Cornell University Top Questions

What is your overall opinion of this school?

Nathan

Not bad.

Chyanne

Cornell offers the quintessential college experience. On the Arts Quad you see students throwing frisbees, down in collegetown there are houses full of students with couches on the porches. When looking for colleges, I was really interested in going to a big state university- Cornell was in fact one of the smaller schools I applied to, so I love the size. By dividing the University up into seven undergraduate colleges, Cornell makes sure that many communities are created. Some people fear that they might miss being near a city while at Cornell- I've always felt like I'll have the rest of my life to love a city- college is the only time you'll ever get to love a campus. Cornell's campus is large- has it's own zipcode- and with 13,000 undergrads there are always things going on, so students rarely leave campus on the weekends.

Claire

I truly love Cornell. It's a beautiful school over looking Lake Cayuga, and it's rich in history. The professors are highly reputable, passionate and willing to work with you. I love how you can study anything you could ever dream of. Cornell also has the perfect collegetown, in fact, right of campus the town is called "collegetown." It's where most of the upper classman live, eat, and party. It's like a Cornell bubble. I town solely dedicated to college students. While I do love so many things about Cornell, it is definitely not the right school for everyone. It's a school where you can easily get lost both socially and academically. You need to be extremely proactive in creating your college experience, because no one is holding your hand at Cornell.

Eve

My overall opinion of Cornell is that it's the direct opposite of a "small pond." The university offers so much, a student can basically do anything here: study any subject, start any club, and reach out in countless ways to the student population and the campus community. The best thing about Cornell is just this: it's like the whole world was condensed down to a school in upstate New York. Not to mention, we're lucky to have one of the most stunningly beautiful campuses around. We have a lot of school pride, and are all connected to each other by our academics; Cornell kids work hard, and there's no getting away from that. One of the toughest things about Cornell is that it demands a lot of you mentally; the courses are hard, the professors are no-nonsense, and there's no such thing as an easy A. If you're not the type of person that's self motivated and thrives in a large environment, it could be difficult to keep afloat and find your way around campus. Luckily, Cornell has many resources to help all of their undergraduates succeed in the university environment. You just need to know to speak up for yourself, and find what you need to get where you want to be. If you graduate from Cornell, people know you as a hard worker. Cornell has a great reputation globally, and is known to seriously train and teach their students in order to prepare them for the real world after graduation. There's nothing you can't do with a Cornell degree. Not to mention, Cornell has a huge alumni network. I'm constantly getting emails about networking and career events. Night life is like day life at Cornell; you have to find your niche. Collegetown here is a lot of fun, and Ithaca has a lot to offer too. Some say we're "in the middle of nowhere," but I tend to disagree with that. The natural environment around Cornell is unparalleled in its beauty and resources, and if you find a great group of friends, you never have to have a dull night (even if you're not involved in a fraternity or sorority -- I'm not!). Not to mention, Cornell is just a 4 hour bus ride away from NYC -- I know people who go down just for a weekend! There's so much more I can say about this university, but I'll just say that it's home for me. I wouldn't want to be any place else. Cornell is nearly limitless in resources, and if you're the type who loves being a fish in a big intellectual pond, you've found the right waters for you.

