<p>Title says it all.
I think it'd be nice to have a realistic view of the schools that I'm applying to, so, I'd love to hear about the "bad" things about Cornell.</p>
<p>(thread taken from goldysocks)</p>
<p>I hope you’re gonna get no satisfaction on this thread</p>
<p>Honestly, the only “bad” thing I can think of is that it’s kind of a hassle to get out of Ithaca-- I guarantee that you will NEVER have on on time or uncancelled flight on your way in/out. BUt its actually kind of a good thing because it makes it so you never leave :)</p>
<p>I’m from the desert and I can’t even say that it’s the weather (although I am sure a lot of people might). The winter isn’t really as bad as people make it out to be.</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>My flights have always been on-time. So, i don’t know…</p>
<p>My flights have also always been on-time, and I’ve never had a problem with baggage.</p>
<p>haha, any other criticisms? or anything that you really LIKE about Cornell?</p>
<p>I don’t like so much walking on hills but I like other benefits like the views provided from the hills. also sometimes I wish the classes weren’t so difficult but I like that I’m being challenged and that I have very capable classmates. sometimes I wish it was always perfect weather but I like living in a place with four seasons.</p>
<p>The cold isn’t so bad…it’s the total lack of sunshine for two-three months that gets me down.</p>
<p>I like how jacked my calves get, walking up hills 16 times per day</p>
<p>Work load can be pretty nasty depending on your choice of classes.</p>
<p>A heavy work load precludes you from enjoying the Ithaca area.</p>
<p>It can be a bit tough to get to/from Ithaca. That’s all.</p>
<p>yeah, i think the major complaints are:
the cold
the workload
and it’s relative isolation</p>
<p>but the positives outweigh those small negatives :)</p>
<p>I agree with RLAE above…the above things don’t bother me, but those are definitely what you hear people complain when they do (rarely).</p>
<p>I see it like this though: I’ve live in 100+ degree weather my whole life. My friends told me I would last 2 months here. I got a giant down jacket, and I can literally wear a tank top and skirt underneath it because EVERY room is heated to the max in the winter that if you wear heavy clothes to class, you’re kind of dying the rest of the day. So really, the cold ain’t that bad. It’s funny because the people who ***** the most about it are the ones from Long Island or upstate-- I would have thought they were all used to it by now? :)</p>
<p>As far as the workload: I really don’t think Cornell is <em>that</em> hard, and trust me, I am by no means a genius. If you learn how to manage your time, you can still take 16 credits, be involved in both a sport and greek life, and go out every weekend and still get a 3.5. What <em>IS</em> hard is balancing all those things-- a lot of people simply don’t have time management skills. That, combined with the fact that there is always the sense of competition amongst your peers is what makes Cornell seem difficult.</p>
<p>And the isolation… Like I said, the airport is a *****. But the fact that the actual town itself is very far from stuff doesn’t bother me at all, and I am DEFINITELY a big city person. The “isolation” actually makes everyone on the campus really tight-- like for example, BU or NYU kids don’t really have a campus life because they are part of such a large city. I can promise you that Ithaca, despite being a “small town,” will never run out of things for you to do. Never ONCE have I been bored here. As a girl, I can say that the shopping situation blows, but hey—that’s what online shopping and daytrips to NYC are for.</p>
<p>@beeb26
i think the reason why people from upstate complain about the cold more than those from the warmer areas is because they are, by then, plain sick of the cold, sick of the six month winters, sick of seeing the perpetual gray, dirt stained snow. </p>
<p>i personally am not too thrilled about the cold either, and i live about three hours from cornell :)</p>
<p>It’s too big.</p>
<p>it’s hard to get to Ithaca. unless you live relatively close to New York, you will always have a layover because the Ithaca airport is soo small and doesn’t fly a lot of places. </p>
<p>the hills. panting and gasping for air while your legs are screaming on your way to class AND trying to hold a decent conversation with whoever you are walking with is very difficult.</p>
<p>the weather, lack of things to do in Ithaca, and the campus is massive. </p>
<p>the only thing that really gets to me is the whole “Cornell is the toughest ivy” thing. I hope its just a myth. Why should Cornellians have to work harder than students at Harvard? It just doesn’t make sense to me. </p>
<p>but there is a lot more to love. the food is awesome. the scenery is incredible. rigorous classes. greek life. great opportunities after college.</p>
<p>so it’s not perfect. but what school is? we still love it here :)</p>
<p>“…anything that you really LIKE about Cornell?”
MY son, who is college-hunting, asked D2 that question this weekend while we were visiting.</p>
<p>She said she likes the diversity of people, especially the economic diversity, which she found lacking at her prior school. The “vanishing middle class” has representation at the contract colleges in particular.</p>
<p>She also said she likes the huge courses selection, as she approaches senior year she realizes there are literally hundreds of courses that she would still like to take.</p>
<p>@angelfish13:
I actually prefer this rather than being in the plane for 5+ hours. Just to clear things up, I’ve been in an 18-hour flight 
Lack of things to do in Ithaca? :)</p>
<p>I know that everyone has his/her own opinion, and I guess that’s what the OP was asking for so no offense to anyone here.</p>
<p>We were up this weekend, the commons was hopping, live (free) music, all the establishments humming. There was live music on-campus, we opted for same off campus, stopped byTaughannock Falls en route. Saw two of the legends of old-time music playing, up close and personal, for dirt cheap. The Ithaca Journal listed tons of stuff to do. And the thing is, all of it can actually be done on a student budget.</p>
<p>@fri3nds04 i’m sorry i didn’t mean to offend anyone, i can’t really agree with you about layovers, and its just i’m a big city girl. and if the OP is from a big city, he or she might have a hard time adjusting at first too. there is only one mall, one movie theater, etc. in big cities there are dozens of malls, theaters, grocery stores, etc. </p>
<p>but you are right, i have found ways to enjoy myself in Ithaca and its good to change</p>