<p>To provide a little background, I was waitlisted at Harvard and admitted at Cornell. Harvard is still my first choice, but I've decided to attend the Cornell overnight session next week. Since Harvard is <em>somewhat</em> close to Cornell (keep in mind, I'm from California...so that's even further), me and my mom are also going to visit Harvard. Should I ask if perhaps I can do an overnight stay or maybe talk with an adcom? I have a letter of interest as well as a new letter of recommendation to add to my file, and I was wondering if I should email them (and if so, where???) or just wait until I go and hand them to the admissions office in person. What else would be good/fun/productive to do while there? I visited over the summer, but the atmosphere I expect will be different this time as there were few students there back then. Thanks :)</p>
<p>I think in the letter they asked you to not visit and you can't stay overnight if you were waitlisted.</p>
<p>The two touristy must-dos are to sneak as far as you can get away with (not very) into Widener and Annenberg. Make sure you use the front entrance of Widener, since you can't see anything worthwhile from the back entrance without an ID, and the front-desk guy is probably more sweet-talkable. If you can get to the 2nd floor of memorial hall, through the Sanders Theater entrance, there's a pretty nice view of Annenberg--ask a student to swipe you into the elevator. Check out the houses too, since most people don't. If you only go to one, make it Adams and be sure to visit the basement.</p>
<p>The not-being-able to stay overnight with a student makes perfect sense, but I just re-read the waitlist letter and they don't mention anything about not visiting.</p>
<p>Anyways, I have my personal letter and a letter of rec ready, where do I mail it to, or would it be easier to e-mail it to them (and if so which email address? I sent one through their website but I only got this automated response that had nothing to do with what I was asking)? Or, I could just wait until I'm there this coming week and just hand it to them in person. Any further suggestions?</p>
<p>Annenberg and Widener are gorgeous!!!</p>
<p>And I'm sure someone's told you by now, but when you visit don't touch the foot of John Harvard. :)</p>
<p>Any particular fun places or good places to eat while in the area?</p>
<p>Cornell is pretty far away, but it all depends on how much time you've got budgeted: just allocate one day for driving to and from Ithaca. </p>
<p>Bartley's (burgers) is good, and an institution. On the other end of the spectrum, Veggie Planet's also a great and famous spot, although it can be hard to get a table for dinner. The service is pretty slow but the pizza is great. Sunday brunch is particularly good; I tried my boyfriend's waffles last time we went and they were the best damn waffles I had ever tasted in my life. Campo de Fiori (pizza) is much better than you'd expect from the food-court atmosphere. I ate lunch there once or twice a week over the summer until they raised their prices. Cambridge One is also a pretty good upscale pizza place. The only square restaurants I wouldn't recommend are Henrietta's Table (pricey but mediocre, and tiny portions), Bombay Club (nothing wrong with them, but Tanjore is better for Indian--actually, Diva in Davis Square is the best, more expensive but they have this amazing goat curry, I think it was a curry, in their buffet, that I haven't found anywhere else), and Fire & Ice (never been there, but everybody says they're overpriced and mediocre).</p>
<p>Dang. Now I'm hungry.</p>