FRESHMAN 15- 15 Pieces of Advice for New Cornellians

Colleges and Universities A-Z Cornell University
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<p>1) Make as many friends as you can during the first month of school. Orientation week is so much fun and you'll go to so many parties and meet so many people. Talk to these people as much as possible, go to lunch with them at Appel, write on their facebook walls, etc. Seriously take advantage of it early because after a month or so everyone will slowly start making small groups of friends.</p>

<p>2) Join a fraternity/sorority/organization/club. Just join something because its fun and will help you meet people. If after four years all you did was go to class and study then it you will be sad. The greek system is a great opportunity to meet people and makes Cornell feel a lot smaller and close-knit. Join a club, we have over 700 ranging from the Cornell Daily Sun to the medieval dueling club to a capella groups to community service groups.</p>

<p>3) Take it easy, relax, and have fun. Don't go crazy to get a 4.0. Don't get super stressed out and study all the time and lock yourself in Uris. Go to frat parties on the weekends and enjoy yourself. Cornell is an Ivy League school Monday through Thursday and a party school on the weekend. Take advantage of it.</p>

<p>4) Don't get the 14 or unlimited meals per week plan. I would go with the 10 meals a week and 500 BRBS. You'll only end up eating dinner on North Campus and you'll use your BRBS for lunch at Trillium or Ivy Room.</p>

<p>5) Don't bring up all your winter clothes now. Wait until Fall break in October and then bring up your stuff. And make sure you bring A LOT of layers.</p>

<p>6) Get a gym membership and use it. They just built a brand new gym on West Campus, go there.</p>

<p>7) Buy your books online not from the Cornell bookstore. Don't sell your books back to the Cornell bookstore either.</p>

<p>8) Buy a DAMN good fake ID before you come here.</p>

<p>9) Take a FUN or INTERESTING class outside of your school.</p>

<p>10) SLEEP. Take time during classes to take a quick nap in the library. Also try to get a least 8 hours (HAHAHA) of sleep a night, it will help you to stay awake during lectures.</p>

<p>11) Get on a good terms with your professors and TAs. It will make class easier and more enjoyable. Professors are pretty accessible at Cornell so it won't be a problem.</p>

<p>12) Go to class and try to keep up with your work, it's really not that hard to keep up. It's easier to keep up than to catch up. Also, take 15 credits your first semester even if your adviser tells you to take 12.</p>

<p>13) Live in a single, its easier than dealing with a room even if your roommate is the nicest person in the world.</p>

<p>14) Keep your mind open- don't be afraid to change your major or drop a class.</p>

<p>15) MAKE THE MOST OUT OF CORNELL, IT'S THE BEST SCHOOL AND YOU'LL LOVE IT NO MATTER WHAT.</p>

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<p>Thanks for the advices! :)
About #8... is there any place u'd recommend to buy one from Ithaca? :D</p>

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<p>Falcky, the best "fake ID" is an older person's real ID (if you join a fraternity or sorority it is usually fairly easy to get one from a junior/senior). Or you can get one in the city, but they tend to suck and be over-priced unless you know how to talk people down.</p>

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<p>Thanks Spanks ;) I'm not from the USA, so I was wondering about all of that :)</p>

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<p>Why is 12 credits too little? Why 15? </p>

<p>Do u think the rock climbing thing is worth it w/ the gym fees? I'm pretty sure I can climb w/e wall they have right now :). </p>

<p>How long's fall break? Does everyone go home? </p>

<p>btw, thnx 4 the advice</p>

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<p>Making friends early on is going to be very important. Cornell is big and busy.</p>

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<p>during orientation and the first month or so its totally acceptable to introduce yourself to any random freshman you see. After that, you start to get weird looks. =P</p>

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<p>ooo rock climbing... im hoping there's some sort of club for that</p>

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<p>^ It's a gym class.</p>

<p>Good advise!</p>

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<p>nameless1</p>

<ul>
<li><p>fall break is a small break, its like thurs, fri, sat, sunday. some people go home if they live in the tri-state area. most people who live far away just stay in Ithaca.</p></li>
<li><p>i suggest taking 15 credits because it's really not that much harder than taking 12 and you'll free up space early on so you can take ******** classes during senior year.</p></li>
</ul>