Jordan

Cornell is an excellent school. I can proudly say that Cornell has one of the most beautiful campuses in the nation. In fact, I enjoy exploring the campus and taking pictures before the freezing winter sets in. And even when winter comes, there are times when I brave the cold and walk around the campus to capture the winter scenery around our campus. Cornell is a fairly large private university, and because I attended a high school that only had about 160 students per grade, it is a huge plus. It is not as large as some of the public schools, but it definitely is big enough for every student to find his or her niche and friends with similar interests. And because we have seven undergraduate schools, Cornell students have the opportunity to network and meet people outside of their fields of study. As an economics and government double-major student, I can say I have friends who are engineers, architects, art students, and "hotelies." And because Cornell has a big campus, the school never feels like it's crowded and running out of space. Many students complain that Ithaca is a fairly isolated town, but I think it also has its benefits. Yes, we can't enjoy the internship opportunities and other perks that students in large cities benefit from, but being a bit isolated allows us to really develop strong friendships and a tightly-knit community. I've heard from many of my friends in schools like NYU complain about the lack of opportunity to form lasting friendships because the city lures many of the students away from each other. Well, Ithaca is very well known to be cold, and I won't deny it. Surprisingly, this year, the winter hasn't been bad at all. Still, even in the freezing cold, students have fun sliding down "the slope" with "borrowed" trays from dining halls, creating sculptures out of ice and snow (sometimes obscene ones that need to be dismantled by the campus police), etc. For these reasons, I hate and love Ithacan winter. Although some students take pride in being a Cornell student while some don't necessarily have much school pride, I can say one thing for sure. Cornell, despite being often derided as being "the easiest Ivy to get into," does have a good reputation. While flying back and forth from my home in California, I have had the chance to converse with many fellow travelers. Naturally, many asked me at which school I study (I don't tell people that I'm a Cornell student unless asked upon because many Ivy-league students are stereotyped to be arrogant), and when I told them I go to Cornell, most were impressed. I say most because there were some who did not know anything about Cornell. And I can also say that Cornell is fairly well-known outside of the U.S. as well because when I backpacked across Italy and France last summer, many Europeans congratulated me for having the chance to study at one of the best institutions in the world. Overall, Cornell is an excellent school, and if you don't mind studying at a fairly large university in a rural environment, you would definitely love coming to Cornell.

Jessica

Oh my gosh, I love this school. I couldn't be happier with my choice of college. I feel like everyone here can find people that they will get along with. There are so many different interests, clubs and personalities to go around; you're bound to find your niche. I honestly thought that it was going to be boring before I came here, but fortunately I wrong! There are a lot of fun things to do here, from college town parties to sports games to crazy fun in the dorms. The students here play as hard as they work--I remember my first college party, I went crowd surfing for the first time ever and it was totally fun! The only thing I don't like about the school is the weather and the uneven terrain. Too much rain/snow and not enough sunshine! And its hard to walk around this huge campus sometimes with all the hills and slopes. Other than that though, its not too bad, classes are challenging but nothing impossible. And there is plenty of school pride around here!

Jill

I really love Cornell- I think it is a great place to go to college for both academic and social reasons. One of the best things about Cornell is its diversity. Everyone always manages to find his or her own niche, but there are always new and interesting people to meet all over campus. I think the size is just right. There are about 14,000 undergrads, which seems like a lot, but different clubs and organizations make it easy to find your place and make it seem like the community is a lot smaller. People almost always react positively when I tell them I go to Cornell. People recognize the status of attending an Ivy League university. I spend most of my time on Campus in class. I like to do my homework at home, although there are a lot of people who like to study in library, and there are many libraries all around campus to accomodate everyone's study needs. We do have a college town right adjacent to campus- people usually live here their junior and senior years. It has a bunch of restaurants and convenience stores and bars. I think the school has a solid administration. I always feel very informed about what's going on around school. Additionally, we just won a contest to build a new campus in NYC, and I'm sure our administration worked very hard to make that happen. The biggest recent controversy has been suicides on campus. I know it sounds scary, but there have been a few people who have jumped off bridges and it has really shaken the community. However, there have been many new program put in place to help students cope with their problems in more effective ways. There is a decent amount of school pride- if you really want to see school spirit you have to go to a Hockey game. Hockey is huge here and lots of people get really into it. One experience I'll always remember is getting snowed in freshman year and not making my bus home for winter break. I had to stay over until the next bus at 5am the next day and ended up sledding down libe slope which was so much fun! The biggest student complaint is probably the work load. This is an academically rigorous environment, and it takes a lot of time management. However, lots of people do very well here if they manage their time and course load effectively.

