Admissions

Considering the Johnson School and Cornell?

We're glad you are considering one of the nation's best MBA programs! Out for Business is here to help you as you move through the admissions process. We can help you:

• assess Johnson as an LBGT friendly business school
• decide whether to be 'out' on your application
• evaluate your fit with the school and build knowledge about Johnson for your interview
• and share our experiences about being out at Johnson

Frequently Asked Questions

To get you started, here are some answers to frequently asked questions about the Johnson School.

Can I meet with current LGBT students when I interview/visit?
Yes! The Johnson School's people and culture are its biggest asset. We highly recommend that prospective students visit to get a first hand experience. We'd like you to be our guest while at Johnson - we can meet you for lunch, have a conversation, and even arrange to host you for a night. Email Tarak Shah or Kristine Woolery to learn more about Johnson.

Should I be out in my application essays?
In our experience, being 'out' in your application is ranges from neutral to positive. While it is a personal choice, it will by no means detract if it has relevance to your application. Some examples include your orientation being part of an issue that arose at work which you learned from, or if you grew substantially personally through your coming out experience.

Even if you don't choose to write about it in your essays, mentioning your participation in GLBT-related clubs and organizations can help show that you are engaged in your community, a highly valued characteristic at Johnson. In short, if your orientation and the experiences you have had as an LGBT individual help build the case that you are a strong candidate for business school, you should mention it as part of your story. Being gay alone will not help you gain admittance to business school, so mentioning it for the sake of mentioning it is not recommended.

Ithaca is so small. How do you deal?
When you visit Ithaca, you'll see why it has been described as one of the most livable places in the country. Ithaca is a friendly and welcoming community offers lots of great restaurants, pubs, museums, natural- and ethnic-foods shops, and also boasts the highest per capita LGBT population outside of a major metropolitan area

How many people are a part of O4B?
We have over 20 active participants in Out for Business. Our fantastic faculty and staff members add even more to our ranks. Over 60 people are on our listserve.

What if I do not want to be out at Johnson?
While we are able to provide a network for you to discuss personal matters, there is nothing that says you have to be out at Johnson. We are here to support you if you wish!

Should I be out in recruiting?
Again, the decision is up to you, but it is absolutely possible to be out during your job search at Johnson. Several major firms actually hold specific recruiting events for gay, lesbian, and bisexual students.
We also have a fantastic group of alumni at many major companies who are committed to helping us build our networks.

What about partners?
Partners are welcome to participate in the O4B activities and in any Johnson activity open to significant others. Partners can also choose to join Joint Ventures, Johnson's association for significant others.

Whom can I contact for more information?
Please feel free to e-mail our Tarak Shah at tns4@cornell.edu or Kristine Woolery at krw63@cornell.edu to learn more about Johnson!