@truetotalk Hi! I’m so sorry for the delayed response! I have a brutal schedule this semester, so I haven’t been checking in on this thread super often!
It is definitely possible to transfer from the exploratory program into Park, I know a lot of people that have done so! For an internal transfer like that, GPA is the primary consideration, so be sure to keep your grades up! Taking a few Park classes if at all possible wouldn’t hurt either. What major are you looking into?
@jpm1234 There is no formal language requirement as part of the ICC (Integrative Core Curriculum). One of the themes does have a few language classes you can choose to take to fulfill the perspectives section, but no theme actually requires it. Some majors and minors do have a language requirement, though, and a lot of the majors will encourage you to take the classes as electives even if they’re not required for graduation.
I know that Ithaca is a very musical school and they put a lot of focus into that area of the school. I’m coming in as a business major so as a person who’s major is outside of the musical area do you ever feel out of place at Ithaca?
@senior87 Absolutely not! While the music program is taken very seriously (we actually got our start as a conservatory on the Commons!), most people at Ithaca College are not music majors. All of the individual colleges under the IC umbrella are pretty closely knit, and IC as a whole is pretty closely knit, so I’ve never felt out of place.
I know the business school in particular puts on a lot of social programming and networking events for students and faculty/staff, and that is something I’d definitely recommend you involve yourself in because it helps with gaining that feeling of belonging and can come in handy later when it is internship/job search time. Clubs are also a great way to kind of figure out where you belong and gain that sense of community.
@gorgesbee Are you still checking this thread? My D was accepted (yay!) but is still waiting to hear from her other schools. I am wondering what the geographic diversity is like on campus. We are from the southeast and while she loves the school, she doesn’t want to feel like the only kid from far away.
@Acersaccharum Hi! Congratulations to your daughter on getting accepting here - and good luck to her with her other schools! I have a sibling going through the college admissions process right now, and I had kinda forgotten how brutal they can get!
There are definitely some states that have larger contingents than others here on campus. A lot of people are from New Jersey, Massachusetts, or somewhere in New York City. That being said, I know more than one person from California and a handful of people from Texas, as well as a lot of some international students. She definitely won’t be the only person from far away, so she doesn’t have to worry about that!
Also, for what it’s worth, I’ve noticed that as school goes on and you start to love it here, people start to talk less about where they’re from and more about where they dream of going. It can be nice to have a group of people from home at first as a security blanket, but I personally think that feels less important to me now as I’ve grown in my identity as an Ithaca College student - and I was someone that really struggled with homesickness at first!
Let me know if you have any other questions/need clarification. I do this thing sometimes where I write a lot of words without actually answering the question, so call me out if I just did that to you!
@Acersaccharum Oh yeah most people aren’t from around here so she’ll be just fine.
The timing of the deposit doesn’t matter. We have a lottery system for housing, so numbers that determine your selection date/time are randomly assigned some time during the summer. She’ll get to pick her own building/room; the college doesn’t assign it - so tell her to pay attention to which dorms she likes best if/when you visit again!
@Music2023 Hi! It’s definitely possible for freshmen to live in single rooms - one of my closest friends lived in a single last year! I’m not sure how many singles there are in the freshmen buildings, though, so it may be a little hard depending on how the lottery goes for you, but I think you’ll be fine. My friend with the single last year actually moved in to the single midway through the semester, so you’ll probably be fine.
When do they start notifying students if they qualified for the Leadership Scholarship? How long after applying might we hear? I know it’s on a rolling admission basis. My daughter applied earlier this month. She’s very interested so we have our fingers crossed. And, the same question for the Honors program. She was invited to apply. I know it’s also on a rolling admission basis. I am wondering how quickly it fills up, and how quickly they notify people. Thanks for any insight you may be able to give!
Can anyone here talk about what there is to do during the weekends and what it is like being in Ithaca? My son was accepted into the film department and I think he has reservations because he will be so far away from home and feels like he won’t have anything to do. He also remarked that the students at another school he was accepted to (but less of a known film program) seemed happier. I loved Ithaca’s programs (and school) and actually believe it is a better fit for him (including financially). Thoughts? I need some help “guiding” him to the right decision.
That being said, I personally found I had not so much free time to roam and often didn’t go past Collegetown (the area adjacent to CU). She’s in love with the city of Boston, and I’m trying to make her understand that there’s not as much time as she thinks for adventuring.
@Sarden - Thanks for the info. A lot of that is the same info we heard when we visited. My son’s other school is in Philly and he is waiting to hear from schools in Boston as well. I too, am trying to convince my child that you typically stay within the confines of the school and the area. I think Boston is a great college town but how often will he really get to go out and about. As long as you are involved (and he will be) in clubs and activities there shouldn’t be much downtime.
@BobMahloonga Is your son on Instagram? The Ithaca page is often given over to a student for the day and you can ask questions there. Also, the IC peers is way to connect with other incoming freshmen who might know more about the area. My D is heading there this fall and will be on a team sport that will keep her busy, but I think there are tons of clubs. D is very outdoorsy and looking forward to living in such a beautiful place for those kinds of activities.
My son is going to Ithaca!!! I am so happy and excited for him. Now that we have that part completed, does anyone have any insight into the tuition payment process and comments about the freshman dorms and how to pick a roommate? He is unable to go to the admitted student days because of prior engagement.
Congrats! My D is going too! Is your S your first to go to college? Not our first time at the rodeo. Our strategy is to pay as late as possible, which I imagine is in early August
We are going back next weekend specifically to get a look at the various dorms - I’m told there will be rooms to view where they can get current residents to volunteer.
My daughter claims Facebook is for old people, like me, but I have heard there is a group there for Ithaca Class of 2023 and that students sometimes find roommates that way.
There is a very active and friendly parent’s group for IC on Facebook called “Ithaca College Parents” .
@Sarden - Thank you for the info and congrats to your daughter! What will she be majoring in? When I spoke to Ithaca they told me that they will send me an invoice in July and it is due in August.
I was told the same thing by my son concerning Facebook. Once my son tells the rest of my family, I will join the Facebook group. I’ll be anxious to hear, if you don’t mind sharing, you and your daughters take on the dorms. We are unfortunately unable to make it to admitted student day.
She’s admitted to Writing, which has been her passion, but is intrigued by Exploratory.
On the tour they only show the one “example” room in The Terraces (I think?) Next weekend I was told that they try to have student volunteers show their room in the various rooms. If we get to see any, I will post our thoughts.
When I received my sons financial package they listed room & board as $15,856.00, yet when I looked on Ithaca’s website, I have no idea how they got to that number. Also, which meal plan do you think a freshman needs (10 meal plan, 14 or Carte Blanche)?