Alex

I am incredibly happy I decided to come to Cornell. I love almost everything about the school, including its campus, the classes I took last semester, the people I met, the opportunities for extra-curricular activities, and the general feel of the student body. If I had to change one thing about Cornell, it would be the weather or the walking. Cornell does get cold and has a lot of snow in the winter, but people learn to manage it. Also, for some classes there is a long walk from dorm room to classroom, but proper planning (and not sleeping through your alarm) will easily solve that issue. Cornell is large enough that I don't feel like I am in high school again, and where there is plenty of things to do on a weekend, but you can easily make it as small as you want by joining an organization or the greek system. There is a vibrant Collegetown less than 5 minutes walk from Central Campus, where you will find almost all upperclassman housing, and tons of restaurants and shops. There is a good amount of school pride, with the most popular sport being hockey. There are a lot of traditions and history surrounding Cornell, and the 161 Things that Every Cornellian Must Do list is great way to immerse yourself into the magic that is Ithaca and Cornell.

Lois

I love Cornell! I believe that it is a perfect fit for me so far. The student life takes a bit of getting used to, but that is normal in any college setting. I wish there was a little more school spirit at the sports games. College town is pretty fun most weekends. They have parties and little eateries and a little further is the Commons that has pretty nice shops. The Commons has this little amish restaurant with the best smoothies ever! My friend and I call them "happiness smoothies".

Maya

I love this place! I know because of Cornell so many wonderful and positive opportunities are available for my picking right now and in the future. The campus is beautiful, there are so many things to do on and off campus that you will never get bored. The resources provided here are unbelievably vast. I know if I needed help with ANYTHING that there is some type of service, program, or person that is on campus to help. Best of all there is a great sense of community here.

Maya

I love this place! I know because of Cornell so many wonderful and positive opportunities are available for my picking right now and in the future. The campus is beautiful, there are so many things to do on and off campus that you will never get bored. The resources provided here are unbelievably vast. I know if I needed help with ANYTHING that there is some type of service, program, or person that is on campus to help. Best of all there is a great sense of community here.

Amanda

I loved Cornell! I think it's totally possible to have an amazing experience there, but they don't do a lot of hand-holding, so you really have to forge your own path. That said, there are so many opportunities to take courses and meet people in specialized areas that you might otherwise never get exposure to.

David

I've been in love with Cornell since day one. That is the honest truth. One of the best things about Cornell is the "Work Hard, Play Hard" mentality. Meaning Cornell students are amongst the most driven in the world, we know how to study hard and accomplish big things in our academics, research and internships. You will spend your time working with some of the best and brightest. I remember debating politics at a higher level than I ever did in high school. You can learn things from your friends you would have never learned anywhere else. For example I learned about education in Ghana from a friend of mine who went to boarding school there. We were also able to relate on a different level because he is from Brooklyn while I grew up on Long Island. At the same time, Cornellians know how to have a good time. There are always awesome social events going on from greek life to a capella or sledding down libe slope. Cornell is a large University. With about 14,000 undergraduate students, some classes, especially freshman year, can be very large. But through getting involved on campus and making friends in your classes and in your dormitory, a big university becomes very manageable. You'll be amazed how quickly you make close and lifelong friends. Cornell has a incredible amount of pride. Cornellians love men's ice hockey above all, the 'Lynah Faithful' are truly intense fans. Though students enjoy other supporting other athletics, a lot of pride comes from following in the steps of notable alumni, from the prestige of the professors we learn from and the quality of our unique academic programs. Though most Cornellians complain about the cold weather, people really tend to bond when meeting friends who have never seen snow or having the first snowball fight of the season. All in all, I'm so happy that I chose Cornell. After visiting friends at other Colleges and Universities, I could not imagine myself anywhere else.

Monet

Overall I love Cornell! I never really expected to enjoy it here as much as I do. It is my second year here so far, and it keeps getting better. I have met some great friends in my dorm, through activities I'm involved in, and in my classes. The campus is so big and beautiful, and offers so much. There are some really cool and interesting classes offered here, and the unique traditions Cornell has really makes the experience here a blast. I loved Slope Day last year, which is an end-of-the-year event we all look forward to. Nelly performed, and it was a great way to end the semester off.

