<p>i really like everything cornell has to offer, from its classes, to its form of core curriculum, to its extracurriculars, to its location. however, people always say cornell is about "fit". what does that mean exactly? what does it mean to "fit" cornell (especially as opposed to "fitting" at yale, brown, etc? what differences are there in "fitting" cornell?)</p>
<p>please search the forum. this question has been answered MANY times</p>
<p>It’s a huge school with 3,000 plus freshman - are you an independent learner who likes to navigate a place with many, many choices and many people.</p>
<p>It’s in a remote, but beautiful setting - do you like nature and all the beauty that surrounds Cornell.</p>
<p>It’s beautiful architecturally - do you appreciate architecture, do you like to be at a place where you can study in big, beautiful, interesting libraries and visit museums right on campus.</p>
<p>There’s tons of research opportunities - is that something that interests you.</p>
<p>What about your major - what’s their emphasis - is it a style and content match for you?</p>
<p>It attracts students from diverse backgrounds and places all over the world - is that for you? </p>
<p>It’s academically challenging - is that something you really want? Why?</p>
<p>I’m sure there are many more categories that can be added here. “Fit” is important - we all learn differently and it’s important to understand what attributes of an environment really “speak to you” and “motivate” you to learn and develop.</p>
<p>Good luck!</p>
<p>Many of Cornell’s programs are also very specific…like ILR, or the Hotel School. To “fit” into these colleges, you need to have demonstrated certain interests and personal qualities that show that you belong in these programs.</p>
<p>@mom, thanks for the questions. that helps, but i guess what i’m not clear on is…well, besides having a bigger student body and beautiful location, the other things on your list seem to fit most of the top schools. top academics, plentiful research opportunities, challenging classes, etc…</p>
<p>if you’re applying to cas then admissions are similar to Cornell’s peer institutions, eg high gpa, sats scores, good ecs, the standard stuff. If you’re applying to one of the more specialized programs, such as the 6 other undergraduate schools then in addition to the stuff in the previous sentence fit is also important and what qualifies as fit depends on which program you are applying for.</p>