<p>Hello everyone!</p>
<p>I'm a current Freshman in the College of Human Ecology, a Biology and Society major. I remember how hard and stressful it was while applying to colleges and trying to get clearcut information so I am willing to answer pretty much any questions you guys have (no chance questions though) about academics, social life etc. at Cornell. Plus I'm pretty bored on winter break. With one semester under my belt I hope to offer guidance! Ask away!</p>
<p>Hi! How do you think the workload is? Is it manageable, you’d say? Like, haha are you able to have a life out of schoolwork?</p>
<p>A brief outline of an average social life there (daytime and nighttime) would be great.</p>
<p>Also, what was the one thing you found most surprising once you got there?</p>
<p>What’s the worst thing you did in your first semester? Like, as in despicable, not just missing an opportunity or something.</p>
<p>What’s the social life like given Cornell’s location? Is the it mostly on campus or is there plenty to do off campus too?</p>
<p>If you could, i’d love to know what a typical weekend looks like for Cornell students</p>
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<p>Its definitely manageable if you manage your time. If you leave all your big assignments or studying for one weekend or day, yeah its going to kill you a little bit. But if you appropriately figure out what you’re going to do when, planning in time for social activities or chilling you’ll be fine! Of course this is only speaking from one semester of experience but with the classes I had it really wasn’t horrible. Yes, its more work than high school and a different type of work but it wasn’t brutal, which is something I was worried about too. Really just focus on time management.</p>
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<p>Social life probably varies depending on the person but I’ll do my best. During the day, time is pretty much taken up by classes so you socialize with your friends who you see in class or meet people for lunch or at the library. Clubs also meet in the late afternoon/early evening usually after most classes are over so thats an opportunity for socialization too. Daytime socialization probably really depends on your schedule.
Nighttime social life on the weekends pretty much involves “going out”, usually to frat parties. There are also some events put on by the school at night if frats aren’t your thing but I would say that parties/drinking dominates the weekend social life. During the weekdays, it really depends on your schedule once again but people go to dinner together, go to events hosted by the school, just hang out in the dorms etc. It really does vary depending on what you enjoy!</p>
<p>A surprising thing I found hmm…one thing would definitely be all the walking. I don’t know if you’ve visited the campus but it is HUGE and walking from north campus (where freshman live) to the academic buildings on central campus is a pain. Usually I don’t come back to north/my dorm until I’m finished with all my business on central for the day.
Another less trivial “surprising thing” really is that there are so many different majors and classes here. You’ll of course meet tons of premed students and engineers but there are bizarre majors you wouldn’t find at other schools which really makes some people unique and interesting! </p>
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<p>Haha interesting question. Probably going out to parties too much if that counts. Pretty sure that happens to a lot of freshman though.</p>
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<p>I answered a social life question above but I will address your specifics! Cornell’s location is well…very isolated. Yet, there are still some things to do. Collegetown, the little area next to Cornell, has a lot of restaurants and the Ithaca Commons downtown has food and lots of thrifty shops. The Commons also has some festivals and events that it puts on, such as Apple Fest and a Winter FestivalTheres also a small mall and a couple shopping centers including a Target and a Rite Aid you can get to from the bus system (which is free for freshman!!).
Honestly, I’ll admit that between studying and socializing on campus I really did not get off campus much first semester. This is something I hope to change next semester but if you’re looking for some good food or a little bit of shopping it is there. Just don’t expect a big city awaiting you.
Furthermore, since Cornell is such a huge school with lots and lots of students there are plenty of things to do on campus. There are always acapella concerts and charity events and other things put on by clubs to go to. Theres also a movie theater and a bowling alley and other random things to do on campus.</p>
<p>A typical weekend for me first semester pretty much involved sleeping in, studying during the day, and going out or hanging around the dorms at night. Usually going out involved going to a frat party but I’ve also been to some school events such as acapella and dance concerts, free food etc. It really is what you make it. I intend to branch out more off campus in my coming semesters but I really was content for the most part staying on campus for socializing since there is so much to do right there.</p>
<p>Overall, have you enjoyed your time so far at Cornell? Would you recommend it to prospective students? What are your favorite and least favorite things about Cornell?</p>
<p>^^^
There’s nothing ethically wrong with going to parties. You haven’t like… stolen fruit from the dining halls, or cursed someone out, or anything like that?</p>
<p>did you fly to ithaca? If so, what is the cheapest method/carrier to mail your stuff to Cornell? (cuz the 3rd checked bag costs via airlines costs $150) Thanks</p>
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<p>I have enjoyed it very much! I would recommend it, don’t think I would be doing this if I didn’t! I’m a pretty adaptable person in general and a lot of people may not have enjoyed their first semester as much, but it was pretty good for me. No, not everything is perfect though. It is a lot of work and of course theres the whole adjusting to the college lifestyle, making new friends, and living away from home. The weather is indeed pretty cold and dark, although it doesn’t bother me as much as from people from warmer and nicer climates. They definitely do not hold your hand here, and you are forced to take responsibility for doing your own work, but that may be any college.
