Cornell is a wonderful institution with a beautiful campus complete with rivers and waterfalls. The five years I spent there were academically challenging, socially rewarding, and an unforgettable experience. I would not trade my undergraduate career at Cornell for any other institution.
Do you have any tips for prospective students?
1) Make sure you have some longstanding extracurricular activities (nonacademic ones especially) to put on your application it really sets you apart from the crowd. During the 5 years I spent there I never met anyone who didn't do an extracurricular activity during high school
2) If you have the opportunity to do so, visit the campus. It is really important that you know where you are going to be spending 75% of the next 4-5 years of your life. Whatever college you choose should make you feel at home.
3) When writing you college application essay speak about something you're passionate about, speak truthfully, and from your heart it will catch administrators' attention.
4) Go into your freshman year expecting the worst as far as academic rigor, this way you will not be caught off-guard. Do not underestimate the difficulty of your classes
Do you find there’s enough academic rigor at your school?
It would be a disservice to the Cappex community if I said that Cornell will be easy. I was in the International Baccalaureate (IB) program in high school and while it prepared me a little bit for the lower level courses I took during my freshman and sophomore year, the classes were still very challenging especially if you are taking a science, technology, engineering, or math (STEM) class. Most STEM classes are curved, so your performance in the class is based on how you did in relation to everyone else in the class. You can always unwind in one of Cornell's 150+ PE classes if you have time, I personally recommend the archery or martial arts classes taught by Kevin Seaman. The academic journey at Cornell may be difficult, but it is certainly worth it in the end because it will prepare you for your future endeavors whether it be graduate school or employment. Luckily, your finals period are stretched out over 2 weeks with no classes during that time.
Describe the dorm life at your college.
Some of the dorms may be a little old (i.e. 1960s and 1970s), however they still have a very cozy feeling to them. Some of the older buildings do not have air conditioning in the rooms, but the weather in Ithaca, NY only requires you use it 3-5 weeks out of the academic year (unless you stay for the summer). As a freshman, you are guaranteed housing in the dormitories and you will be placed in North Campus with other freshman, facilitating the social experience. After your freshman year, you have the option to move into the West Campus or Collegetown housing system with more modern dorms if you choose to where the dorm life is similar aside from the possibility that there is a lower turnout at dorm events due to a busier academic life. The housing office gives plenty of money to the dorms to sponsor a variety of events such as barbecues, movie nights, trips to New York City and Niagara Falls, and many more at a free or discounted price.
Describe the food and dining at your college.
Cornell Dining food is delicious, I've had food at other universities and none of them compare to the level of Cornell dining. I guess having a culinary school on campus helps. The food is the closest thing to a home-cooked meal you can get without going to an expensive restaurant or going home. The meal plans can be a little pricey compared to buying and cooking your own food, but as long as you use it (don't skip meals) it's worth every penny. The best thing that Cornell consistently does is their ice cream which they make on campus. Be careful though, it's called the Freshman 15 for a reason.
What’s there to do for fun at your college?
For fun, there is always something to do on campus except during study period and finals week. If you join a club or two and keep your eyes open for flyers finding something to do will be easy. Word of mouth always works too. As far as off-campus goes, Ithaca is one of those towns that would not exist if not for the universities that reside there, but there are a couple things you can do. In October, the city hosts a weekend-long apple festival where many local vendors come out to showcase many edible goodies for sale such as apple cider, funnel cake, caramel apples, and much more. The apple cider donuts are to die for. In February, you can warm up to Ithaca's Chili Festival. There are also tons of restaurants in Collegetown and the Commons that serve a diverse cuisine (this is how I first tried Indian food). If this isn't enough for you, there is a list of 161 things Every Cornellian Should do. If you start running out of stuff to do, refer to this list.
http://cornellsun.com/blog/2005/02/27/big-red-ambition-161-things-every-cornellian-should-do/
Do you feel you’re getting value for the money you’re spending on college?
I was always comfortable with knowing my money was being well spent. Due to the funding Cornell gave to one of my clubs, I was able to go to conferences in Nashville, St. Louis, Indianapolis, and Pittsburgh, paying less than $150 each time. I also took advantage of a lot of free services such career services, transcript orders, bus pass and more than I can count. Also, if you are from a warm climate (e.g. California, Texas, Florida, etc.) the financial aid office will reimburse you up to $500 for your winter clothing if you submit a budget increase form. As far as post graduation, Cornell really helped me get into a PhD program in Mechanical Engineering even though my grades were not that high.
Share any unusual traditions or locations on campus
1) Cornell has a small lake between North and Central Campus along with many gorges and rivers.
2) There is also a botanical garden and arboretum that is part of the campus that is very beautiful during the spring and summer.
3) The biggest celebration at Cornell is called Slope Day where everyone gathers on Libe Slope after the last day of classes for a massive concert with guests such as Ludacris, Kendrick Lamar and many more. Not to mention great food.
Which types of students will excel at your college?
Adventurous, enjoy a challenge, not opposed to a lot of walking (Cornell has a very large campus), strong willed, nature lovers, down-to-earth
Are you involved in any clubs or activities?
Let me put it this way: if you have an interest in it, there is most likely a club for it. Cornell has a lot of clubs and organizations on-campus including professional societies, intramural sports, community service groups, martial arts clubs, religious organizations, and performing groups just to name a few. Most of these clubs are well funded so they are able to do almost whatever they want/need to do.
How would you describe campus safety? Do you feel safe on campus?
