<p>Any input? Especially looking for first or second hand info. D is interested in hands on education and a residential campus as well as opp for outdoor activity and IM sports scene. Thanks in advance</p>
<p>I have a friend who went there and loved it. They have the unique one-course-at-a-time program. She went on to get a PhD, FWIW.</p>
<p>Also look at Colorado College. Also on the block plan.</p>
<p>A friend's son graduated from Cornell College last May. He was the type of kid who was fairly shy, bright but relatively unfocused while in high school. He loved Cornell and flourished there. He's now self-confident and goal-oriented and in grad school.</p>
<p>I'm not sure the block scheduling would appeal to lots of people, but for those who like the idea (this young man wanted it because he thought it would help him focus) it's a great place.</p>
<p>And I second the suggestion about also looking at Colorado College. Same idea, more mountains!</p>
<p>Several people from our large HS attend Cornell and they love it! I know a young woman who is currently a senior there. She is beautiful and smart and plays a sport there. She was a top student at our competitive school and continues to do very well there. Another young woman I know who goes there was unfocused but very bright. She was a talented and gifted HS student who got poor grades in subjects she didn't care about and top grades in classes that she liked. Cornell has been wonderful for her and changed her life! The block scheduling was very appealing to both of them and they really enjoy it.</p>
<p>I have a family member who went to Colorado College. She also really liked the block scheduling and the campus culture.</p>
<p>Thanks! The block plan is appealing to my D who knows she wants hands on experiential learning. I just leared that it is a CTCL school. So ther's another plus!</p>
<p>I visited Cornell on a college trip with my niece two summers ago and was very impressed. It seems like a wonderful community, evey single kid we met was warm, enthusiastic, relaxed and excited about their school. We saw Grinnell on the same trip and Cornell came out looking more alive, positive and like a place where kids would have great student-faculty interaction. We did not have time to explore the town, but it is situated, like Whitman, right in town and there is a sense of a positive connection. In fact, the college library IS the public library (without diminishing a college library sense)--which means your big kid can go to StoryTime if they need it some week.</p>
<p>Sadly, my kid has decided that she does not want to head to Iowa--so it is not on her list. But if it weren't so close to family and in snow country, I'm sure she'd be interested...</p>
<p>mmah, that's what I like to hear. DD is stuck on a somewhat arbitrary travel radius that won't take her out of the west but she does like the block schedule idea and she loves the snow. </p>
<p>re Colorado College she really like the description but has since read some details that made it seem less desirable socially for her.</p>
<p>My daughter and I seriously considered (visited) cornell college last yr. The campus is very pretty with many of the Victorian buildings still intact and looking nice. The view from the hilltop was like looking at a VanGogh landscape of patchwork farms.</p>
<p>Many of the classes are discussion oriented in order to increase engagement of the students since each class is long (3, 4 hrs, I believe) in order to accomodate the compressed schedule of the Block plan. Engaged students, I believe, is an important factor in deciding on a college.</p>
<p>Daughter finally settled on Lawrence U in Appleton, Wi. due to the extra emphasis on music there, and her questions about the block plan (for her). LU has a trimester system which she felt was something between the traditional semester system and the block plan. She does 3 classes per term. So far (less than a week!) she really likes LU.</p>
<p>I like the Van Gogh imagery. It was spot on. D liked Cornell College and the feel. Lots of Chicagoland kids. Lots of community. Lots of "independence". For the right kid, a wonderful suggestion.</p>
<p>Inthebiz: The description of your friend's son as fairly quiet and bright describes my D. </p>
<p>idic5 She is looking for engagement so that is good to know. This summer she said that she really didn't know how she could face college if it was "boring lecture and notes" Glad your D is happy at Lawrence. </p>
<p>The idea of the friendly engaged community is also very appealing. She is an identical twin and the two of them are pretty self contained socially. Obviously it's important the worried mom that they each end up somewhere where an inclusive community is likely to take them in and make there theirs if they end up attending different schools. Does that sound like Cornell?</p>
<p>I am looking at Cornell College for my son and if anyone has any thoughts on how he would fit in and how he would do academically, I would very much appreciate it. Just tell it like it is! Everything I read says that the one class at a time is good for kids who need a narrower focus, but I need to hear the real story.</p>
<p>1- He is an athlete - makes the varsity hockey and baseball teams, but not a top player. He is not an “elitist” jock, but he hangs with that crowd.</p>
<p>2-Does well in classes he enjoys and when he likes the teacher. But tends to put all other classes lower on the priority list.</p>
<p>3-Is not a strong reader or a strong test taker. Though I think this could be overcome if he would be a better time manager and spend more time with his homework. He is B/C student and I will be thrilled if he can even pull off a 23 on his ACT test.</p>
<p>4-His political beliefs are very conservative.</p>
<p>5-Loves to hang with friends and be physically active.</p>
<p>6-So far there have been no issues with drugs/alcohol. </p>
<p>7-He is a charmer and I think he has coasted though a few rough patches in school by using his charm.</p>
<p>8-Attends a strong academic Catholic high school - though we are Lutheran.</p>
<p>So if anyone can see that my son would either succeed or fail at Cornell C, please respond. Thanks</p>
<p>Erm, if he’s a B/C student and isn’t good test taker then he isn’t statistically up to par with the rest of Cornell College’s admitted students, so he should work on improving his stats. And the school, I believe, is far from being politically conservative.</p>
<p>But either way, have fun explaining to 99% of the people you meet that you’re not from that other school called Cornell. :p</p>
<p>Kajon, look at Carthage College in Kenosha, Wisconsin, too. Luthern school so that would bring brownie points, the kids love their teams. The kids are friendly. Pretty campus right on Lake Michigan. The kids felt like how you described yours. I’ve got it on my son 3’s list of schools.</p>
<p>Ray - thanks for the honest reply - I had a feeling I would get that response. I am just so intrigued by the one class at a time concept. I sent the same question to the Admissions contact for Minnesota and have not yet received a response.</p>
<p>Mom of 3 - I just ordered some info from Carthage so thanks for the tip. The school looks great. I grew up in Duluth on the shores of Lake Superior so I know how cold those winters can be. It sure is hard to research all the options, I am just trying to do some leg work and narrow it down to about 10 schools that are acceptable to us and then let him narrow it down to his top 3.</p>
<p>One of my best friends from high school attends Cornell College as an Elementary Education major. She absolutely LOVES it there! I personally could never do the block plan because I like that “variety pack” of 5 different courses. She enjoys focusing on one course for a few weeks and then being done with it.</p>
<p>I visited Cornell College last fall. The campus is beautiful, the students are warm and friendly, and the environment is welcoming. The block plan is a defining feature, which could be good or bad depending on how you look at it, as well as depending on the potential major. It’s pretty close to Iowa City if one has a car. However, Mount Vernon itself is very tiny- the downtown section takes up about two blocks, and many essentials (grocery store, movie theater, etc.) are not available unless one has a car. Also, this isolation means that the nearest hospital is a half-hour away in Iowa City, which was a sticking point for my mother. It could be right for you, but it wasn’t right for me.</p>