Nicole

I love Cornell and I am not just saying that to give the school a good word. I am very genuine when I say that. I have enjoyed all of my professors and have found them very open to helping students and they are truly interested in their field of study. Cornell has great research facilities and programs. The school is constantly cited for breakthroughs in all subject areas and many studies are published under the name of Cornell or our faculty. Students are here to learn and motivate and challenge each other to do well. The size of the school is great. The campus is spread out (so that it doesn't feel too small) but yet everything is accessible by walking. Also, people say that Ithaca is in the middle of nowhere part of NY and while the surrounding area may seem like that, once you are in the town of Ithaca it really doesn't feel that way. There is a downtown, nearby accommodations, places to shop, and a collegetown.

Shannon

Cornell is a great place if you find the right group. There are many different groups on campus who have very little contact with each other, it is a challenge to reach out and meet people outside of your group. Academics can be a little stressful, but it is like that at all high powered schools.

Sam

I genuinely like Cornell. A lot. The school is the biggest of the Ivy League schools (approximately 13,000 undergraduate students), but does not feel like a very big school once you arrive. Joining a fraternity or sorority also goes a long way toward making the school feel smaller, as it gives you a very defined group of peers. This isn't to say one needs to join Greek life to enjoy Cornell, but as someone who has pledged a fraternity, I believe it's been helpful and an overwhelmingly good experience. Freshmen all live in freshmen dorms on North Campus at Cornell, Sophomores live either in their fraternity/sorority house or in dorms on West Campus, and Juniors and Seniors tend to live in apartments in Collegetown, which is right next to campus.

K

Cornell is this gigantic, gorgeous campus filled with smart students, brilliant and caring professors, and delicious, delicious food. At no other school would I be able to walk over a gorge every day on my way to class. I'd say that I'd make the campus a bit less hilly, but quite honestly, my calves are looking fantastic. So the hills can stay. When people hear that I go to Cornell, they're impressed! It's a great place to be, and I'm completely honest in saying that. It's a big school when you compare it to others in the Ivy League, but somehow, wherever you're walking, you run into someone you know. And the more time you spend here, the more you feel connected to the campus and the teachers and the librarians and everyone. It becomes familiar very quickly, but it's diverse enough to sustain your attention. That goes for the city of Ithaca and Collegetown too -- whether you're going to the Commons or Collegetown or wherever, even staying on campus, you're always going to find something to do. It's pretty great. Also, pretty much everyone loves President Skorton. He's approachable and you can tell how much he cares about Cornell and all of its students, undergraduate or otherwise. The thing that stands out a lot, to me, is probably the physical beauty of the campus; the buildings, old and new, are gorgeous to look at and be in. There's little that can compare to sitting on a couch by the window in the A. D. White library, looking over Cayuga Lake and seeing the entire hillside of trees change color. There are nature paths through the gorges and around the lakes. This is incredibly unique, and it was a main draw in why I chose Cornell.

Bryce

The workload is obviously difficult, but there are so many interesting classes and fun events and that always going that it's great being here.

Bryce

The workload is obviously difficult, but there are so many interesting classes and fun events and that always going that it's great being here.

Zac

I love it. There are tons of people studying all different things. If you can think of an activity that you want to pursue, we have it. The campus may be big, but it doesn't feel big. All of the colleges have great reputations. There's a great work hard, play hard attitude. That pretty much sums it up. Our football team isn't the best, and they nickle and dime you for everything, but as a whole Cornell is pretty great. It's true there are some nasty stereotypes, like everyone is stressed and suicidal, or that it's the school for everyone who didn't get into the other Ivies, but these just aren't true. The campus is beautiful, the people are great, and the food is some of the best you'll find on a campus. You can really do whatever you want here.

