Guarantee housing should not be a consideration into your decision to attend Cornell. If you are concerned about off campus housing, there are the Program houses that I believe will allow Upper Class to live and you can always consider becoming an RA. Good luck with your decision.
@CT1417 how do you get the housing allowance? Just wondering how the process works as my son will be doing off campus housing for his junior and senior year
@CALSmom – I was referencing Cornell’s Cost of Attendance allowance, that I believe is used in calculating financial aid.
I am using this figure for the purpose of reimbursement via a 529 plan. I do not actually know how Cornell handles FA. Sorry I cannot be of more help. You may want to call the FA office once the dust settles on new admits, as your son will need to sign a lease early fall. I was taken aback at how much the cycle has accelerated since I was there. Students start signing leases shortly after returning to campus, so you might want to know the $$ parameters.
@CT1417 ok thanks. Yes I know about the early lease signing! My son was asked to live in house for his sophomore year…the guys signed the lease last October for this summer.so I know we need to get prepared rather quickly with housing for his junior year. I will contact FAO as he receives a good chunk of aid.
I would not let housing be the deciding factor.
Collegetown was a much more desirable location for many students to live than the dorms, when I was there a long time ago. I understand this is still the case and it has gotten more expensive as developers have been willing to invest in expensive apartment buildings. There are rich kids at Cornell who can afford the prices without blinking an eye.
Nice to hear there are still cheaper options.
Living in a dorm as a freshman is great. Living in a dorm as a senior and following all the dorms rules is less than great. (imo) It is not for everyone, but Greek life and living in a Greek house for a year or two can be a positive experience for many.
The weather will take getting used to. My advice for people moving from warmer climates to the Northeast is to learn to dress for the weather and get outside (ski, snowboard, skate, sled, hike, snowshoe - do something outdoors). I married a Californian who is also a Cornell grad and we live never left the Northeast. Skiing works for us and my wife even looks forward to winter (for about half of the season). It takes getting used to being outside, but if you just sit inside and look out the window during winter it can (will) get miserable. I understand the school offers gym classes and there are other options through Outdoor ed. A Vitamin D supplement is not a bad idea.
@bosdad yeah after talking with my mom she said she planned on helping me pay for an off campus apartment anyway my junior yr (not sure how she planned on doing that lol but looks like financial aid will cover it)
Thank you for the tips for adjusting to the weather. I’m an indoors person (mostly because I need a car to get anywhere where i live), but I was looking forward to getting out more in college.
@3rdsontocollege
Thanks. Yeah i was looking into those, the language house in particular. Do you happen to know how hard it is to be accepted into one of those? I’ve found some pages on it and the application process but not any personal experiences.
My s is going to spend his 3rd year in program housing.
He loves the group living and convenience of being on campus.
Cornell on campus housing is spectacular.
That said, Ithaca seems like a nice place to live, so if you live off campus, will be fine too.
Cost is the biggest factor. Not only expensive on campus like most colleges, but there is a housing shortage making off campus more expensive than many college towns in the region. There is a building boom that may eventually alleviate the situation somewhat, not sure how soon.
@cthulhi The housing customs should not have any effect on your decision. Remember, everyone is in the same boat! You’ll have friends and you’ll all work it out together. You will learn the ropes soon enough. You also have to get comfortable with the fact that there will be many unknowns when you start out. Not everything is knowable before you start. It’s smart to ask questions, but you’ll be able to wrap you head around it after you arrive and begin to live and breathe Cornell.
As said above, there are many options. My son lived in a single in Risley all four years. The program houses are an option for four years. Students do have to apply and some have activity requirements to remain housed there. My son loved Risley. It was very social and he still had his own room. It also has a dining hall in the building for M-F lunch and dinner, so that was convenient. Concern about housing should not be a reason to miss out on Cornell!
@cthulhi https://living.sas.cornell.edu/live/wheretolive/programhouses/
Each house has a resident director. Based on the house you are interested in, you should reach out and ask directly rather then rely on information you may get on College Confidential… I do believe every house has different expectations of its residents. Good luck with your decisions.
@CALSmom The FA package will include housing allowance. Based on the amount of aid he receives, it will come off the amount that is owed to the school first. (Tuition, and fees). If the amount of his aid and loans is greater then the tuition and fees he will get a check in August for the difference to cover other expenses.
Yes, I can see why one might not want to listen to a parent saying that her child enjoyed living in a program house. Best to ask the directors of those houses instead. CC exists for the purpose of information and perspective sharing. No reason to dismiss mine. The program houses are, in fact, the only Cornell housing where a student can live for four years. Some of those programs have implemented requirements that residents take an active role, so that rooms won’t be wasted on students who are not involved. It wasn’t always the case in Risley; it’s a recent rule. It may not be the case in every program house. Feel free to investigate any housing of interest to you, as you should.