and application forms and instructions on the Beinecke website, as well as the campus application information here.

To apply for Cornell's nomination for the Beinecke Scholarship, the following must be submitted prior to the campus application deadline:

1. A completed application form (available on the Beinecke website).
2. A statement of no more than 1,000 words describing the applicant's background, interests, plans for graduate study, and career aspirations. The statement should include a discussion of some of the experiences and ideas that have shaped those interests, plans, and aspirations.
3. An official Financial Data Sheet (available on the Beinecke website), completed by a Cornell financial aid officer.
4. Transcripts: Unofficial Cornell transcripts will suffice.
5. A current cv or résumé (2 pages max).
6. Three letters of recommendation should also be submitted by the Cornell endorsement deadline. They should be sent directly to ccs-fellowships@cornell.edu.

• These should be requested from faculty members who know the applicant--and their relevant work--well and who can speak to the applicant's intellectual curiosity, character, and potential for advanced graduate study in their chosen field.

*Applicants proposing an MFA or similar degree in the creative or performing arts may wish to submit a portfolio of their work, something not unlike like what would be required for application for the proposed graduate program.  Applicants considering this option should please seek advice from the Office of Fellowships, well in advance of the deadline.

Following the campus application deadline, the Cornell endorsement committee normally interviews short-listed applicants before making its decision. Cornell's nominee will have an opportunity to finalize his/her application, with advice from the Cornell endorsement committee, in advance of the national deadline in March.  Following the national selection process, the new class of Beinecke Scholars is normally announced in May. 

Selection decisions (both on-campus and at the national level) are based on the following criteria:

• Academic record: Nominees should have a GPA of 3.8 or above.
• Commitment to the study of one's field: Preference will be given to those for whom the awarding of the scholarship would significantly enhance the likelihood of the student attending graduate school.
• Commitment to one's community: Students planning to attend professional school should illustrate a significant commitment to serving the community upon completion of their graduate studies.
• Three letters of recommendation: These should be from faculty who can speak to your academic promise.

Contact Information:

For questions about this application, please contact Clare Jones at ckj23@cornell.edu.