Alex

The campus is very large and there is a diverse student body. Some dorms are much bigger/nicer/more convenient than others. It has the widest variety of majors that I've ever seen. However, I must say that you should be as cautious as possible when it comes to choosing classes and majors. Taking a class that's too difficult for you or that is not geared to your interests or skills can massacre your GPA.

Dylan

Cornell has the most beautiful campus and natural setting. I wish there were more things to do off campus though, because we are isolated and in the middle of nowhere and the whole frat scene gets old after a while. The campus is quite large, but the student body isn't. The Cornell hills will give you calves of steel in by the end of your first semester. College town is great, and the Ithaca residents are.. interesting to say the least.

Alex

The food at Cornell is worth it. People might think that food is a small part of college life, but when faced with the same thing 3 times a day for 4 years, it does play an important part of your lifestyle. Some people worry they may even lose all their weight by avoiding the food, but with the healthy food and the long walks, it does allow you to have a pretty good lifestyle

Emma

The best thing about Cornell is it's size. It's big, but separated into smaller communities by the seven colleges, majors, and by organizations. People are always impressed when I say I go to Cornell, and having a big school that everyone's heard of definitely helped in getting a job. There is also a lot of pride that Cornellians take in their school, which is partially due to the huge amount of work. We've all been through it together and we can complain about the school, but if anyone else tries to insult it, we will defend it. Most of my time I spent on campus, between classes, activities, and the library. However, collegetown is one of the best things about Cornell. Collegetown is a neighborhood right off campus where most people live their junior and senior year. It's full of everything a college student needs (coffee, bars, barbers, grocery stores, liquor store, etc). Undergrads don't spend much time going any further into Ithaca than Collegetown, but there are a lot of good restaurants in Ithaca common.

Alex

Cornell has been quite the experience this first year. It curriculum is rigorous and one might say it is even unfair. The campus is beautiful, but how could you really enjoy it with the cold weather practically half the year. I am no fan of the cold but after living there, 45 degree weather became warm to me, at least warm enough to go out with a t-shirt. The dining at Cornell is really good, an array of items to choose from and there is rarely anything that doesn't taste good. Cornell is the right school when it comes to preparing you for higher education, such as medical or law school.

Kat

Cornell always seems so busy to me. The classes are rather short to my thinking (most are 50 minutes) and in the big lectures halls of the freshman engineering classes, that leaves little time for anything other than desperately trying to keep up with the teacher's lecture. The rest of a student's spare time seems to fill up all too easily with everything from homework to a required film showing to the obnoxious alcohol test they require every student to take. Thus, everything, from getting soda to making friends to getting help on the last stupid math problem that isn't making sense has to be carefully planned out. Cornell, while a truly wonderful, can make someone so busy that spontaneity tends to fall by the wayside unless (and here's the paradox) a student plans for it. Cornell's a juggling act, and the more you get involved the more balls appear.

Amanda

Cornell has a gorgeous campus in the middle of a fun town. When the weather is good, it is great, but when its bad, its horrible. Be prepared for a loooooong and brutal winter, and because the campus is so big, you are always doing alot of walking. Collegetown is really close and has tons of restaurants and a few good bars, and the Commons (the downtown part of Ithaca) is maybe a mile a way and has even more to offer. Frat life is a big thing on campus too.

Bobby

The campus is beautiful, the professors are the best in the field, and you really get a great education. The campus feel is great, but Ithaca is a bit too rural for most.

Jamie

Cornell is a large school, on a large campus, with a good sized student body. Coming from a very small highschool class the school seems quite large. For me, I had to accept that I was going to eb treated by the administration as a number in a system, unless I stepped up and made my financial, or academic issues clearly known to someone who could help. This is not for everyone. This accomidates the headstrong student more than the lax, who expects, or hopes for help from above. Cornell is also quite diverse in the student population. Granted I come from a very white town, but most of my classmates agree there are quite a large varietry of cultures, origins, personalities and so on to explore, if you choose, througout the campus. A major Con aboout the University, being so large and machine like is the lack of flexibility it has. While it is quite open to many classes between various disciplines, the ones that are not explicitly set aside as cross-college course are hard to get into. For instance, I cannot take a drawing class at the Fine Art School as a student at the school for Arts and Sciences. Originally I was told the wait list was three years, and now it is for fine arts majors only. This did, and still seems rediculous to me and and my family. The money is the biggest issue for most. You can't get around it very easily, be prepared to deal with it AHEAD of time.

