Biology and Research Program

Colleges and Universities A-Z Cornell University
1

<p>Hello,</p>

<p>I was admitted to Cornell Arts and Science through early decision. So I had been a very happy 2016 Cornell student, until I found these "issues."</p>

<p>Before I apply to Cornell in ED, I had no clue what I wanted to study, and the reason I chose Cornell was because of its prestige on particularly the "diversity" of the studying.</p>

<p>But, now I'm leaning toward studying and majoring in Biology or related field as a preparation for Medical school, I started to realize that I might have made a rash decision in ED.</p>

<p>For example, University of Pennsylvania Arts and Sciences provides such a large breadth of major choices under Biology department, including Biophysics, Biochemistry, Neurobiology, whereas I could only see "Biological science."</p>

<p>In addition, I've been doing some research on what kinds of undergraduate research program Cornell does provide. But, frankly, I'm very disappointed by, at least, what I read on the Internet website. Majoring in Neuroscience (which, sadly, Cornell does not have) Duke University, for example, provides you an awesome opportunity of research programs, very comprehensively explained on website. There is even a separate section of "undergraduate research program" in both UPenn and Duke, making sure Undergraduate students from Arts and Science. But Cornell provides very limited information on its website. And, as a student who haven't studied or visited Cornell, I can only perceive that Cornell actually does not have enough research opportunities for undergraduate.</p>

<p>Please help me out. Is it just a website? Or is Cornell originally weak in its Biological programs? </p>

<p>I really want to be excited to study in Cornell, and especially when my surrounding people degrade Cornell as a worst ivy league, I do want to remind myself of certain strengths of Cornell.</p>

2

<p>do not worry in the least. I think that you have somehow come to have an inaccurate picture of biological sciences at Cornell, but fortunately you are overlooking a lot of information.</p>

<p>first of all, you should familiarize yourself with the office of undergraduate biology’s website:
[Home[/url</a>]
if you look under the research tab you can see that there are plenty of resources for this, including for-credit research in professors’ labs on campus and other opportunities. there’s a biology honors program which allows seniors to do their own independent research which culminates in an honors thesis. note: the links do not work right now because it appears that the office has just put up a brand-new website. I am sure they’ll be back online in a matter of days/weeks and you can read up before you arrive on campus.</p>

<p>also make sure to look here:
[url=&lt;a href=“Biological Sciences | CALS”&gt;Biological Sciences | CALS]Biology</a> Major Course Requirements](<a href=“Biological Sciences | CALS”>http://biology.cornell.edu/)
the way the biological sciences major works at Cornell is that you have to choose a concentration within the major. you can see them listed along the right side of this page. if you are interested in neuroscience then the obvious choice is being a biological sciences major with a concentration in Neurobiology and Behavior. as you can see if you click on that page, there are plenty of excellent courses available in that area. </p>

<p>the last tab I would direct you to is the advising tab. as you can see, there is a cadre of people for whole undergraduate biology at Cornell is actually their full-time job. there’s even a person who is entirely focused on research for undergrads!</p>

<p>if you’re swayed by anecdotes, I’m a senior bio major and I’ve been entirely satisfied with my opportunities at Cornell. if you respond with other questions I’d be glad to help you out as much as I can.</p>

3

<p>Neuroscience, etc, are all concentrations in biological sciences - they all have different requirements. You are really dim if you EDed here without knowing or even trying to find this piece of information out for yourself. It is shocking how many EDers do so little research on the school that they are interested enough to ED in.</p>

<p>“when my surrounding people degrade Cornell as a worst ivy league”

  • when they say that they mean the least selective. People tend to connect selectivity with quality of education. These people need to be reminded of schools like UChig and Johns Hopkins exist. </p>

<p>Anyways, I stress that you should never ED to a school that you do not really, really want to be in. Always, always do your research. If you can change your mind so easily and get shaken by others who know so little about this school to begin with and degrade it due to their own insecurities, you should have never EDed to this school.</p>