<p>Hi all, I don't think this issue has been discussed very much, so it might be right time to talk about it (or rather "type about it.")</p>
<p>There was a New Yorker article about Stanford last week. Some of you might have read it. Although it mostly talked about how Stanford wanted to create "T" students (with depth in the middle, and breadth on the side), it did mention something about the NYC campus. Stanford was apparently angry that the NYC government was changing the agreements before they were signed. Also, the president of Stanford (who happens to be on many of corporate boards) did not like the idea of Stanford being bifurcated, and faculty were afraid that it would further spread the idea that humanities were a "stepchild" for Stanford. </p>
<p>Yet, a post in this forum brought an interesting thought. One poster mentioned that Stanford was afraid about how the new campus would "dilute" the significance of a Stanford degree, and that this represented the difference in ideology between Stanford and Cornell. The New Yorker article also mentioned something about this, about how Cornell was "enthusiastic" to take part in this, while Stanford was more reticent. </p>
<p>This poses an important question: How will the new campus affect Cornell (e.g. watering down)? Is the NYC campus only a graduate-focused initiative? If the campus really is also for undergrads, to what extent will it split the Cornell campus, as it might have affected the Stanford campus. </p>
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<p>(To save space on the forum, I will add a small self-reflection part to this post. This part would have never been posted separately).</p>
<p>As many of you know, Northwestern was my first choice. I thought that its excellent programs in both Engineering and Journalism would allow me to capture both of my interests. Additionally, I thought it had the perfect location, right in Evanston, a 25min train ride from the 3rd largest city in the US. </p>
<p>Evidently, I was put on the waitlist, and I will not get off it. After receiving many great offers, including from schools like Cooper Union, I decided to attend Cornell. I never applied to HYPSM because I did not think I would like the environment of snobbery (some might argue against this) and quite simply felt that I would never get in. While I liked Cornell, I felt that I was not up to Cornell's standards either. I thought I would be accepted to NU, and not to Cornell. To my surprise, it was quite the opposite. </p>
<p>I made a lot of mistakes in HS, not in terms of academics, but in other areas that I would rather not discuss (no, not substance abuse). I am very glad Cornell gave me an opportunity to change myself, so to speak. I realize I am not as stupid as I think I am. My teacher has always said that my problem is of self-confidence, not of intelligence. Besides, Cornell's rural environment is perfect for me to try new interests, like sailing and rowing, and certainly a big change from the cities. Perhaps it is great that Cornell recognized something in me that I myself did not recognize. </p>
<p>My HS is very special. For one thing, it is very segregated, causing great difficulty in finding a diverse group of friends (as I mentioned in an earlier post). Cornell will alleviate this. My school has "too many" intelligent people. For example, in my Mic/Mac class, more than 15 students are attending Ivy league schools (myself included), and if we add other people from other top 20 schools, 70% of the class is included. Of course, this is not a good environment for self-confidence. Perhaps it's great that my "bubble was burst" this earlier, as someone has told me, because there are many, many intelligent people. But I think I will be able to fit in. </p>
<p>So in any case, now I am prepared to move in on Aug. 17.</p>