Kim

Whenever I tell someone I go to Cornell, they almost always ask "What was your SAT score?" or say "Oh, you must be smart." Awkward!!

KJ

A few things I LOVE about Cornell... 1. The PEOPLE- I come a big state-school-college-town in the Midwest, and I've been somehat conditioned to thinking that staying in state is the best option. Coming to Cornell has introduced me to so many amazingly talented people; not just academically, but artistically, athletically, and socially. The people really make the Cornell name worth having. 2. The FOOD- Quality dorm food is a really important 'make it or break it' element of college life, and Cornell has got it down! Lots of options in Ithaca and you'll definitely appreciate the fun dining hall themed nights and Sunday brunches. 3. The ENVIRONMENT- Cornell is a little isolated compared to Columbia's NYC, but it's relatively safe and not too far from other fun activities. In my book, it's a GREAT college town. Cornell's size is also another aspect I love. The majority of classes are rather large, but you can still find the intimate classroom settings if you want. 4. The OPPORTUNITIES- AWESOME skiing! AWESOME speakers!

Emily

I was really worried that I would feel lost at such a large university. However, even as a freshman, I got to know professors very well, made tons of friends, and felt perfectly comfortable and like I had a place at the school. I know it's a cliche, but Ithaca really is gorgeous. Walking across thundering gorges on my way to class everyday is just a part of being a student. There is really so much to do on campus that you don't even have to leave. And, if you do tire of Ithaca, we're only hours away from Syracuse (great shopping!), Philly, Boston, and NYC.

Doug

There's definitely a decent amount of school pride. People tend to be pretty mature after freshman year there. A lot of kids come in and have never had alchohol in high school before and by the end of freshman year they've sort of grown up in a way. Freshman live in their own section called "North Campus." This makes it easier for people to make friends in a world where everyone else has already established their social sphere. Sophmores usually either live in frats, the dorms (west campus, or collegetown. I would say the split is 30{4a082faed443b016e84c6ea63012b481c58f64867aa2dc62fff66e22ad7dff6c}, 35{4a082faed443b016e84c6ea63012b481c58f64867aa2dc62fff66e22ad7dff6c}, 35{4a082faed443b016e84c6ea63012b481c58f64867aa2dc62fff66e22ad7dff6c}. A lot of guys join frats. Junior and Senior year a lot of people move off campus. This is less because they don't have housing available and more because they want to experience living in the downtown area that has a lot of cool bars etc. It's also nice to experience living life on your own. People are pretty involved. Most people you meet will be involved in at least a few things outside of class. As an engineer I joined a couple student run project teams. There's definitely a lot of community service going on etc. The campus tries to harp on diversity, but there's also a lot of natural segregation that occurs. They have african american, native american, and latin american dorms where kids can get a better "cultural experience." It usually turns out that these kids just feel pretty small in a body of white and asian kids and feel uncomfortable not living in these dorms with people of similar culture and background.

Emily

Opportunities, opportunities, opportunities! Cornell offers so many things you won't know what to do with yourself. Because you're studying a lot, you won't have the time to do as much as you might want to. Here is my advice: take advantage of everything you can. For example, I saw Mike Huckabee speak, and I initially knew nothing about him. I wasn't particularly interested in seeing him, but the opportunity to see such a prominent political figure live and for free tempted me to go...the two hours that I spent at this event turned out to be TOTALLY worth my time! One warning: Cornell may suck you in, especially if you're an over achiever, like I am. Don't be afraid to drop a class/activity if you have to. Each semester begins somewhat easily, and you may think that you can handle a lot, but once the first round of prelims comes around, you're going to be working your butt off and probably stressing out a lot and not sleeping very much. If you refuse to drop anything (like me), take lotsbreaks and make sure to venture away from your textbooks and learn about life. Please don't regret not having spent enough time getting to know the people around you. The people around you are truly fascinating and can teach you so many things if you open up your mind (and schedule).

