Applicants to ORIE’s Ph.D. program should complete the Cornell Graduate School’s online application. All accompanying materials should be mailed directly to the School of ORIE:

Graduate Admissions
School of ORIE
201 Rhodes Hall
Cornell University
Ithaca, NY 14853 USA

(Please DO NOT mail any accompanying materials [including all printed letters of recommendation, transcripts, etc.] to the Cornell Graduate School in Caldwell Hall as it may delay your application.)

Application Fee
Please apply on-line at the Cornell Graduate School web site.  We do not accept paper applications.

Statement of Purpose
Please submit electronically with on-line application.

Transcripts
Official transcripts from each college or university you have attended. Please mail directly to: Graduate Admissions, School of OR&IE, 201 Rhodes Hall, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853 USA.

Letters of Recommendation
Three letters of recommendation are required (electronic recommendation requests are available when submitting the online application; these requests are not sent to the recommenders until the online application has been submitted). Forms available for printing and mailing are also available at the application web site. Electronic as well as paper recommendations are required to be on official letterhead and signed. Printed forms should be mailed directly to: Graduate Admissions, School of OR&IE, 201 Rhodes Hall, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853 USA

Graduate Record Examination (GRE) general test scores
GRE’s are required. A subject test (preferably in mathematics, engineering, or computer science) is encouraged, but not required. Score reporting codes are as follows: University Code 2098, Department Code 1301 or 1302.  Official reporting of GRE scores from the testing service is required, and admission cannot be finalized until received.  We do not accept copies of scores.  We DO NOT accept GMATs.

TOEFL
All applicants whose native language is not English must take the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL).  A minimum score of 250 computer based, or the following minimum iBT scores are required for admission: Writing (20), Listening (15), Reading (20), Speaking (22).  Admission is not possible if any score is below the minimum in each category.  OR&IE would prefer to see a total iBT score of over 100.

TOEFL is not required of applicants who have studied full-time for two or more years in a college or university where English is the language of instruction and the college or university is located in a country where English is the native language. Score reporting codes are as follows: University Code 2098, Department Code 67.  Official reporting of TOEFL scores from the testing service is required, and admission cannot be finalized until received.  We do not accept copies of scores.  TOEFL scores are good for two years.

Financial Aid
Substantial financial aid is available to outstanding Ph.D. applicants in the form of fellowships, research assistantships, and teaching assistantships. Almost all students admitted to the ORIE Ph.D. program receive full financial aid in the form of a full tuition waiver, stipend, and health insurance, either from a fellowship, research assistantship, or teaching assistantship. Full stipends are given for nine months; additional summer support is usually available.

Admission to the Ph.D. program is based solely on academic merit. Financial need plays no role in the admission procedure.
Completed applications and all accompanying materials received by the application deadline will be automatically considered for financial aid. A separate financial aid application is not needed.

Deadline for Admission
Application deadline for fall admission is January 15 of that year. We do not accept applications for spring admission to this program. We expect decisions to be made on all Ph.D. applications by March 15.

Note: We no longer mail out material and applications. All information is available at either the ORIE website or the Cornell Graduate School’s website. If you should have additional questions, please use this form to contact us.  Or, you may phone us at 1 (607) 255-9128.