<p>is it true that transfers have really tough time adjusting to cornell? (academically) i heard tht it's so much more work than state schools. also, if you are an incoming transfer this fall semester, is it possible for me to sign up for the new dorm?</p>
<p>something a little of topic here, but at cornell can you apply to more than one school. For example applying to the engineering school and the college of agriculture and life sciences. Also if you can, will it hurt your chances of getting accepted by one of the schools if you apply to more than one</p>
<p>From wat I've seen transfers do better b/c they come knowin they have to do a ton more work whereas freshman think they can keep doin wat they do.</p>
<p>transfers have a very close knit community which was aided by the presence of the Transfer Center (torn down in 2007). I know it played a major factor in my adjustment here and made it 110% better. Transfers adjust well because we know how to study/manage time and have a life.</p>
<p>1) **** Enjoy Cornell's nice weather while you can, believe me, I regret complaining about the heat every day now. ****</p>
<p>2) Just go to class. I skipped physics quite a bit, because I found the lecture unhelpful...and needless to say, he put stuff on the first prelim that was only said in lecture. Its hard, because in engineering...its like no one takes attendence, and sleep is amazing, but overall, try to go to class as often as you can.</p>
<p>3) For the first couple of weeks, leave your door open and be friendly with the people on hall, even if you don't have much in common with them. </p>
<p>4) A very important factor is sleep. If you party on the weekends, that's fine, but during the week, try to do you work when you get out of class, so you can sleep at night. I mean, I still don't do this, but if I did, I'd be a lot happier, and probably do better</p>
<p>5) put nothing off...</p>
<p>6) So, if you're in Math 191 or 192, you will discover that all of the answers are available online. This is a very, very easy way to get behind. If you wait to do your HW in those classes until the last minute, you will use the answer key, and then never look at the information again until prelim time. This is a very bad thing to do...believe me.</p>
<p>7) enjoy Cornell! Socialize, eat, sleep, take a trip to the city one weekend. </p>
<p>about the roommates: I got a random roommate, and it has worked out really well. I think if I had requested a specific one, I would have been with someone I'm too good of friends with or something, and then we would have ended up hating one another pretty fast. I think the key is to not be that good of friends, honestly. If you are too close, then you spend too much time together. The only roommate problems I have seen have arisen because of that.</p>
<p>"6) So, if you're in Math 191 or 192, you will discover that all of the answers are available online. This is a very, very easy way to get behind. If you wait to do your HW in those classes until the last minute, you will use the answer key, and then never look at the information again until prelim time. This is a very bad thing to do...believe me."</p>
<p>Math 192 and 293 may be changing to the newest version of their respective textbook so answer keys probably will no longer be usable.</p>
<p>well that will be good for people actually doing the work.</p>
<ol>
<li><p>Go to class. If you do happen to miss, get the notes from someone (who preferable takes good notes) or get TakeNote. In my experience so far, if you sit back and look at the lectures you can guess what the prelim questions are going to be on or at least areas of focus.</p></li>
<li><p>From an engineer: Work in groups. Trying to do you homework alone is hard, frustrating, and takes a long time. Find some people who work similarly to you (talking out loud vs. just checking answers, late-night vs. early morning, etc.). It gives you the opportunity to ask questions and have them to explain them to you without worrying about if the professor thinks that you are stupid for asking such a question. Also, it gives you the opportunity to socialize and be productive!</p></li>
<li><p>Do your own work. Now I know I said work in groups, but while working in a group, you need to understand how and why you are doing everything. You should be able to look over the homework again knowing where and why you got everything and answer questions about it. Schoolwork from other students who have taken the course before or solutions from online are helpful if you have to turn in the homework, but will screw you over come prelim time when you don't have the answers. Try not to just copy- if you're under a time crunch, try to understand and write at the same time...</p></li>
<li><p>Go to office hours. Even if your TA doesn't really speak English or the professor doesn't make any sense, there will most likely be tons of other students there and you can figure things out together. I've found taht most students will help you out if they know the answer as long as they aren't under too much stress at the time.</p></li>
<li><p>Find the right course load. The curriculum might say that you should take 19 credits next semester, but 5 classes is a lot sometimes. If you can only handle 4 classes, then arrange things so that you can take that many. Push one or two off until summer school (Ithaca summer = AMAZING!!! and the classes are easier too!). You will do much better in each class and be a lottt happier. Trust me.</p></li>
<li><p>Take breaks. Go out on a Friday/Saturday night or watch a movie during the week if you can. You will be a lot happier and much more productive when it comes time to work again.</p></li>
