<p>Are most people satisfied with Cornell? are they happy there? I've heard some horror stories, and so before I choose where to go I want to discern the rumors from the truth.</p>
<p>Yes. In the last week there have been four active alums on these threads answering all sorts of questions about Cornell. I don't think we would be here if we weren't happy and satisfied with our Cornell experience.</p>
<p>What are these horror stories you speak of? I think there are going to be problems at every campus. At Middlebury a student has been missing for the last two months, nobody can find him, he is presumed dead. But nobody isn't going to deny the fact that most students at Middlebury aren't happy.</p>
<p>I didn't mean horror stories like that. I just mean I hear about a lot of people who go to Cornell and are miserable there, and I kind of got the vibe that there are a lot of unhappy people when i visited. I realize that these stories are just anecdotes and so I am trying to get a sence of weather or not they are truely representative of the majority of cornell students.</p>
<p>almost all of the people on campus love cornell, simply because this was their number 1 choice. if you go to other schools and you ask them why they chose X university, they give the whole "well i got rejected from Y and i didnt want to go to Z and W was too close to home...hence why im at X" schpeel.</p>
<p>Most of my friends love Cornell. We might complain sometimes, especially when it's prelim (exam) time, but we all truly enjoy the atmosphere here. I had my own anxieties about the competitiveness and stress before coming to Cornell, but now that I'm here, I know that those worries were ridiculous. They were based off college guides and high school rumors, not from Cornellians' perspectives.</p>
<p>I think a lot of these horror stories are perpetuated by students who don't actually go to Cornell; people just hear about Cornell's reputation as a pressure cooker and tell others that Cornell is a scary place to be. I think it's important to know who were the sources of the horror stories that you heard--were they from actual Cornell students or just from other high school students?</p>
<p>Also, what did you use to judge people's unhappiness during your visit here? If you just saw people walking to classes, people aren't going to have smiles plastered on their faces. Most people I know have taken advantage of many of the things that Cornell has offered to them--and they're very happy. There are always going to be depressed and stressed-out students wherever you go. Some of these students will be those who don't see all the opportunities that their school gives. As long as you make the most of what you have, you'll probably be happy.</p>
<p>Still, if you don't get a good vibe from Cornell, it may just mean that Cornell's not right for you. You're going to have to think about all your options and decide where you feel most comfortable.</p>
<p>Maybe Cornell is not doing such a good job of recruiting over night hosts. A girl from my daughter's school came up to visit for Cornell day. Her host told her that they didn't go out much and there is not much to do. The girl spent another night with my daughter and had a completely different view. </p>
<p>My brother graduated from Cornell many years ago. He said it was the best 4 years of his life. My daughter couldn't be happier at Cornell. I think many people have posted here about why they love Cornell. The plus side of Cornell is it is big. Because of the size you do not get the snubbiness of some top tier schools. Students are more down to earth, and not every student is extremely academic. You could find jocks, socialites, preppy, earthy, nerdy people at Corenll. A small school like Haverford (it's a great school), students tend to be more homengeous - everyone goes to same parties and events, god forbid if you break up with someone then there is no getting away from that person. The down side of a school like Cornell is it's not a nurturing place. You have to be proactive to get involved, no one will necessary reach out to you. It is the case academically and socially.</p>
<p>Before my older daughter started at Cornell, I was not a buyer of the school. My younger daughter's hs academic record is probably better than my older daughter's, and she could possibly have wider choice of schools in a few years. But seeing how happy the older one is at Cornell, the younger one is also now serious considering Cornell.</p>
<p>Just a bit more color - my daughter is double majoring in math and econ, works 10 hours week, dances and is in a sorority. It is not all study and no play. I think there is probably more play at Cornell than other ivies. My daughter doesn't know of anyone that's not coming back next year.</p>
<p>Those people who are miserable usually contribute to their own ill feelings. Yes, most of us get rather stressed during exam time and during finals week but we don't make it a point to be constantly miserable.</p>
<p>Nearly everyone I know is happy to be here and with the gorgeous weather we're experiencing + the imminent arrival of Slope Day.....it's hard to be unhappy :-)</p>
<p>yea what he said. i know a bunch of people whos not too happy, esp pre meds, with the recent chemistry prelim ahhahah. i failed too</p>
<p>eh....failure and rejection (in reasonable doses) are often good for the soul :-)</p>
<p>Most students I knew were very happy and I certainly love Cornell. I think Cornellians just like to complain a lot even though we love our school. When it's 10 degrees and snowy outside it just seems easier to be grouchy.</p>
<p>I would disregard any complaints about academics. Cornell is a tough school. But so is Harvard. So is Stanford. So is MIT and any other peer institution. But, for some reason, Cornellians like to complain about the difficulty. I would pay more attention to the complaints about non-academic topics. However, always be aware that different people have different preferences.</p>
<p>Most students I know are very happy here, and I certainly can't imagine myself any where else. Then again, people who aren't happy here have already left by their sophomore year.</p>
<p>To add on to NCG's comment about complaints about academics...besides complaining about academics and the weather, there really isn't anything else to complain about here at Cornell, so most of the complaints you hear are academic related. When all you've got to complain about is academics and the weather I would say life is pretty good.</p>
<p>"I've heard some horror stories'</p>
<p>My advise: Don't believe everything you hear. There are unhappy people everywhere, there are people who complain, and there are people who thrive on others' unhappiness.</p>
<p>If Cornell doesn't feel right for you, that's ok, but don't decide based on uncorroborated stories.</p>
<p>Both my brothers attended Cornell and absolutely loved it. They like the programs, and the atmosphere, and the fact that it's close to home so they could come home for food and laundry whenever they wanted :P</p>
<p>I loved Cornell and Ithaca. It was the perfect school for me and is a magical place if it's the right fit for you.</p>