CALS questions...

Colleges and Universities A-Z Cornell University
1

<p>I just found out about CALS, and it seems like a really good school for me...</p>

<p>I like environmental science and life sciences a lot, and am taking AP environmental this year (the exam was pretty easy, probably a 4-5). I've done a lot of environmental volunteer work. I also did entomology very intensely for science olympiad this year. I like that CALS has an entomology major, probably one of the few schools that does, and the only ivy (or any prestigious school) as far as i know. I'm wondering....</p>

<p>Do you have to apply to a major at CALS? Is it easy to switch?
How hard is it to transfer between colleges (to arts and sciences) if i change my mind?
Are CALS students housed in the same dorms as the other colleges' students? Is the Ag Quad near the rest of the campus?
Do CALS students mostly spend time with each other or is social life mixed between the colleges?
How many of your classes do you take in CALS and in other colleges?
What are other comparable/better environmental science, life science, and entomology schools?
Are there distribution requirements?
Do students get lost at such a big school (Cornell...)? What's your personal experience with campus life and Ithaca?
Any other interesting tidbits i should know? </p>

<p>What's CALS' acceptance rate (for different majors if that applies too...)?
I have a 99.5 average
2350 SATs
Total 8-9 APs with grades pretty evenly spread between 3s and 5s
770 Math IC and 800 Bio-M (CALS requires a math and science, right?)
Volunteer work at DEC Environmental Education camps
2 years Columbia Science Honors Program
Northwoods environmental restoration camp.
Westchester Citizens Volunteer Stream Monitoring
Science Olympiad medalist in earth science, entomology, fossil identification</p>

<p>other stuff too.. but that's my science extracurriculars...</p>

2

<p>yeah, you apply to a major and a second choice major at cals, and in general it's easy to switch. ag students live with all the other students in the same dorms. the ag quad is right next to central campus, not in some far off part of ithaca. social life at cornell happens with utter disregard for major and college. most of your classes you will take in CALS, however you could take 1-2 courses outside of CALS a semester without incurring any charges (3/year on average). don't know anything about that type of school, so i can't recommend any others. CALS has a distribution. most kids don't get lost. people won't be watching over your shoulder, but if you ask for any help you'll have more than you could ever want. if you had particular tidbits you were looking for, i'd tell you, but "any tidbits about anything" is pretty general.</p>