Erin

I love Cornell to death. I'm back home and all I want to do is go back. The best thing about Cornell is the campus itself- it's BEAUTIFUL!! You will never in the world find a more pretty campus- especially when the spring comes and all of a sudden everything blooms together so the entire campus comes alive- and not just with the plants. Once spring hits, the campus goes from kind of a ghost town because it's too damn cold to be outside to a playground with kids playing frisbee, soccer, football, whatever, everywhere you turn. Cornell's campus is really big- you're going to walk A LOT. If you have to get from the Arts Quad to the Plant Science buildings in 15 minutes, RUN! Haha no you don't have to run, just walk fast. (But don't worry, unless you're taking really, really, really random classes, you won't have to do that often at all. Most of your classes are near each other based on your major and school.) Here at Cornell we always laugh that we live in the "Cornell bubble". Cornell is in Ithaca, NY- ya, I didn't know where that was either when I first applied. But Cornell has just about everything you need to keep you busy: we've got a pretty decent mall about 10 minutes north, Ithaca Commons at the bottom of the hill about 10 minutes away, and then we've got Collegetown right at the western edge of campus. Collegetown is really awesome if you want food that you've never had before. There is just about every type of ethnic restaurant you could think of: Chinese, Japanese, Indian, Mediterranean, American (pizza, grilled food, etc), there's a Starbucks... you name it, we got it. The only problem with Collegetown is that apart from the Starbucks, there really isn't any big chain food places like Panera or Qudoba. BUT there is this really, really, really awesome bagel/coffee/ice cream place called Collegetown Bagels and they will make you any kind of bagel sandwich you could think of. They also have really, really good baked goods (cookies, pastries, etc) and it's not really overpriced. My biggest beef with Cornell is the administration, especially the Bursar Office, and Gannett Health Care services. Cornell is not known for very friendly help when it comes to helping people out, especially when it comes to the bill for Cornell. As you probably know, Cornell is freaking ridiculously expensive, and I swear to God they find every last way to squeeze money out of you. One of their biggest incomes I'm sure is from Gannett Health Services- and they SUCK! You go in there with a cold that may be a sinus infection and the minute you step in they make you wear this hideous mask to "protect others from your germs". Then you wait a freaking long-ass time and when you finally see someone, they ask you at least 3 or 4 times if you're pregnant, even after the nurse before the doctor wrote it down! NO I'M NOT PREGNANT, I JUST NEED SOME DAMN ANTIBIOTICS!!! Anyways, once you finally get out of there (with them performing a hundred extra tests "to help you"... that naturally cost extra) you go to get your prescription and you realize they don't take your health insurance. Now you can pay for the one Cornell provides and it's all easy, but if you have one that isn't one of the 10 or 15 that they work with, you get to pay for the whole damn thing and then take your receipt and send it in to get a rebate/cash back from your own insurance company. And 9 times out of 10, they gave you the wrong prescription or none at all and you're forced to suffer out your cold/infection.

Molly

Cornell is the largest of the Ivy's... it is apparently the easiest one to get into, and perhaps the hardest to graduate from. I agree with that generalization - the workload is difficult and the academic climate of the university is quite intense. I lived in Japan during my sophomore year and whenever I told people I went to Cornell, they would always say "Oh! You must be very bright!" So even across the ocean we have a good reputation, but we work hard for it.

Jesse

The campus is huge. I usually just walk to class because it's good to exercise. It takes me about 20-25 minutes to walk to class so I get a good amount of cardio everyday. Slope day is great.

