CAS Questions: Distribution requirements, social life, workload

Colleges and Universities A-Z Cornell University
1

<p>My child has been accepted to Cornell's CAS, but has heard all kinds of things and read all kinds of things, so I'm hoping some Cornell students can provide me with some real feedback:</p>

<p>1) The degree requirements of Physical and Biological Sciences, and Mathematics and Quantitative Reasoning: my child has no plans to major in either of these areas, yet one has to take 4 courses in these areas. Just how daunting or difficult are these classes?</p>

<p>2) Overall, just how heavy IS the workload? Do you have time to have a life or does it lean toward the eggheadiness of University of Chicago?</p>

<p>3) Would love to hear about the social life there and how much goes on campus, off campus and in Ithaca.</p>

<p>Thank you.</p>

2

<p>1) They have some very easy courses that are not even real math / science courses that qualify for this. Also, you can take them pass-fail. So, depending on how you pick the courses you can do as much or as little work as you want to to satisfy this requirement.</p>

<p>2) Depends on the subject. Outside of science/engineering/math, you definitely have time to ace your classes, have a life, be involved on campus, and get a lot of sleep. Even in science/eng/math (although it sounds like your child is not majoring in this) you can do this if you work efficiently.</p>