<p>I know that Cornell has many amazing qualities, but could any current students give me a sense for the weaknesses they see in the academic or social atmosphere, or really any faults in general about Cornell? I've applied RD to Cornell Engineering by the way. </p>
<p>Also, why did you decide to choose cornell (or cornell engineering if this applies to you) over peer institutions?</p>
<p>Its numerous distinguishing characteristics are its strengths to many, but its weaknesses to others not so attuned.</p>
<p>Most are happy to derive reflected glory from its well-known standards and reputation for academic excellence, but the flip side is that this reputation is earned and some can find it tough sledding.</p>
<p>The university’s huge academic diversity means all sorts of people are there. Some people prefer homogeneity, and to be surrounded by people who are more uniformly like them.</p>
<p>It’s large size supports its wealth of activities and programs which many welcome, but others might prefer a more intimate school, with a smaller scale.</p>
<p>As an outstanding research university it has its share of top professors and a 700+ page course catalog. But that package inevitably comes with its share of TAs and large classes, a trade-off which some people do not prefer.</p>
<p>Its setting, a bucolic, campus-focused institution in a college town, means you are in a place that is dominated by students. Many find this environment outstanding for one’s undergraduate studies. But there are others who would prefer greater access to a large urban center, despite the resulting dilution of campus life that may follow.</p>
<p>Its location in upstate New York is relatively convenient for many of its students. Many enjoy experiencing the four seasons there, but some seasons more than others; it gets its fair share of New York winters, which evidently scares some people who come from warmer climes.</p>
<p>That’s all I can think of, at the moment.</p>
<p>Nice job, monydad. I believe Cornell’s setting, a gorgeous campus located in a wonderful college town, is a distinct competitive advantage. Can’t imagine a better location to spend four college years.</p>
<p>I agree - all of the “weaknesses” I can think of are only criticisms by some people which are actually usually things I like about Cornell. I can’t think of anything that is generally agreed upon as a weakness at Cornell, except maybe the website you have to use to sign up for classes (but that’s just 2 times a year).</p>
<p>I agree-- a lot of the things that some people might criticize are things that I actually like (size, weather, location, etc). I’m a total “city person,” but I think that’s why I love living in Ithaca. I know that I won’t ever live somewhere like this for the rest of my life, and the fact that it’s so far from everything makes you extremely close to all the people here. I’ve never lived in cold weather, so while some ***** and moan about how cold it is, I actually learned to appreciate having four seasons. Shopping is really limited here, but again, that prevents me from spending money all the time.</p>
<p>I think the large class sizes are a legitimate weakness. sometimes the TAs are great, but in some departments they’re never TAing more than a semester or two, so they are just not very experienced…and some of them will just brush you off, or criticize you when you’re doing your very best and still struggling. plus, some TA office hours can get completely overrun before big assignments or exams.
(btw, I have also had some really awesome and even inspiring TAs, so I recognize that their prevalence is not necessarily a weakness.)</p>
<p>another downside to Cornell is how the housing is not guaranteed for all four years, instead it’s required for freshman year and guaranteed for senior year. I like that people have the flexibility to move off campus after freshman year, but I wish the school were more open to older students who would like to choose to stay on-campus. instead they give sophomores first pick in the housing lottery, so it’s even more difficult for a junior or senior to stay on campus. and the hold the housing lottery in March, when most of the apartment leases for the next year were signed ages ago, so those who happens to be unsuccessful in the lottery will end up in the most undesirable housing situations. I realize that juniors and seniors are 20-22 years old, and it’s time to be mature, but lots of similar schools let you put off this particular responsibility till after graduation, so I think it’s a weakness overall.</p>
<p>there’s no 24/7 library for the entire campus. I think the libraries close too early on the weekends.</p>
<p>Regarding housing, again that’s a matter of preference.</p>
<p>I learned how to cook for myself when I lived off campus, I vividly remember calling my mother and asking her how to cook a hamburger! D2 is managing her own budget, paying the rent and utilities bills. Also living more comfortably with her friends, in better accomodations. throwing house parties when they want, attending others. This is an element of “growing up” transitioning to the real world, that is very valuable. Perhaps being limited in the options for staying on campus can be viewed as a weakness, but the resulting benefits accruing from this “weakness” are a net strength, actually. IMO.</p>
<p>I might feel differently about it if students being off campus materially detracted from the school being the focal point. But collegetown, where many people live, is essentially an extension of the campus, for all intents and purposes.</p>
<p>I agree that there are benefits to living off-campus. I also like how the options at Cornell allow you to stay in a convenient location, and in a community with lots of fellow students.
my primary problems are the lack of options and the inconvenient timing of the housing lottery. I would be equally annoyed if I were at the sort of school where you can’t move off-campus till senior year, and even then you have to apply for that “privilege.” that would make the dorms a whole different environment, for one, and it wouldn’t be as easy to sublet for summer/breaks.</p>
<p>It’s uphill both ways…literally. This means that after it snows, there’s a 90% chance you’re going to fall on your face as you trudge your way up to Rockefeller for Physics or as you go back to your dorm. Also, making it up libe slope in the winter (or any other time for that matter) will do a number of your things. I think it’s a big reason why people fall asleep in class, they’re just so darn tired from all the walking. </p>
<p>This is also part of the fun of Cornell, there’s always excitement in your life, even as you’re walking to class! You can take a wrong turn and go down to the gorges, sway gently with the wind on the suspension bridge, and even dodge the buses and cars as you’re walking along College Ave. (You could always be trying to avoid pedestrians as you drive through campus between classes or right after last call in Collegetown). </p>
<p>The lack of housing options just leads to mass communes a la Stalin era Soviet Russia. Students will tend to congregate in one suite or apartment. This leads to heavy drinking, partying, and some deep conversations on the meaning of life, why one chose to attend school in Godforsaken Ithaca in the middle of winter, and why VEGF-a plays such an important role in cancer angiogenesis and tumor survival. Eventually, everyone passes out on couches, the floor, and beside the toilet. The next morning, people trudge outside back to class or to Sunday brunch at RPCC.</p>
<p>The lack of a 24/7 library I think is a good thing @faustarp. Being trapped inside of Uris at 3am on a Thursday night is bad enough, if you have to do it on a Friday or Saturday night, then it’s just depressing…I think that taking one night off a week isn’t a bad thing</p>
<p>There used to be a physical sciences library in Clark hall that was open 24/7, I see that they closed it in 2009. Perhaps something else will eventually fill the gap.</p>
<p>“It’s uphill both ways…literally.”
Well that’s a point, hard to contest that one. But, ever the optimist, consider the health benefits of all that walking !</p>
<p>at times, whiny students. They complain about everything, yet their resolution is to do little more than facebook in their dorm. And then they complain about facebook.</p>