<li><p>Sleep. Anything under 4 hours is only a nap. Sleeping at night in your bed and not at your desk in class will benefit you in the long run.</p></li>
<li><p>Get involved. Join a group that you are interested in. You'll make more friends and have non-homework things to do... aka keep you sane!!</p></li>
<li><p>Don't take things too seriously. If you bomb a prelim, its ok- it happens to everyone and you'll still probably pass the class. If your GPA isn't a 4.0 like it was in high school, its ok- GPA doesn't matter in the real world, the Cornell degree does.</p></li>
<li><p>Remember that you are in college for the life experience- the academics are only one part of that.</p></li>
</ol>
<p>Alright, I think the biggest key to success is not stressing yourself out about school. Enjoy your time and you will learn on your own. Don't worry about every test, just learn the material over the course of the semester and make a point of it, then you won't have to cram before your test.</p>
<p>Also, do go to classes for the first few weeks, but if you don't find them helpful, do work on your own, because you know how you learn. Additionally, use services like Take Note if need be, or if you're gone a lot for extracurriclars, go to office hours, TAs and Profs are generally very helpful. Make friends with your TAs that will help as well.</p>
<p>Most importantly, enjoy your time at Cornell. It is probably one of the best experiences of my life, because the memories your create will be with you for the rest of your life. Econ 101 can be taken over and over again if you want. :)</p>
<p>i didnt want to read all but the first post, but after first year for me, cornell hugely lost its wonder or awe or whatever i had before i came and spent first year here.</p>
<p>its just a school, just because its a new environment it seems radically different. just stay on top of things like you've probably done all your life, meet new people have fun...and try to remember to always be open to new ppl, not just during o week (ive seen so many ppl get into clique's) very quickly after rush week, sad really... its like that whole "ill meet everyone hang out with everyone say hello to all spirit" goes away which is a shame</p>
<p>but yeah just work hard, have fun when u can</p>
<p>"9. Don't take things too seriously. If you bomb a prelim, its ok- it happens to everyone and you'll still probably pass the class. If your GPA isn't a 4.0 like it was in high school, its ok- GPA doesn't matter in the real world, the Cornell degree does.</p>
<ol>
<li>Remember that you are in college for the life experience- the academics are only one part of that."</li>
</ol>
<p>-- I am not sure if both of these statements are held entirely true for pre-meds and pre-MD/PhD students.</p>
<h1>10 is true, regardless of your major or career path.</h1>
<p>Most pre-meds I know all had awesome social lives...the ones who didn't were the ones who were not accepted</p>
<p>ironic...huh?</p>
<p>as a student who was put on leave for failing courses i'll let you know that if you suffered from senioritis or think you're suffering it now...</p>
<p>take a reasonable course load (12 isnt too little if you're apprehensive for the cornell life)...shoot for a reasonable GPA...and shoot for a higher one your 2nd semester...</p>
<p>party when you can, yeah sometimes you'll miss out but it's better to get things done early than having to do them sunday night...</p>
<p>social life is different for everyone at cornell...going to the frats is the most popular among freshman but it doesnt have to be the only form of social activity...</p>
<p>studying bio with another person who stayed in might be just as much fun and more rewarding come prelim time...</p>
<p>communication is key...get with your professors/TAs if something is unclear, tutors are available if necessary (econ101 is a weedout course for some)...</p>
<p>theres so much advice to give, but the best one is to enjoy your freshman fall semester and figure out what you can improve on for your freshman spring semester and beyond!</p>
<p>"-- I am not sure if both of these statements are held entirely true for pre-meds and pre-MD/PhD students."</p>
<p>In regards to 9, I specified "the real world" not med school :-P</p>
<p>^ your ID reminds me of fox on the logo of firefox! hehe</p>
<p>Don't go to classes until 1 pm.
Study if time allows you to.
Pick up girls/guys.
Go to CTB at 12:30am and have a drink with a large group of friends.
Play soccer in central campus at 2am.
Go to bed only when you can barely still stand.</p>
<p>In other words, do everything a normal Cornell kid would never do :)</p>
<p>Don't skip class. Just don't ever do it. Freshman year, I didn't miss one class except for like once when I was sick. But sophomore year, I hated my Anthro class and so I started not going....Bad Idea. It becomes addicting. You start out saying "Well I'll just skip today and go on thursday." then you find an excuse for not going on Thursday. Seriously. Even if your prof. posts notes/slides online, It is not the same. Trust me. </p>
<p>Shut your computer off when you are in your room doing homework. I wasted hours online when I should have been studying. that becomes addicting too.</p>
<p>Start studying early for exams. Really. I almost always procrastinated, esp. sophomore year. when you start early, you have much more confidence.</p>
<p>One good addiction at Cornell = Apple Cider. Its so freaking good. I go into withdrawal over the summer. I miss you applecider.</p>
<p>i agree about the apple cider - if you get sick, just drink the hot apple cider that you can get at a place like libe cafe in olin library - it will really make you feel much better</p>
<p>ah man. And the <em>caramel</em> apple cider is just overkill. Nothing can go wrong when you have a caramel apple cider from Libe or Uris.</p>