1) Ithaca is gorges.
2) For the most part, the people here are very openminded and outgoing.
3) Music is a large part of Ithaca College's history, and it is fascinating to witness some of the shows that are put on here.
Do you have any tips for prospective students?
1) Develop good study habits if you have not already done so. It is very rare that one will do well on college exams if they have not studied. Notecards work best for me, but I am sure different strategies help different people more.
2) Pack clothes for each of the four seasons, especially winter. Winter is definitely the longest season here at Ithaca, but it can be beautiful. At the same time, when it is hot here, it is very warm. You really just have to be prepared for everything.
3) Be social. Making friends and knowing who you should study with and who you can have fun with is very important. Everyone gets homesick, no matter how far away from Ithaca you live. Meeting new people is one of the best parts about college. I am only a sophomore and I am already so close with the people I have met here. But I do have friends that I can be productive with, others I can have one with, and then some I can do/be both with. It is important to figure that out early on.
Do you find there’s enough academic rigor at your school?
There are definitely certain majors that appear to be harder than others, but overall I would argue college is challenging in general. As cliche as it sounds, it really is what you make of it. If you study hard and attend class, you may surprise yourself with how well you do. Attendance is not always mandatory, but it usually is. Most professors are pretty strict about the attendance policy, and honestly I find it beneficial when they are. They are also very fair about when an absence does occur. They are usually more fair if you are a good, participating, hard-working student. The best way to think about it is that you are paying for each class, so if you do not go, that is money you waste. One of the greatest parts about IC is the size. It is not so small where you see the same people everyday, but it is also not so big where there is a slim chance your professors will know your name. This makes it easier to get extra help and keep up with your classes.
Describe the dorm life at your college.
Dorm life is a plus here at Ithaca. It is a smaller school, so people tend to be pretty respectful. Public Safety is also very alert and seems to be on top of things. The dorms are overall very clean, plus laundry is included in tuition, so you never need to lug around any change! There is an all girls dorm, an honors dorm, coed dorms by floor, coed dorms by door, and freshman housing which really makes it easy to choose what will work best for you.
Describe the food and dining at your college.
The dinning halls at IC are not my personal favorites, and I have been to a lot of college campuses. There are a few cafes and a convenience stores on campus and a little market place that are extremely tasty. As for the dining halls, although they are not the best, they do offer a lot of variety. There are a ton of vegan and vegetarian options, in my opinion, especially for a small college campus. Most people prefer the Terrace Dinning Hall. I would have to agree with them, and also state weekend brunch at Terrace's never disappoints.
What’s there to do for fun at your college?
Going out to eat is never a bad call in Ithaca. The Commons, located downtown, is a neat place. There is always something going on down there, and it also houses all of these cute little shops and restaurants. Cayuga Lake is another favorite, especially during the fall and summer. Gorge jumping is something almost every Ithacan experiences, and it is definitely a one of a kind experience.
Do you feel you’re getting value for the money you’re spending on college?
The restaurants in town are tremendous. It is said that Ithaca actually has more restaurants per capita than NYC. This is pretty impressive considering Ithaca is not that large of a place. It is also College Town. With us, Cornell, and a community college in the area, there ends up being around 30,000 college students inhabiting this little town. This makes the weekends interesting to say the least. The greatest part would have to be the fact so many places stay open and deliver in order to accommodate for all of us. We also have to TCAT, which is a bus that helps make transportation easier. Lastly, there is an airport located in Ithaca, which is definitely convenient.
Share any unusual traditions or locations on campus
I would say my favorite tradition here at Ithaca would be the Cortaca. Since it is not a Division I school, athletics are not as closely followed as universities such as Duke or anything similar. But the Cortaca Jug is a televised football game that features us and Cortland. There is a huge rivalry there and it is honestly a great weekend and an interesting event to be apart of. It is often referred to as the biggest little game.
Which types of students will excel at your college?
Adventurous students will definitely benefit the most in Ithaca. The town itself is gorges. That being said, there are waterfalls and hiking trails that you really cannot beat. Cayuga Lake is visible from some parts of campus and is breathtaking. As soon as it gets warm out, you see students heading over to the lake or to go gorge jumping quite often.
Are you involved in any clubs or activities?
There are a lot of clubs on campus. I participate in a few intramural sports. These are mostly coed, but not always. Being apart of the business school, I have also been introduced to clubs that are involved in international marketing, women in business, and other various groups. With each school on campus, there is something to do and bigger group to be apart of. There are also a lot of club sports, as well an an equestrian team.
Are you involved in any clubs or activities?
It is a Division III school, so Greek Life is not huge. But there are a couple of music fraternities and sororities, one that I believe is even coed. There is also the opportunity to pledge at Cornell, which is located in the same town. A lot of my friends belong to a Jewish fraternity, AEPi.
How would you describe campus safety? Do you feel safe on campus?
