I just got accepted into the college of engineering at Cornell and wanted some feedback on the difficulty of the college. I was never a science or math genius, and i guess i was above average in both. I want to know if anyone can give me advice or feedback on their experiences at that school and whether the working environment there is manageable, abeit being rigorous.
@themunster1 did you receive a likely letter?
Sorry if i didnt clarify but i got accepted early decision.
There’s a similar thread on /r/cornell
Also, if you look around you can find the median grade reports for 2010 fa and sp, to give you an idea grade wise.
The degree of difficulty depends on what expectations you have for your GPA. If you want to have a 4.0 GPA, that will take a lot of work and dedication. If you’re happy with a 3.0 average you will have a lot more time for other activities and free time in general. Regardless, you will need to have some serious “like” if not “love” for math and science (particularly physics).
My daughter is a junior Chem E major. First two years were very heavy on math, physics, and chem - a lot of problem sets. The profs aren’t concerned with overall student workload. Some weeks she was buried with a lot of work and barely had time to keep pace. She was excellent with math in HS and finally found challenges in year 2 (multivariable calc from what I recall). The other key is attending office hours so you can work with the grad TA’s. You won’t be able to complete the assignments on your own due to level of difficulty - attending office hours is absolutely critical so plan for it in your schedule after lecture is done for the day and you’ve hit the dining hall. Some OH’s go to midnight and beyond with early wake-up for class. Prelims are generally scored on a curve. A 50/100 might be a ‘B’ depending on you score in relation to the rest of the class. The good news is you will have opportunities early on to do research if you apply yourself. Internships are competitive but a lot of companies come to campus to recruit from the eng. school. My D is going back to a global heath care org next summer and hopes to receive a FT offer or head to grad school. Maintain focus, balance with some fun activities as you have time, and be confident. Just be ready to work hard. Good luck to you. You’re accepted which means you’re a good student - don’t be over confident or intimidated.
thanks for the advice! I will certainly keep them in mind