<p>Well, this thread has certainly been rather interesting, as I want to transfer IN, and I'm reading about people who want to transfer OUT. I guess it all depends on the person and the experience (notably, Figgy seems to be having a blast).</p>
<p>It's all about the attitude. Since transfers work their way here they are all really really happy to be here whereas an insecure freshman who isn't sure if this was the right choice isn't gonna have the best time until he lets go.</p>
<p>"i think cornell actually gives you plenty of opportunities: if you want to talk there are always people to talk to and if you want to be a loner you can always go to the forests."</p>
<p>hahahaha</p>
<p>I wouldnt take the two unhappy freshmens posts as endemic to Cornell. Every year, there are some posters who had doubts about attending Cornell before arriving to campus (think bball87). Its like a self-fulfilling prophecy. Check back at the histories of both of theses students.</p>
<p>i share the same feelings with the OP...like I think, what would it have been like to attend a small liberal arts college (i'm in ILR by the way) but truth be told there is no place like cornell for academics (cornell offers some of the best courses available, whereas they are very generic at liberal arts colleges)...</p>
<p>long island folk can get annoying, but trust me there are long island folk just about anywhere...at least in the tri-state area</p>
<p>it can take a while to adjust to a university as big as Cornell. There are so many oppoutunities, it is very overwhelming at first. Not everybody enjoys their first semester so much, however things have always seemed to fall in line with people as the year moves on. It's a trend that I've seen with my friends at numerous larger schools. </p>
<p>There are also those that will never be happy, no matter what college they go to or anything else for that matter (ie, bball87, simbajune, columbiahopeful! ... the same one person, by the way).</p>
<p>To the OP: I agree Cornell is not for everyone. Although I met my wife there (a good thing), neither of us were into fraternity/sororities and we definitely felt in the minority. Not that we didn't have a good time, but I think we'd both rather go to a top LAC if we could do it all over again. </p>
<p>Our D just started at Pomona and is thriving. (She didn't apply to Cornell). One plug for the Claremont Consortium (Pomona, Claremont McKenna, Harvey Mudd, Scripps, and Pitzer) - with all schools on the same campus totalling over 6,000 students (think Cornell's A&S + Engineering + Hotel + ILR + Architecture, for instance), you get the personal attention benefits of an LAC with the big-school feel of a (smallish) university. And it's near a city (if that still matters to you), 35 miles east of LA with a train station just off campus. </p>
<p>Pomona is tough on transfer students (accepted only 14 of 178 applicants to fill 8 spots), but the others are a bit easier - Harvey Mudd: 9% accepted. CMC: 22 of 205. Scripps: 30 of 108. Pitzer: 54 of 163.</p>
<p>Good luck.</p>