Steve

The campus is vast and there is always a new place to discover. The second part of the motto "any person, any study" is accurate. There is truly opportunity to do significant work in any field.

Owen

The best thing about Cornell is the people. I love the people I met here freshman year- I made so many friends from all over the world. The diversity here is incredible, and the majority of people are genuinely nice. I think the size is perfect- you're always discovering a new place to eat, new coffeeshop, or new people. I love the big campus- I never feel bored & it's great exercise. There is a lot of pride here; everyone loves Cornell and supports sports teams- I also love that aspect of Cornell. The classes here are difficult, and there is a lot of work, but everyone survives and realizes it was all worth it. Ithaca is relatively small, but there are a lot of great restaurants and shops in Collegetown within walking distance from the main campus. Overall, I love it here & couldn't imagine myself anywhere else!

Jen

Cornell is the perfect size. Opportunities abound; there is always someone new to meet or something new to do.

Shawn

Most frequent student complaint, and the thing I dislike most about Cornell, is the "Big Red Tape" that administration and campus agencies make us jump through to accomplish things, especially as student groups. "Where is the money going?" is a huge issue- recently Cornell finally reformed its financial aid policy, nearly 5 years after peer institutions such as Harvard had reduced or eliminated loans in their need-based finaid packages. And while many professors are inspirational, talented, and just all round good teachers and mentors, the few "bad apples" that continue to teach the same course (badly) for many years really puts a damper on the quality of education. I suppose the best thing about Cornell is the sheer amount of opportunity to do whatever you want, inside and outside the classroom. Also, the name Cornell can open doors to internships, interviews, and employment. Honestly, after surviving 4 grueling semesters as a physical science major here, I can appreciate why the Cornell name seems to vet candidates- Cornell will push you to your limits, academically and emotionally, and you (as a typical Cornellian) will react by pushing yourself even harder. I just finished my finals, so take what I say with a grain of salt. That said, I believe this is worth it.

Michele

It has SOOOO much to offer! definitely a big school but the many clubs and activities, whether they are academically oriented or more social, or volunteer type, give people a place to meet others and find a smaller group of friends. I feel like being in the college of engineering has been SO demanding that I haven't really had time to take advantage of all that is at my fingertips at Cornell - shows, club performances, volunteer activities, speakers, concerts, Ithaca events, etc etc. I spent a lot of time studying and doing work, though there is a substantial collegetown with about 8 or so bars that get crowded on weekends. There is a good deal of school pride, especially when it comes to 2 of the sports that we are good at (hockey and lacrosse), and within my major there is a lot of pride too!

Kai

Cornell "nickel and dimes" its student population, and many students complain about this, but I guess we have to assume that they have to. It is the right size. Socially, it relies heavily upon its large Greek system, seemingly to a fault. This seems to be another complaint of some students.

Emily

The best thing about cornell is the outstanding education and the connections you'll have after graduation. I love the large size of it because Ithaca is kind of isolated, so having a large student body doesnt make you feel as distant from the rest of the world. The social life at cornell is mostly greek life dominated. Frat parties are very very popular and common.

Jen

The school is large, but you always see the same people so it seems small. It also depends on what your major is. Some people are impressed by Cornell, others have never heard about it. The school has pride, but is not a State School type of atmosphere if that is what you are looking for.

Melissa

The best thing about Cornell is the great mix of academia and fun. Students here know how to work really really hard, but they also know how to let loose and have fun when they can afford to. One thing I would change, is to somehow lessen the school work and place more of an emphasis on more experiential learning. The size of the campus is perfect, large enough that you can be relatively anonymous when you want to, and small enough that I can walk to class from my residence off campus and will be sure to see at least ten people I know.

Erin

The campus is too large. In order to get from collegetown to north you have to take a twenty minute bus, or a forty minute hike. Because of this most of the time is spent in one location or spent running around.

michelle

The best thing about Cornell is the student body. Students are diverse and incredibly down to earth, and the Cornell community is so large that there is always something going on.

Josh

Very pretty campus.