Current Cornell Student: Any Question?

Colleges and Universities A-Z Cornell University
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<p>For the question on music ensembles, there are a couple of different options. There is marching band/pep band which are student organizations and are pretty unstructured and then the wind ensembles which is an actual course with credit and can be taken for a grade (there isn't much crossover between the two). There are also the Jazz Ensembles if you are interested in that. I am only in Wind Ensemble so I don't know much about marching band and pep band, but auditions for all groups are the couple of days before classes start.
Private lessons are also available.</p>

<p>For engineering chemistry, Chem 215 is Honors chem. It does not necessarily cover the 2 semesters in one, but covers the same material at a more advanced level. Because it is an honors version, it is curved to a B+. Take this only if you are really into chemistry.<br>
They've been restructuring engineering chemistry over the past couple of years, so it might change again next year. When I took chem, it was chem 211 and really was two semesters crammed into one. Now, Chem 209 the exact same curriculum as 207 (general chem for everybody else) but goes slower and has less emphasis on labs.</p>

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<p>1) As a transfer applicant what college carries the highest acceptance rate? I am a business student but I don't might applying to College of A&S as economics major. </p>

<p>2) Does AEM require to you to complete Bio1 & Bio2 prior to sending in your transfer application. I find it a little weird that AEM is grouped with CALS.</p>

<p>3) How dominant is Greek life at Cornell?</p>

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<p>1.) I think CALS has one of the higher acceptance rates. CAS is very competitive and most of my friends who transferred to CAS had GPAs near 4.0.</p>

<p>2.) I believe you must have finished Bio1/2 before applying to CALS regardless of your intended major. If you do some searching on the site you'll see the course work you are required to have finished or being the process of completing at the time of application. This is to your advantage though, it helps you get some some CALS requirements done before you come.</p>

<p>3.) Greek life is popular. About 1/3 of Cornell students are Greek.</p>

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<p>I've been wondering about this for a while...
Why do many people sign up as hosts for events such as Cornell Days?
My friend told me it was her attempt to poison our minds before we got there =D</p>

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<p>Thanks dewdrop.</p>

<p>That's cool, are the Greek d-bags friendly to all or cliquey and exclusive like at my school? It seems that Greek would be a good option at Cornell though, make those Ivy League connections :D.</p>

<p>Yeah I figured because I saw the website requirements but I wanted to double check because Bio 1/2 being required seems sort of irrelevant to me as a business major. Nonetheless I will climb any mountain and jump any hurdle to make it to Ithaca one day!</p>

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<p>What's your current school?</p>

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<p>Also...do I need a backpack in college?
I've been living off of draw string bags during high school =D</p>

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<p>you are not required to have a backpack. >.>
the only reason i carried a backpack was to hold my english book and water bottle and pencil/pen. if you got places to hold your stuff then you don tneed a backpack. use a plastic bag if you want, or get a jacket with pockets, or dont take notes at all (which was what i did lol.....)</p>

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<p>As for the honors chem sequence, I happen to think CHEM 216 is a one of a kind class that you won't encounter anywhere else. Especially with Professor Lee teaching it. I'll admit it was hard, but I think he was easy on the grading. He just wants you to learn stuff, and not worry about the grade too much. So if you turn out not to be too stellar in the class, it wouldn't ruin your GPA.</p>

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<p>anoush65- The greek system represents 1/3 of the Cornell community so there's no way to categorize them, especially as d-bags. They are cliquey in the sense that most of their friends are within the Greek system. There are a great deal of cross house friendships though. A lot of greeks have friends outside of the greek system and many people outside of the greek system attend greek events (open parties, crush parties, formals).</p>

<p>TurtleFever- a string bag can work, depends on how many books you need on each day.</p>

<p>TurtleFever- Cornell Days is run by Cornell Ambassadors and the Red Carpet Society and other organizations. They do a great job of attracting prospective students to CU.</p>

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<p>Greek system at Cornell is probably like the Greek system anywhere else, just more pervasive. But, there are plenty of ways to have fun whether you're Greek or not.</p>

<p>
[quote]
As for the honors chem sequence, I happen to think CHEM 216 is a one of a kind class that you won't encounter anywhere else. Especially with Professor Lee teaching it. I'll admit it was hard, but I think he was easy on the grading. He just wants you to learn stuff, and not worry about the grade too much. So if you turn out not to be too stellar in the class, it wouldn't ruin your GPA.

[/quote]
</p>

<p>I feel like Chem 216 has limited utility if you're not a chem major. None of the stuff I learned in Chem 216 ever showed up on the MCAT or any of my other courses (except a little in orgo). Around 20% of the class always drops out in Chem 216.</p>

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<p>I took notes on my laptop...so I had a tote bag for that. I only used a backpack when I went to the library</p>

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<p>I'm not really planning to take the Chemistry honors sequence (not a huge chemistry fan), but the Physics sequence seems somewhat appealing to me. Can anyone comment on that?</p>

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<p>Isn't physics 101 an autotutorial course. If so, then the only way that one studies is by reading the book and doing problems. How good are the TAs? What is the key to do well-- do every problem in the book?</p>

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<p>Some ILR questions: Are there any classes/profs that you recommend for first year ILR students? Any to avoid? Do many students do internships/travel abroad? What is the atmosphere like in ILR? Any tips for success?</p>

