Cornell College opinions?

Parents Forum
1

<p>I grew up near this school. I actually lived in Mt Vernon for a while as a child. My son loves the one-course-at-a-time idea. So, Cornell College and Colorado College were tops on his list. However, recently, Colorado College got thrown off his list. This was by complete agreement of all of us (even my daughter who is also looking at school). That leaves just Cornell College for the one-course-at-a-time program. (I know there might be others, but he is a computer science major, which not all schools have).</p>

<p>I am concerned because as a teen, I hated living in Mt. Vernon. It was a gorgeous town, a lot of nice people. And in my opinion, the teachers at the high school are the best ever. But the lack of even a Target or otherwise, anyplace at all to go, bothered me. I understand that even the Pizza Hut is gone now.</p>

<p>But I am kind of guessing that being a college student there might be very different from being a college student. I was new to the town, where as everyone had grown up together. A college student would be in with a whole bunch of people who are all new to the school, or just there four years. </p>

<p>We are thinking of making a trip back there (and an old friend is having a baby soon so we get to meet the little one). But honestly, I am wondering if it is even worth looking at. It is going to cost money to make the trip. It is in the middle of no where so it is better driven to. There are not really any other colleges in the area to look at so it would be out of the way. I should add, my son has grown up in a major metropolitan area in the south his whole life. I am guessing a visit in the middle of the summer won't describe the winters. Plus, it might feel way more isolated anyway with no students there.</p>

<p>On the other hand...my son has no clue of how different life is for so many people. When I mention things about how life was back where I grew up, he has a habit of acting like he is humoring me and telling me it was the times. No...there still is no Target there. He is not going to be given a car for college so he cannot just pop in to Cedar Rapids when he is feeling restless. That sort of thing. Maybe the completely different culture and life experience would do him some good.</p>

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<p>Iowa can be a culture shock. And, no, you probably can’t prepare him for the weather – cold, windy, and fast moving systems of slick snow. Yeah, I wouldn’t be giving him a car year one, either. That being said, there will be kids on campus who have them, so I don’t necessarily think he’ll be trapped on campus. </p>

<p>D1 is at a small college in a small city in the plains region. Although a lot of kids pack up and go home for the weekend, enough stay so that activities has things planned on the weekends. Even though it’s a “nothing to do” kind of town, the kids do find plenty to do. In that respect, you’re right that his college experience will be very different than your high school experience was. </p>

<p>The one class at a time approach is pretty unique. If that’s what your S wants educationally, he may be willing to adapt to an Iowa way of life.</p>

3

<p>I graduated from Cornell College eons ago and didn’t have a car with me. They at least used to offer bus transportation to CR and IC on Saturdays, you may want to check out whether or not they still do.</p>

<p>There were lots of kids with cars and there was usually someone available to go on a Perkins run or to the nearby state park.</p>

<p>It would be a culture shock for someone like your son. I grew up in Iowa, so I understood the weather and not being able to get to Target or WalMart in 5 minutes. It could be used as part of your students learning. </p>

<p>There used to be lots of small businesses, including a bar that sold pizza, within walking distance of the college. I bet there still are businesses there that cater to the students. </p>

<p>There are several colleges (Coe/ U of IA, etc) in the Cedar Rapids/Iowa City area to look at if your son is willing to look at them and they have the major he is interested in. It doesn’t have to be a Cornell or nothing trip.</p>

<p>You will have to weigh how important the OCAAT is compared to the very different lifestyle shock.</p>

4

<p>I’m a 2012 HS graduate who considered, applied to, was accepted to, and then decided not to attend Cornell College.</p>

<p>Like your son, I was intrigued by the OCAAT schedule. This plan allows for a variety of unique class experiences-- environmental science classes being held on the Boundary Waters or a theatre class traveling to London. Obviously, these classes do have additional costs attached though.</p>

<p>From my experience with Cornell, the admissions staff was extremely warm and helpful. In early March, I decided to visit campus to help make my final college decision. I’m a Wisconsinite, so the Iowa weather didn’t phase me. It was actually quite nice out the day I was there. I also met a number of nice (typical friendly Midwestern) students.</p>

<p>And now, for the reasons that I decided not to attend Cornell:</p>

<p>1) I was quite unimpressed with the education course they had me sit in on. Take this with a grain of salt as your son’s experience could be different; however, I would think they’d want to have me visiting one of their ‘better’ classes. The class I sat in on had about 25% of the students show up late to class, and the professor wasn’t particularly engaging.</p>

<p>2) I wanted a college experience where I could not only receive an excellent education, but also an opportunity to grow intellectually, culturally, etc. While Mount Vernon has a nice little downtown, there was no way the surrounding area offered the same variety of opportunities for out-of-the-classroom learning as the college I ended up deciding on, Macalester College, offered with the Twin Cities.</p>

<p>3) This last reason has a lot to do with #2. On my visit, which by the way was on a Tuesday, I ran in to a number of students ‘partying.’ I figure if they’re doing this on a Tuesday, I don’t want to see what it’s like on the weekend. I think this is largely attributed to the there’s-nothing-else-to-do factor.</p>

<p>Those are my thoughts. Please don’t write off Cornell just because I did. Perhaps your son would like the school for the very reasons I disliked aspects of the school. IMHO, I wouldn’t visit during the summer. It’s best to wait until the fall so your son can see if he’d be a ‘fit’ with the student body. If you will be in the area, I’d also recommend at least giving a thought to visiting Grinnell College (Grinnell, IA), Carleton College (Northfield, MN), St. Olaf College (Northfield, MN), and my favorite, Macalester College (St. Paul, MN).</p>

<p>Good luck to you and your son on the college application and decision process!</p>

5

<p>He is a legacy for Carleton, but I do not feel he is driven enough for that school. I have two college bound at about the same time and the other one is planning to apply to Carleton. The partying thing is what I hated about living in that town, but kind of wondered if it was just the high school…typical small town stuff, or if it was the whole town sort of thing. Basically, I mostly lived in CR growing up. Drinking and such was present in the high school, but I never ever saw it nor did I ever feel pressured to participate. But, in MV, I was made fun of and excluded for not drinking. Most of the kids (probably 99%) drank heavily and drove while drunk. They had a statue up at the high school as a memorial to several students who had died a couple years earlier in a drunk driving accident. As wonderful the staff at the high school was, and the education was top notch, the social environment was unbearable.</p>