<p>I was accepted to the College of Arts and Sciences at Cornell. I plan on taking the pre-med route, but I really need help and advice. I'm from Louisiana, and I really don't know much about Cornell (a friend in NY encouraged me to apply). Here are my questions... exactly how bad is the weather? Also, do you know if class size is an issue for many students? I don't want my parents to pay money for me to be taught by tons of TA's. Finally, are the majority of students happy at Cornell? I'm trying to decide between Cornell, Rice, Vanderbilt, and Wash U in St. Louis. I would appreciate any information! I apologize for my lengthy post, and I'll be grateful for even one answer. Thanks!</p>
<p>well, i would tell you to go to rice or vandy, but only because i am on a waitlist at cornell and wash U (and two other schools, darn) :D</p>
<p><<here are="" my="" questions...="" exactly="" how="" bad="" is="" the="" weather?="">></here></p>
<p>From what I've heard, it can get pretty cold in the winter, and it does snow quite a bit. Of course, Cornell is in New York, so that's to be expected. </p>
<p><<also, do="" you="" know="" if="" class="" size="" is="" an="" issue="" for="" many="" students?="">></also,></p>
<p>Some of the freshman classes are huge, but the classes get much smaller as you go along. I've heard of some junior/senior classes that only have 10-20 students. </p>
<p>Of course, regardless of the class size, help is always available should you need it. Most professors will have office hours, and you can see them if you have trouble with the material. </p>
<p><<i don't="" want="" my="" parents="" to="" pay="" money="" for="" me="" be="" taught="" by="" tons="" of="" ta's.="" finally,="" are="" the="" majority="" students="" happy="" at="" cornell?="">></i></p><i don't="" want="" my="" parents="" to="" pay="" money="" for="" me="" be="" taught="" by="" tons="" of="" ta's.="" finally,="" are="" the="" majority="" students="" happy="" at="" cornell?="">
<p>From what I've heard, most students at Cornell are very happy there. There are so many research/career opportunities available, and there are plenty of fun activities to take part in on campus. </p>
<p>If you're still trying to make a decision, I highly suggest that you come visit Cornell during Cornell Days so that you can get a better picture. Hearing about a school isn't the same as actually going there and seeing what it's like yourself.</p>
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<p>I am currently a Cornell student that is orginally from Houston (about 20 mins from Rice) so I think I can help you out a bit...</p>
<p>How bad is the weather? Bad...real bad. This is the only place I have ever been where you can have sun, rain, and snow all on the same day. But you get used to it. You buy fleece, a big jacket, and a bus pass and after a while the cold is not so cold anymore. While there are times when I wish I would have choosen Rice (so I would be warm), after my first winter here I don't regret my to come to Cornell. (btw: I had never seen snow before I came here)</p>
<p>Class size? Class size and be big or really big (depending on your major) during your freshman year. You will have large lectures taught by a prof and small discussion sections (1 a week) taught by a TA. But as you advance, you class size drops dramatically. If you are worried about the quality of instruction you will recieve; definitely come to Cornell. Out of all of your choices, you are more likely to get world class profs who are leaders in their field at Cornell. Good luck on your decision.</p>
<p>Some stats:
national med school acceptance rate:50%
cornell graduate applying and accepted to med school 78%
cornell grads applying and accepted to med school w/ 3.4+ GPA: 89%</p>
<p>The weather is actually similar to alot of the northeast. I live in central new jersey and cornell's weather isn't much different, just a little colder on average.</p>
<p>like starmel18 said, some intro classes can be very large, but as you progress they shrink dramatically, sometimes to just 2 or 3 students. The large lectures are taught by a Professor, and the material is REVIEWED in SMALL groups by a TA. Also, although those professors won't necessarily seek you out, professors hold office hours.</p>
<p>Cornell's retention rate is very high, you can get it from the USNWR rankings or on <a href="http://www.cornell.edu%5B/url%5D">www.cornell.edu</a>. Thats with the notorious weather and challenging classes. The students must be happy.</p>
<p>Thank y'all so much. Everyone's information has helped me more than you can imagine. I'm going to fly up next weekend, and hopefully I'll love Cornell! </p>
<p>adamo--best of luck, maybe you'll get one of my spots!<br>
vanillamountain--Your answers were exactly what I wanted to hear.
starmel18- It's a relief that someone from the South can handle the weather. Right now, freezing cold for me is 50 degrees. I guess I'll have to bundle up in fleece, like you advised! Also, I'm glad that you don't regret your choice of Cornell over Rice.
sparticus800- ooooh I like the med school acceptance rates!</p>
<p>fleece? what is fleece? ;)</p>
<p>Please don't choose a college based on the weather!!!!!</p>
<p>I will guarentee you that you WILL get used to it very quickly. I live in upstate NY and we just had a girl move in from southern California. . . . she had no trouble adjusting, because the temperature drops gradually throughout the season so your body adjusts. . . . .plus snow is fantastic! </p>
<p>I also know someone from Lousianna that moved here, no problem with the weather, and we are very, very similar to Cornell's weather.</p>
<p>Upper level classes are small, and TAs only review material.</p>
<p>I'm going to talk to a few people that I know were bio majors at Cornell and ask them just how hard it is. It's difficult, but I think they'd agree that it's manageable and worth it. The networking opportunities at Cornell are also fantastic, I swear every graduate of Cornell in the area knows eachother, it's crazy. Also, every graduate completely LOVES the school. . . . .one of my teachers (who went to Cornell) met her husband at Cornell, and then all 3 kids went to Cornell as well. My guidence councellor also went there, and always warns me that he is bias towards Cornell. If that doesn't speak to the quality of the University I don't know what does.</p>
<p>WUSTL is the second best med school in the country, and i'm hoping the winters are mild (im from MA). but i can tell you from my visit to Cornell in february, the weather sucked. I have a friend that goes to Ithaca, he said they've had snow for two weeks straight this past winter, and still had to go to classes. He said he's gotten used to it though.</p>
<p>"well, i would tell you to go to rice or vandy, but only because i am on a waitlist at cornell and wash U (and two other schools, darn)"</p>
<p>I think WUStL is waitlisting a huge number of applicants because they're trying to reduce their admission percentage while still being able to fill their class. If so, they might be in the business of accepting people from the waitlist who make it clear that the school is their #1 choice. Just a thought.</p>
<p>I should have been a little clear; yes TAs only review the material taught in lecture. As far as the weather goes; you should expect a hard transition even if people tell you that you will get used to it. Changing climates is different for everyone and some people find it very easy while other have a terrible time. I was sick for the first two weeks of this semester as a result of going from 75 degrees (at home) to -5 degrees (in Ithaca) on the day that I returned. But I have some Southern and West coast friends that haven't been phased by the weather at all.</p>