<p>I am interested in applying to Cornell's Arts and Sciences program. However I am someone who would like a small school environment. Is it true that the Cornell College of Arts and Sciences is set in a large university environment, but still retains the qualities of a small school? I would appreciate if someone could explain to me the relationship between the college and the university as a whole.</p>
<p>Considering A&S enrollment is about 4,000 people, making up about 1/3 of the entire undergraduate student body, I wouldn't call that a real small school environment. Moreover, you will rarely feel the actual divisions of your college - I would bet most people here feel like they are as much a part of Cornell University as they are a part of their specific college, save perhaps some of the smaller schools like Hum Ec.</p>
<p>That being said, once you get used to the sheer size of the campus and surrounding area, 12,000 people doesn't really feel all that big. Especially during freshman year, when nearly all of your friends will live in the same area of campus and will walk back and forth from class together, you will almost certainly see plenty of people you know every day.</p>
<p>I would suggest applying to Cornell and seeing what happens. If you do get in and aren't sure if the environment is right for you, that's a question answered best by a college visit. Each person has a pretty different idea of what "big" means, and sometimes it's hard to get an idea of just how a number like population translates into the feel of a campus.</p>
<p>Socially, you'll still be in a large university environment. No one just hangs out with the students in their college.</p>
<p>Academically, it depends on your major. If you major in something like bio, you'll still be in large classes. If you major in English or Spanish, you'll be in smaller classes.</p>
<p>Academically, the majors can begin to feel pretty small by your second or third year. Especially for the traditional "liberal arts" majors -- you will know all of the philosophy students or art history students, for example.</p>
<p>Socially, you can live in very small residential environments during your time at Cornell -- be that residential colleges with live-in faculty, co-ops, or the Greek system.</p>
<p>Basically Cornell is a big university made up by lots of very small social circles.</p>