<p>How true is this? What do people typically do with their friends?</p>
<p>Depends on how you define fun things to do. The vast majority of college students limit their time in college to the campus and the immediate vicinity - the restaurants, bars, clubs, coffee shops, etc that crop up to cater to college students. Cornell has Collegetown, and it’s just as good as a collegetown you’ll find at any other university. Admittedly, some colleges (NYC colleges for example) have MUCH more available, but you do lose that feeling that it’s an area centered around your college. In Collegetown, you’ll see nothing but your fellow Cornellians and professors populating the businesses, which is kind of fun and makes it more close-knit. For outdoor activities, Ithaca can’t really be beat. There are also movie theaters, malls, etc that are good enough.</p>
<p>Now, if you’re talking about the sort of amenities you will only find in large cities, then no, Cornell doesn’t have those things. You won’t find a sprawling mall where you can stop and visit Armani or Gucci, for example. Ithaca does have quite a bit of culture for it’s size though.</p>
<p>OK, so what do you do for fun where you are? </p>
<p>Do you hang out with friends? Will probably have a lot more at Cornell.<br>
Do you go to good restaurants? There are great ones in Ithaca.
Do you go to fun clubs/bars? There are many in Collegetown and downtown.
Do you go to shows/lectures? They are in abundance at Cornell.
Need to shop? There is a mall and a neat downtown with quaint shops.
Like to go to concerts of well knowns? Cornell usually has 1 or 2 a semester–especially slope day.
Want to ski? Can.
Want to sail? Can.
Want to visit and hike incredibly beautiful waterfalls and gorges? Can.
Want to join a fraternity/sorority? Can.
Want to go to a great museum? Can.
Want to attend an athletic event? Can. (Go to a hockey game if you can get in.)</p>
<p>They only thing missing is absolute #'s, therefore choices, of all of the above that exist in larger cities. </p>
<p>Ithaca is not NYC or Boston. But it is has lots to do. And Cornell always has something going on.</p>
<p>Also a constant stream of interesting lecturers, academic, political, global, etc. some of whom will be relevant to whatever you’re studying.</p>
<p>I saw that the man who wrote The King’s Speech (and who is a Cornell alum) just gave a lecture there about it.</p>
<p>Gorge jumping, apple picking, sailing, skating, hiking, concerts, movies, plays, lectures, hanging out with friends, going to parties, research, etc. there is so much to do and hundreds of clubs too. From what I hear from my daughter, the hard part is prioritizing what to do–there is more to do than you have time for so you have to choose.</p>
<p>You can get a flavor for some of the types of things some students are doing by reading the “Life on the Hill” blogs.</p>
<p>I have two kids at Cornell and neither has ever mentioned that they have nothing to do. The winter months are always great for the kid who loves winter sports such as skiing but even non skiiers would have to be pretty non social not to find the Cornell campus and community loaded with things to do. The wonderful thing about Cornell is the type of student they attract…kids who are not boring, kids who are involved in many different things. If someone is bored at Cornell they are IMHO just boring in general.</p>
<p>Is there any student preference between skiing and snowboarding? I’d assume not, but like do the majority of students choose one over the other?</p>
<p>I know that the ski club has a mixture of skiiers and boarders. They plan several ski trips throughout the winter. I would highly suggest joining this club if you are a winter sports person. My son enjoyed this club, and the people he met became his very good friends.</p>
<p>So if you say “skiing” you mean “downhill skiing” not cross-country? Are there proper slopes in Cornell’s vicinity? If yes, do they also have elevators and stuff, or would you have to climb back up after every ride?</p>
<p>Yes, I do mean downhill skiing and of course there are lifts. It is a proper ski mountain. There is also cross skiing available in the area when the winters provide the snow. As mentioned the ski club goes to Vermont and several other locations throughout the winter. My son enjoyed skifest every winter. For a quick run to the slopes to get some skiing in, Greek Peak is fine and close to campus.</p>