Precollege Studies Students

New student health requirements (Summer 2025)

*Available beginning March 28*

The following information is for high school students participating in Cornell's Precollege Studies program.

Cornell Health oversees the university's Health Requirements process, through which new students provide health information and documentation of immunizations required by New York State and Cornell University. 

Submitting your new student health information

Submission deadline: May 23, 2025

You will be asked to ...

  • Complete online forms and submit a health history form
  • Students taking 6+ credits in in-person classes must ALSO provide documentation of required immunizations / vaccinations 

Please see instructions below for: 

Instructions for students enrolled in online or part-time classes 

The following instructions are for students taking online classes, or taking fewer than 6 credits in in-person classes.

  1. Log in to myCornellHealth > Requires an activated Cornell NetID and Two-Step Login; please allow two working days after you activate your NetID for Cornell Health to receive your information from the Registrar.
  2. Enter your emergency contact information.
  3. Go to "Clearances & Requirements" in the menu bar.
  4. Complete and submit the "Health History" form and two "Privacy and Consents" forms.

Instructions for students taking 6+ credits in in-person classes

REQUIREMENTS:

Required immunizations

You must provide information and official documentation demonstrating that you have met the following New York State and Cornell requirements. 

Measles/Mumps/Rubella

You must have either:

1. Combination vaccine: two doses of live vaccine administered on or after the first birthday
      - OR -
2. Individual immunizations:

  • MEASLES: two doses of live vaccine administered on or after the first birthday; or protective-antibody titer positive result; or physician-diagnosed history of disease
  • MUMPS: two doses of live vaccine administered on or after the first birthday; or protective-antibody titer positive result; or physician-diagnosed history of disease
  • RUBELLA: one dose of live vaccine; or protective-antibody titer positive result (NOTE: previous clinical diagnosis of Rubella is not acceptable proof)

Meningococcal vaccination / waiver

You must have one of the following:

  1. Meningococcal conjugate (ACWY) vaccination (within 5 years)
  2. Meningococcal B vaccine, and complete the series
  3. Meningococcal Vaccination Waiver form (pdf) submitted through myCornellHealth

Tetanus, diphteria, and pertussis

You must have had one Tdap vaccine (age 10 or later). If Tdap was more than 10 years ago, tetanus booster within past 10 years is also required.

Varicella (Chicken Pox)

You must have one of the following:

  1. Vaccine (2 doses of live vaccine administered on or after the 1st birthday, at least 28 days apart)
  2. Physician-diagnosed illness
  3. Positive protective antibody titer
  4. If you were born in the U.S. before 1980, the Varicella requirement does not apply  

COVID-19 vaccination update: Cornell will NOT require new students entering in summer or fall 2023 to submit proof of COVID vaccination. See the university statement here.

Tuberculosis (TB) screening – NOT required

TB screening is NOT required for students taking summer classes only. If a "TB Risk Screen" form appears in your Clearances & Requirements list in myCornellHealth, you may ignore it.

SUBMISSION INSTRUCTIONS:

STEP 1: Obtain your immunizations records. 

Gather or request your official immunization records for submission to Cornell Health.

  • Medical, school, and military records in English are accepted. You may also have your health care provider complete an Immunization Documentation form (pdf) that you can submit as official documentation.
  • If you have not received or can't provide documentation for required immunizations, you must schedule an appointment with your health care provider to receive them before the deadline (see next step). 

STEP 2: Schedule an appointment with a health care provider (if needed).

Get any required immunizations you have not already received.

  • Be sure to get official documentation of any immunizations  you receive so you can submit it to Cornell Health. Medical, school, and military records in English are accepted.
  • If you are unable to receive your required immunizations from your health care provider, you must contact Cornell Health before the submission deadline to make a plan to meet your requirements when you get to campus (charges may apply). See what to do if you can't meet your requirements.

STEP 3: Submit your information by the deadline.

Log in to myCornellHealth to submit health information and documentation of required immunizations. 

  • Log in to myCornellHealth > Requires an activated Cornell NetID and Two-Step Login; please allow two working days after you activate your NetID for Cornell Health to receive your information from the Registrar.
  • Once you log in, you will be asked to provide your emergency contact information.
  • Then go to “Clearances & Requirements" in the menu bar:
    • Complete and submit the "Health History" form and two "Privacy and Consents" forms.
    • Enter information and upload official documentation for each immunization listed (EXCEPTION: If "TB Risk Screen" is listed, you may ignore it).
    • If you are unable to upload records, you may fax them to 607-255-0269, or mail them to: Cornell Health / ATTN: Requirements Office / 110 Ho Plaza / Ithaca, NY 14853-3101.

STEP 4: Watch for follow-up messages from Cornell Health.

Cornell Health may take several weeks to review your information, due to high volume.  

  • If you are missing anything, or your materials do not meet Cornell's requirements, we will send an email to your Cornell address directing you to log in to myCornellHealth to retrieve a secure message about what is missing from your information and/or documentation, and how to come into compliance.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

What to do if you can't meet your requirements 

Students who are unable to meet their requirements because they lack access to required immunizations, and/or a health care provider must contact Cornell Health’s Requirements Office before the Requirements submission deadline to consult with staff and make a plan for meeting their health requirements as soon as they get to campus. (Requirements may be met at Cornell Health; see details below.)

How to meet your requirements at Cornell Health

Students who are unable to receive required immunizations may do so at Cornell Health when they arrive on campus. Be sure to contact Cornell Health’s Requirements Office BEFORE the requirements deadline to make a plan or otherwise risk being withdrawn from your program.

Costs for immunizations at Cornell Health: Charges to receive all required immunizations may cost up to $1,000. Cornell Health will bill your insurance plan, and your out-of-pocket costs will depend on your insurance coverage.

Consequences of noncompliance with Cornell's health requirements

Any student who fails to meet their health requirements, or otherwise contact Cornell Health’s Requirements staff or apply for an immunization exemption, will be disenrolled from their class(es) and withdrawn from their program.

Medical and religious exemptions

Students seeking a medication or religious exemption to Cornell’s immunization requirements must apply for any such exemption before the Requirements deadline. See information about how to apply for a medical or religious exemption.

Contact our Health Requirements Office

  • Send a secure message through our patient portal: Log in to myCornellHealth using your Cornell NetID and password, and go to Messages > New Message > Send a message or attachment to Immunization Requirements.
  • Or call us during business hours: 607-255-4364 (Monday–Friday, 8:30 am – 4:30 pm, Eastern Standard Time).

Please do NOT email us. Note that per HIPAA privacy law, we are unable to communicate about private health information by email (read about our confidentiality practices).