<p>So I got back from visiting Cornell for a couple of days. Unfortunately, I didn't have the opportunity to room with a host, but I did get to stay at the Statler Hotel (Cornell Hotel). Here are my impressions after visiting: </p>
<p>Weather:
Sporadic! One day it rains, the next day it's sunny. The temperature was excellent--I wore t-shirts, and a light sweatshirt at night. </p>
<p>Campus:
Beautiful-- I prefer the older buildings with the stone and gothic look. The newer buildings, like the dorms, are mostly brick. I love the Arts and Sciences quad--very nice to just walk down the winding paths. Overall, the campus is extremely huge, but it is organized into smaller sections, so you don't feel overwhelmed. It is a pain to walk from North Campus all the way to Willard Straight Hall. Ugh, my legs are sore. I'm getting used to it though, cuz I'm visiting all my colleges. Construction is a little annoying, especially around the intersection right next to the chemistry building (is it called Bailey Hall? I forgot) and the gorge. </p>
<p>Food:
I was lucky enough to visit a new eating place every time I had a meal. Basically, wherever there's a large building, there's a place to eat :). My favorite place was...darn I forgot the name, hahah it's close to the RPCC building, but not actually in it (I think it starts with an A...). They have a great selection of food- pizza, breakfast, cereal, asian, french fries, hamburgers, vegetarian, vegan, etc. Oh, and the french toast is absolutely great! Bamfi's is unfortunately overrated. The food is priced for a high end restaurant, but the food was lacking in flavor (I had the shrimp scampi, and my friends had other various meals, each without much flavor or sauce), and the bread was continually served cold. Also, I wouldn't recommend putting the honey butter on anything (even though the Hotelies encouraged us...), it was pretty weird. </p>
<p>People in general:
I've read a few threads in which kids complain about how cold and unapproachable the kids are at Cornell. That wasn't the case for me at all. Everyone was very nice and helpful if you ask them questions. I love the Hotel kids, hahah--they're extremely nice, and they've got great personalities. I got some kids to show me their dorms (single, double, and even a really interesting triple). Another guy told me about JAM (the music residential hall) and how great it is. Everyone seems to be very fit and active--it's great to see students jogging and enjoying the outdoors (even though there are gyms around). </p>
<p>Classes:
I got to sit in on two classes. I thought the professors did a very good job overall. To my dismay, the prof for Biomolecular Engineering class made some statements that directly contradicted what my AP Biology told us. He also messed up on equilibrium equations for chemical inhibitors, but that was quickly pointed out and fixed. He made the calculus sections very easy to follow, and clearly connected the math back to chemical concepts. According to the students, this is the first year the class is being offered, so the curriculum is still being worked out. We had to fill out evaluation forms to give him feedback. </p>
<p>Symphony Orchestra: I received a chair as an oboist (same with Princeton!), so I sat in on a rehearsal. The orchestra kind of seemed unoranized-the sections just weren't working together in harmony. The first violins did a good job, though. The conductor's approach is very methodical and takes a more "academic" approach to learning music. He breaks down the rehearsal into group concentrated practice- strings, winds, etc. I'm wondering if the orchestra is really time consuming (they do meet like twice a week)...anybody have information on this? I guess I should've asked the kids while I was there (whoops). </p>
<p>Undergraduate Research:
Cornell stresses that it is an undergrad research university. I sat in on a CURB info session, and they basically told us that we shouldn't expect to start research until at least the end of sophomore year. A little dissapointing, I admit, but that does seem realistic. However, my impression of "typical" research is doing grunt work for professors and their projects. It's not like cleaning out beakers, but does seem very rare to spear-head your own research project. </p>
<p>Random: I got to meet John Cleese! (Monty Python and much more) He was the narrator for Peter and the Wolf performance with the Cornell Chamber Orchestra. Tickets were sold out, and the line was huge waiting for the concert to start! Mr. Cleese was very nice, and I got to take a picture with him.</p>
<p>I hear drinking is basically all you do at Cornell to "have fun." At least at the places which I visited, there wasn't any alcohol...I didn't really visit the fraternities, and I guess they make the kids put away the beer when the pre-frosh visit...</p>
<p>Anyways, that basically sums up my impressions of Cornell. I'm currently at Penn, visiting one of my Wharton friends. For me, I'm leaning towards Princeton, but I just thought I would share my impressions of Cornell.</p>