I really like the atmosphere of work hard, play hard and the intellectual environment that comes from just being at a top school in general. The campus is beautiful, although a pain to walk, and I love looking at the waterfalls on my walks. I also love all the course options, at least with my major I have room for openings to take a lot of interesting classes, especially in Human Ecology.
Cornell is probably not for everyone. If your mood is strongly influenced by the weather you probably shouldn’t come here (although its really not terrible if you’re already from the northeast). If you want a small school then probably not either. There will probably be times when you are not happy, just because of the nature of the work. But Cornell has so many resources as long as you come out and find them. And if you find friends that you like then it will also be better of course. Honestly, I did not at all want to go to Cornell until I visited after I got in. Now, I’m very happy with my decision! </p>
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<p>Haha not really. I’ve stolen like an extra banana or 2 from the dining hall but nothing too extreme. Actually know a kid who got JAed for stealing food. </p>
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<p>I didn’t fly actually; I live close enough that I can drive! Sorry I can’t be of more help.</p>
<p>HAHA, JAed for stealing fruit? He was probably one of those people who stuffed a whole backpack full…</p>
<p>What even happens when you get JAed?</p>
<p>@BreakingGrace: I am from Southern California, so I fly to and from Cornell. To avoid paying too much for sending your stuff to Cornell, try Bed, Bath, & Beyond to get your sheets, lamp, etc. (you select the items at your local store and pay for and pick them up in Ithaca). The same goes for Walmart, Best Buy, and Target; fly in a day early to buy or pick up everything you need. Also, Parcel Post is a cheap way to send stuff from home, and if you buy stuff from Amazon, just have it shipped to your Cornell address.</p>
<p>As for getting to and from Cornell, Ithaca and Syracuse airports are your two best options. Ithaca airport is close to campus (about 15 minute drive), small, and fast, but there are few flights a day and few airlines (United, US Air, Delta) that serve it. Syracuse offers far more flights and routes with more frequency, but it’s a 90 minute trip to get there from campus. There are Cornell buses around breaks (Thanksgiving, Winter, and Spring), but it’s an expensive cab trip otherwise.</p>
<p>thank you bigredengr</p>
<p>You could also fly to JFK/LaGuardia and then use the campus-to-campus bus. That’s what I’m doing.</p>
<p>how much does the bus cost?</p>
<p>I was wondering what factors besides the obvious high GPA and SAT/ACT and extracurriculars, help a student get in. Because I was researching and at Cornell and many other Ivies, and theres always that tiny percentage of students who have GPA’s from like 3.0-3.5 that get in. And I believe it said 4% had GPA’s in that range. And SAT scores of around 500-599 per section. And getting to the main point, I was wondering, how do those people get in? What do they do that helps them be as competitive as that 91% of students with GPA’s 3.75+. Like how big are GPA’s, AP/IB’s, extracurricular’s, and all of those other factors? Because I feel like my chances of getting into Harvard at like basically impossible but seeing that information gives me a glimmer of hope. What can I do to stand out and be as competitive as those brainiacs that are total athletes in every club? Because I had an extremely rough freshman year because of personal and family hardship where my grades suffered tremendously and I did not do any extracurricular activities. But I am taking honors and AP classes now and my grades have improved drastically.</p>
<p>^^
$82.50 each way.</p>
<p>Taxi from Syracuse is $120 if you don’t split it. If you can find someone to split it with, then $60. So not really a huge difference.</p>
<p>If you can find three people to split it with, though… Although flights to Hancock are generally more expensive anyway.</p>
<p>I recently got accepted to Human Ecology too and I wanted to know a few things. Are most of your classes, like the intro ones, filled with people just from Human Ecology or from other schools too? Also, how difficult was it to meet people and how did you do so? Also, do the people and professors there seem very friendly and helpful or are they mostly caring about themselves and their own research? Haha and another, I’m not sure if you know but if I chose to do a club sport, which I might, do those take up a lot of time? What about school clubs or research? Thanks so much! Maybe I’ll meet you next year! I’m doing human development on a pre-med track.</p>
<p>How badly are the grades deflated? And does it take an extreme amount of intelligence and effort to get an A in a class, or can it be done (I don’t want to say easily), but by a normal person who doesn’t spend hours and hours studying material?</p>