The campus is pretty safe as well as the surrounding area. Violent crimes are really rare, however, the most reported crime is forcible touching and crimes of a similar nature. Even then these crimes occur slightly off-campus. It is unlikely that something will happen to you while you're walking at night, but it is always a good rule of thumb regardless of where you are not to walk alone at night. This campus is equipped with the Blue Light systems so the police are just a phone call away.
Cornell is a wonderful institution with a beautiful campus complete with rivers and waterfalls. The five years I spent there were academically challenging, socially rewarding, and an unforgettable experience. I would not trade my undergraduate career at Cornell for any other institution.
1) Make sure you have some longstanding extracurricular activities (nonacademic ones especially) to put on your application it really sets you apart from the crowd. During the 5 years I spent there I never met anyone who didn't do an extracurricular activity during high school 2) If you have the opportunity to do so, visit the campus. It is really important that you know where you are going to be spending 75% of the next 4-5 years of your life. Whatever college you choose should make you feel at home. 3) When writing you college application essay speak about something you're passionate about, speak truthfully, and from your heart it will catch administrators' attention. 4) Go into your freshman year expecting the worst as far as academic rigor, this way you will not be caught off-guard. Do not underestimate the difficulty of your classes
It would be a disservice to the Cappex community if I said that Cornell will be easy. I was in the International Baccalaureate (IB) program in high school and while it prepared me a little bit for the lower level courses I took during my freshman and sophomore year, the classes were still very challenging especially if you are taking a science, technology, engineering, or math (STEM) class. Most STEM classes are curved, so your performance in the class is based on how you did in relation to everyone else in the class. You can always unwind in one of Cornell's 150+ PE classes if you have time, I personally recommend the archery or martial arts classes taught by Kevin Seaman. The academic journey at Cornell may be difficult, but it is certainly worth it in the end because it will prepare you for your future endeavors whether it be graduate school or employment. Luckily, your finals period are stretched out over 2 weeks with no classes during that time.
Some of the dorms may be a little old (i.e. 1960s and 1970s), however they still have a very cozy feeling to them. Some of the older buildings do not have air conditioning in the rooms, but the weather in Ithaca, NY only requires you use it 3-5 weeks out of the academic year (unless you stay for the summer). As a freshman, you are guaranteed housing in the dormitories and you will be placed in North Campus with other freshman, facilitating the social experience. After your freshman year, you have the option to move into the West Campus or Collegetown housing system with more modern dorms if you choose to where the dorm life is similar aside from the possibility that there is a lower turnout at dorm events due to a busier academic life. The housing office gives plenty of money to the dorms to sponsor a variety of events such as barbecues, movie nights, trips to New York City and Niagara Falls, and many more at a free or discounted price.
Cornell Dining food is delicious, I've had food at other universities and none of them compare to the level of Cornell dining. I guess having a culinary school on campus helps. The food is the closest thing to a home-cooked meal you can get without going to an expensive restaurant or going home. The meal plans can be a little pricey compared to buying and cooking your own food, but as long as you use it (don't skip meals) it's worth every penny. The best thing that Cornell consistently does is their ice cream which they make on campus. Be careful though, it's called the Freshman 15 for a reason.
For fun, there is always something to do on campus except during study period and finals week. If you join a club or two and keep your eyes open for flyers finding something to do will be easy. Word of mouth always works too. As far as off-campus goes, Ithaca is one of those towns that would not exist if not for the universities that reside there, but there are a couple things you can do. In October, the city hosts a weekend-long apple festival where many local vendors come out to showcase many edible goodies for sale such as apple cider, funnel cake, caramel apples, and much more. The apple cider donuts are to die for. In February, you can warm up to Ithaca's Chili Festival. There are also tons of restaurants in Collegetown and the Commons that serve a diverse cuisine (this is how I first tried Indian food). If this isn't enough for you, there is a list of 161 things Every Cornellian Should do. If you start running out of stuff to do, refer to this list. http://cornellsun.com/blog/2005/02/27/big-red-ambition-161-things-every-cornellian-should-do/
I was always comfortable with knowing my money was being well spent. Due to the funding Cornell gave to one of my clubs, I was able to go to conferences in Nashville, St. Louis, Indianapolis, and Pittsburgh, paying less than $150 each time. I also took advantage of a lot of free services such career services, transcript orders, bus pass and more than I can count. Also, if you are from a warm climate (e.g. California, Texas, Florida, etc.) the financial aid office will reimburse you up to $500 for your winter clothing if you submit a budget increase form. As far as post graduation, Cornell really helped me get into a PhD program in Mechanical Engineering even though my grades were not that high.
1) Cornell has a small lake between North and Central Campus along with many gorges and rivers. 2) There is also a botanical garden and arboretum that is part of the campus that is very beautiful during the spring and summer. 3) The biggest celebration at Cornell is called Slope Day where everyone gathers on Libe Slope after the last day of classes for a massive concert with guests such as Ludacris, Kendrick Lamar and many more. Not to mention great food.
Adventurous, enjoy a challenge, not opposed to a lot of walking (Cornell has a very large campus), strong willed, nature lovers, down-to-earth
Let me put it this way: if you have an interest in it, there is most likely a club for it. Cornell has a lot of clubs and organizations on-campus including professional societies, intramural sports, community service groups, martial arts clubs, religious organizations, and performing groups just to name a few. Most of these clubs are well funded so they are able to do almost whatever they want/need to do.
The campus is pretty safe as well as the surrounding area. Violent crimes are really rare, however, the most reported crime is forcible touching and crimes of a similar nature. Even then these crimes occur slightly off-campus. It is unlikely that something will happen to you while you're walking at night, but it is always a good rule of thumb regardless of where you are not to walk alone at night. This campus is equipped with the Blue Light systems so the police are just a phone call away.