Precollege Studies Students

New Student Health Requirements

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

For Precollege students taking online classes

The vast majority Precollege Studies students are enrolled in online courses only. Online-only students have no health requirements to complete to participate in Cornell classes.

For Precollege students taking in-person classes

If you are taking 6 or more credits in-person, you must meet the requirements below and submit your information by the following deadlines:

DEADLINE for Summer 2024 students: May 22, 2024

In-person students taking fewer than 6 credits do NOT need to meet any health requirements.

INSTRUCTIONS

(1) Identify your requirements (click below):

Required immunizations for students taking 6+ credits in person

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, diphtheria, 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

(2) Obtain your official immunization records for submission to Cornell Health: 

  • Medical, school, and military records in English are accepted. 
  • You can have your health care provider complete an Immunization Documentation form (pdf) that you can submit as official documentation.

(3) Receive any additional required immunizations you may need: 

  • If you have not received or do not have documentation for any required immunizations, schedule an appointment to receive them from your health care provider.
  • Be sure to get official documentation of any new immunizations so you can submit it to Cornell Health. Medical, school, and military records in English are accepted. You can have your health care provider complete an Immunization Documentation form (pdf) that you can submit as official documentation.

(4) Submit your information through myCornellHealth: 

  • Log in to myCornellHealth. (Requires activated Cornell NetID; please allow two working days after you activate your NetID for Cornell Health to receive your information from the Registrar.)
  • Go to “Clearances & Requirements.” 
  • Complete / submit any forms listed, and enter immunization / test information.  
  • Upload official documentation (in English, from a health care provider, school, or military) for each immunization / test you enter. 
  • 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.

Once you submit your information …

Due to high volume, Cornell Health may take 3-4 weeks to review your information. If we discover any problems, we will send an email to your Cornell address, directing you to read a secure message at myCornellHealth.

What to do if you can't meet your requirements

Precollege students must meet their health requirements before coming to Cornell. 

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 submission deadline (listed above) to consult with staff and make a plan for coming into compliance as soon as they get to campus. (Requirements may be met at Cornell Health; please see below.)

What to do if you wish to apply for a medical or religious exemption

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

Consequences of noncompliance with Cornell's health requirements

Students who fail to meet their health requirements, or otherwise contact Cornell Health’s Requirements staff or apply for an immunization exemption, by the submission deadline will be disenrolled from their class(es) and withdrawn from the Precollege program.

Meeting 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 our Requirements office before the submission deadline to make a plan for coming into compliance or otherwise risk being disenrolled from the Precollege program.

Costs for immunizations at Cornell Health: Charges to receive all required immunizations may cost up to $900. Cornell Health will bill your insurance plan, and your out-of-pocket costs will depend on your insurance coverage.

Contact Health’s Requirements Office

If you wish to contact our Requirements Office, you may do so in one of the following ways:

  • 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.
  • Call us during business hours: 607-255-4364 (Monday–Friday, 8:30 am – 4:30 pm, Eastern Standard Time).
  • Schedule an online (Zoom) consultation appointment: Log into myCornellHealth and select Appointments > Schedule an appointment > New Student Health Requirements consultation.

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).