There are public safety telephones located all over campus, you just have to look for the poles topped with blue lights. Campus Security is always driving around, as well as RAs that walk around and monitor dorms and the campus as a whole. All in all, IC is a very safe campus. It is one of those few places where you feel comfortable running at nighttime.
1) Ithaca is gorges. 2) For the most part, the people here are very openminded and outgoing. 3) Music is a large part of Ithaca College's history, and it is fascinating to witness some of the shows that are put on here.
1) Develop good study habits if you have not already done so. It is very rare that one will do well on college exams if they have not studied. Notecards work best for me, but I am sure different strategies help different people more. 2) Pack clothes for each of the four seasons, especially winter. Winter is definitely the longest season here at Ithaca, but it can be beautiful. At the same time, when it is hot here, it is very warm. You really just have to be prepared for everything. 3) Be social. Making friends and knowing who you should study with and who you can have fun with is very important. Everyone gets homesick, no matter how far away from Ithaca you live. Meeting new people is one of the best parts about college. I am only a sophomore and I am already so close with the people I have met here. But I do have friends that I can be productive with, others I can have one with, and then some I can do/be both with. It is important to figure that out early on.
There are definitely certain majors that appear to be harder than others, but overall I would argue college is challenging in general. As cliche as it sounds, it really is what you make of it. If you study hard and attend class, you may surprise yourself with how well you do. Attendance is not always mandatory, but it usually is. Most professors are pretty strict about the attendance policy, and honestly I find it beneficial when they are. They are also very fair about when an absence does occur. They are usually more fair if you are a good, participating, hard-working student. The best way to think about it is that you are paying for each class, so if you do not go, that is money you waste. One of the greatest parts about IC is the size. It is not so small where you see the same people everyday, but it is also not so big where there is a slim chance your professors will know your name. This makes it easier to get extra help and keep up with your classes.
Dorm life is a plus here at Ithaca. It is a smaller school, so people tend to be pretty respectful. Public Safety is also very alert and seems to be on top of things. The dorms are overall very clean, plus laundry is included in tuition, so you never need to lug around any change! There is an all girls dorm, an honors dorm, coed dorms by floor, coed dorms by door, and freshman housing which really makes it easy to choose what will work best for you.
The dinning halls at IC are not my personal favorites, and I have been to a lot of college campuses. There are a few cafes and a convenience stores on campus and a little market place that are extremely tasty. As for the dining halls, although they are not the best, they do offer a lot of variety. There are a ton of vegan and vegetarian options, in my opinion, especially for a small college campus. Most people prefer the Terrace Dinning Hall. I would have to agree with them, and also state weekend brunch at Terrace's never disappoints.
Going out to eat is never a bad call in Ithaca. The Commons, located downtown, is a neat place. There is always something going on down there, and it also houses all of these cute little shops and restaurants. Cayuga Lake is another favorite, especially during the fall and summer. Gorge jumping is something almost every Ithacan experiences, and it is definitely a one of a kind experience.
The restaurants in town are tremendous. It is said that Ithaca actually has more restaurants per capita than NYC. This is pretty impressive considering Ithaca is not that large of a place. It is also College Town. With us, Cornell, and a community college in the area, there ends up being around 30,000 college students inhabiting this little town. This makes the weekends interesting to say the least. The greatest part would have to be the fact so many places stay open and deliver in order to accommodate for all of us. We also have to TCAT, which is a bus that helps make transportation easier. Lastly, there is an airport located in Ithaca, which is definitely convenient.
I would say my favorite tradition here at Ithaca would be the Cortaca. Since it is not a Division I school, athletics are not as closely followed as universities such as Duke or anything similar. But the Cortaca Jug is a televised football game that features us and Cortland. There is a huge rivalry there and it is honestly a great weekend and an interesting event to be apart of. It is often referred to as the biggest little game.
Adventurous students will definitely benefit the most in Ithaca. The town itself is gorges. That being said, there are waterfalls and hiking trails that you really cannot beat. Cayuga Lake is visible from some parts of campus and is breathtaking. As soon as it gets warm out, you see students heading over to the lake or to go gorge jumping quite often.
There are a lot of clubs on campus. I participate in a few intramural sports. These are mostly coed, but not always. Being apart of the business school, I have also been introduced to clubs that are involved in international marketing, women in business, and other various groups. With each school on campus, there is something to do and bigger group to be apart of. There are also a lot of club sports, as well an an equestrian team.
It is a Division III school, so Greek Life is not huge. But there are a couple of music fraternities and sororities, one that I believe is even coed. There is also the opportunity to pledge at Cornell, which is located in the same town. A lot of my friends belong to a Jewish fraternity, AEPi.
There are public safety telephones located all over campus, you just have to look for the poles topped with blue lights. Campus Security is always driving around, as well as RAs that walk around and monitor dorms and the campus as a whole. All in all, IC is a very safe campus. It is one of those few places where you feel comfortable running at nighttime.