<p>So I visited Cornell today and it was amazing. It was great weather and everything was green and colorful. The students weren't trapped in classes and Ithaca was buzzing. I got a great vibe. The students weren't weird or nerdy (no offense? lol) and it seemed like a good place. They made a big university that isn't "ugh it's big" but wow it's big but still a great place to be. I can't wait until I go! (fyi: I'm an ILR GT).</p>
<p>i visited last month and felt the same way!</p>
<p>To any fresh visitors:</p>
<p>If you had to choose,
[ul][<em>]What did you like the LEAST?
[</em>]What did you like the MOST?
[<em>]What really surprised you?
[</em>]If you were a kitchen utensil, what material would you be made of?[/ul]</p>
<p>(ok, so I am not too interested in that last question) :p</p>
<p>Least - hard to give just one answer here, toss up between the huge campus that necessitates the bus system on campus and the competitive atmosphere </p>
<p>Most - food</p>
<p>Most surprising - transcripts which are supposed to show the class median grade and the number of students in a class (this is from the Cornell website)</p>
<p>@snajean: So on your visit you could sense the competitiveness of the students? Was it during mid-terms or some other stress-inducing time ;) ?</p>
<p>Also, I didn't understand your comment about the transcripts... are these public transcripts? Are they 'supposed' to show, but they don't?</p>
<p>leobag</p>
<p>Yes, we felt a palpable sense of tension at Cornell, the only college that came close to that was Carnegie Mellon. I have never been on any campus tours during finals or midterms, although I have toured 2 campuses on their first day of classes- not planned by the way.</p>
<p>If you go on the Cornell website for the registrar's office, you can review previous semester median grades and number of student per class. In addition, somone from the cc chat room gave me a link, from the Cornell Registrar's webpage titled - About medain grades. It descibed the reasoning for the transcripts to show median grades, etc.</p>
<p>Snajean, can you give specific examples of what made you feel the way you did about Cornell and Carnegie Mellon? And are you saying that your tour wasn't during mid-semester exams? </p>
<p>My impression is that Cornell, with its large student body, has all types of kids, including those who study all of the time and worry about grades and those who study but still have time to enjoy all of the social and extracurricular activities Cornell offers.</p>
<p>On your actual transcript, with your grades, will be the median grade of the entire class. In certain classes, such as intro bio and chem, these grades are C+ or B- and help make your actual grade look better in comparison.</p>
<p>Odyssey,</p>
<p>I saw Cornell on its first day of classes, twice in the summer of '04 and again during one of Cornell Life Days for admitted students on April 13th. I saw Carnegie Mellon in March of 2005, but I have also toured it in the summer as well.</p>
<p>Aren't you a parent of a Cornell student or alum? If you have never heard anyone speak of the tension and/or competition that I am referring to then please at least look at previous Cornell threads. Thelarson started one regarding a negative visit and there may be others as well. The Fiske guide and the college ******* also share these sentiments. It doesn't mean that Cornell is horrible, just that some people have this kind of impression. leobag asked for opinions on this thread, so I gave one. Others are welcome to respond otherwise.</p>
<p>I don't believe the first day of classes was particularly competitive, but correct me if I'm wrong, since I was there. Most of us were pretty hungover from drinking the night before to celebrate the end of orientation week. The first few weeks are not very stressful, as there are no tests. </p>
<p>Honestly, I have doubts about the competitive "vibe" you felt, especially on Cornell Days, when the weather starts to become warm, prelims are over, and you can find hundreds of people outside tanning, reading, playing frisbee and other stuff. </p>
<p>It seems like you're just trying to foster a stereotype. I walk around this campus every day and unless you're in a library, there is no feeling of competitiveness. If you're in a library, I suppose you could use the blatently academic setting to create an impression of competitiveness. If you still believe you felt the tension you speak of, can you please describe it? Perhaps I'm missing something. Maybe my vibe detecting skills are sub-par.</p>
<p>Yes, I am a parent. You are also, aren't you? And I have a son at Cornell. I know the stereotype is that Cornell is a cutthroat school. But from my son's experience, that is completely untrue. He does work hard and does well academically, but I am constantly amazed at how many time-consuming social and extracurricular activities he is involved with. I don't claim to be an expert about Cornell and it certainly isn't a school for everyone, but I have visited several times but haven't seen what I would call a tense atmosphere during my visits. I asked the question about your visit because I was curious to learn what specific things you observed that led you to conclude that Cornell and Carnegie Mellon have tense atmospheres.</p>
<p>Those that say that they are unable to see or notice the tension, or have children or friends that go to Cornell that report the competitiveness is exaggerated: what is their major? I think this has a lot to do with the vibe and atmosphere.</p>
<p>they should switch into ILR then</p>
<p>"they should switch into ILR then"</p>
<p>What's that mean?</p>
<p>Pros: I loved the campus, people, and food in Ithaca</p>
<p>Cons: Ithaca seems like it would get boring (but I'm from a no-where town anyways). Large campus + winter = questionable lol</p>
<p>Everyone says that median grades are listed on your transcript. This is an official Cornell transcript from the registrar. Nowhere on it are the median grades listed:</p>
<p>The median grades can be found online but they are not on the transcript. In fact, your GPA isn't even on it.</p>
<p>As for the person who felt the "competitive atmosphere" of Cornell, can you give some examples? Unless you go to the library on the night before the orgo final, I'm not really sure how you can get a feel for the competitiveness of Cornell. Personally, I've found everyone to be very helpful...and I'm premed.</p>
<p>Good, a school where premed's don't have to be seen in that stupid negative competative light.</p>
<p>Christ. those grades are on fire. Is this typical of all you cornell folk? ;)</p>
<p>yea, holy crow...its bit interesting this person was "sub-par" in any class with the word organic in it ;)</p>
<p>i'm going up to visit Cornell tomorrow and friday and i'm pretty stoked. :-)
just thought i'd share.
(i'm a transfer trying to decide whether or not to attend)</p>
<p>Just keep in mind everyone'll probably be uber stressed because tomorrow is the first day of finals.</p>