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<p>I've been researching the humanities classes I can possibly take (engineering school), looking for interesting classes.</p>

<p>I really want that well-rounded experience, like a classical education, in the renaissance sense. So far I've looked at these possibilities:</p>

<p>SOC 3750 Classical Theory
COM L 2010 Great Books #
PHIL 2120 Modern Philosophy #
MUSIC 274(2241) Opera #
PSYCH 325(3250) Adult Psychopathology<br>
CLASS 211(2601) The Greek Experience #
CLASS 212(2620) The Roman Experience # </p>

<p>and to satisfy my curiosity for economics:
ECON 3020 Macroeconomics
ECON 3130 Intermediate Microeconomic Theory</p>

<p>a) Are these classes any good? They look extremely interesting.
b) How much extra reading are they? I'm going to have a full engineering courseload, and I want to weigh my options if, for example, for Great Books I would be reading 3-4 hours a night.
c) If I'm looking for a good film analysis class, would I be looking more at FILM 2740 Introduction to Film Analysis: Meaning and Value or
FILM 2760 Survey of American Film; does anyone have any experience with any of these classes?</p>

<p>d) On another note, I hope to major in Chemical Engineering, and I just learned today of Alpha Chi Sigma, the fraternity for Chemistry at Cornell. Does anyone have any experience with AXE? Is the rushing hardcore, any hazing (it doesn't seem to me like there would be)? I also noticed that all of the pledges this spring were '08, '09, '10, and none were '11. Is there any reason for this? I know freshmen CAN rush fraternities, but does AXE allow it?</p>

<p>Thank you all so much, you have truly provided a welcoming and enriching community for scared and excited 2012 frosh like me.</p>

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<p>how hard is it to transfer from your dorm if you have some deep gripes with your roommate? is this a pretty uncommon practice?</p>

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<p>chendrix: I love that you're looking for a Classic education... I think it's the greatest way to go. :) I've actually taken some of those classes, so I can help you out (and also suggest some others I've taken and have very much enjoyed). A big thing to remember in general about choosing classes is that within a certain field, how good your professor is matters a lot more than what the specific material is.</p>

<p>That said...</p>

<p>Greek Experience: If it's still taught by Fred Ahl, and I believe it is, TAKE IT TAKE IT TAKE IT TAKE IT TAKE IT TAKE IT TAKE IT!!!!!! (got the message?) He is SO AWESOME, as is the class. This is a perfect class for the kind of education you're looking for: it surveys Greek lit, philosophy, art, politics, history... and did I mention Ahl is the coolest person ever? He's really down-to-earth, friendly, insanely smart, funny (in that wry British way), and he gets along really well with students. The only downside: when I took it the class size was limited and I don't think any freshmen got in. But it's SO worth a try. Alternately you could also try Initiation to Greek Culture, which is ONLY open to freshmen. I took this my freshman year. You have to apply in writing to the chair of the Classics department, so it's a little competitive, but given you're competing only against fellow freshman that ups your chances a bit. Also an amazing survey of Greek civilization, but with much more of an emphasis on literary theory, close reading, etc.</p>

<p>Roman Experience: If it's still taught by Mankin... also definitely take it, though for a different reason. Mankin is a little crazy, kind of inappropriate, and totally hilarious. (That he teaches in the Classics dept. only makes it funnier...) It's also really easy, relatively speaking, and a lot of fun. Unfortunately it also fills up really fast. Having taken both Experience classes I can tell you you'll probably learn more from Greek Experience, which is both a harder and somewhat more serious class (again, this depends totally on if the profs are the same), not to mention the fact that Greek civilization was a lot more, eh, civilized than Roman... but a Mankin class is an experience not to be missed, if you can help it.</p>

<p>Great Books: Don't recommend, but I don't think it's offered for Fall '08. Depends a lot on the professor, of course, but this is just a survey course. For that reason I also advise you to avoid Intro to Comparative Lit/American Lit/European Lit/et al. The more topical, higher-level Comp Lit classes tend to be a LOT more fun (and also smaller). Recommended from a friend's experience: Com L 348: Shakespeare and Europe. Supposed to be really interesting and fun and led by a great prof. You might also be interested in a Literary Theory class; if you are check out Com L 302, taught by Jonathan Culler, who is a HUGE figure in the field (and wrote the definitive intro book).</p>

<p>Modern Philosophy: On a friend's recommendation, take it. The prof is apparently great, and the material is, of course, classic. I think it's a night class, though, so be prepared. I think it's also a spring class, though, isn't it? If you're looking for a good Philosophy class offered this fall, stay away from Phil 101 and Philosophy of Mind (which latter class I took for 3 weeks then dropped because the professor was bad) and try Ancient Philosophy or Metaphysics.</p>

<p>Classical Theory: I definitely recommend this over Soc 101, which is generally full of slackers, unorganized, and generally not worth it.</p>

<p>If you have any more questions, just ask!</p>

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<p>No Phil 101? Wouldn't you want to start with an intro course? What's wrong with it?</p>

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<p>The science classes are generally large I heard. How is the curve when it comes to them? How are the TA's (in general)? And are professors for extra help generally available?</p>

<p>Also, how is the workload and do people generally do well? Or is there a large variety in grades?</p>

<p>(sorry for all the questions..I'm just looking for a general overview and answers, nothing specific)</p>

<p>Thanks ^^</p>