Krissia T. Krissia wanted to attend a school with a strong Indigenous community on campus, and she’s found a robust community here at Cornell. She loves that Ithaca’s hills, waterfalls, and greenery remind her of home, and she hopes to take her education from Cornell’s SC Johnson College of Business back to help her Indigenous community in Point Hope, Alaska. Read Full Story Point Hope, Alaska

Najiullah B. Najiullah is a Cornellian from Afghanistan graduating in 2026. Entering the College of Arts & Sciences (A&S) as an Undecided major, he is now pursuing a degree in Computer Science, and appreciates that A&S allows him to continue to explore his broad range of interests like Astronomy and Entrepreneurship. Read Full Story Kabul, Afghanistan

Isabel L. As a student at the Cornell Brooks School of Public Policy, Isabel found friends and an intellectually stimulating community in the school’s intimate atmosphere. Now Isabel is building a strong foundation in her pre-med track and thriving due to her involvement in the Cornell Policy Group, the Queer Pre-Health Association, The Daily Sun, and the Cornell Healthcare Review. Read Full Story Ridgewood, New Jersey

Bintou D. Coming from a small international school, Bintou wanted to find a similarly small community while still having access to the people and resources a larger university affords. She found that in the ILR school at Cornell, and whether it's her friends, her mentors, or her professors, she considers “the people” her favorite thing about the university. Read Full Story The Gambia

Kammi W. Kammi, an Applied Economics and Management major with a penchant for real-world experiences, thrives on the opportunities Dyson provides and finds the robust alumni and professional network helps fuel exploration across diverse sectors. Her go-to student resource on campus? The OADI office, discovered during her Pre-Collegiate Summer Scholars Program. When studying, Kammi retreats to the law school lounges and the serene Catherwood Library. Beyond campus, she finds Stewart Park a tranquil haven by Cayuga Lake, perfect for picnics and relaxing walks. Read Full Story Queens, New York

Katlynn R. Katlynn values Cornell's academic environment and explores her passions through unique engineering opportunities offered in classrooms and through student organizations. Katlynn finds inspiration in her hardworking classmates, and post-graduation, she plans to pursue an M.Eng degree before working in tech. Read Full Story Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam; Seoul, South Korea; Las Vegas, Nevada

Jordan N. Jordan’s passion for exploration and connection has shaped her college experience. Engaged in various campus activities, including serving as the treasurer of the Women's Club Softball Team and being a Big Red Ambassador, Jordan also finds that the College of Arts & Sciences fosters her curiosity, allowing her to explore subjects like hard sciences and Near Eastern Studies as she settled on her economics major. Read Full Story New Rochelle, New York

Leina M. Leina thrives in the diverse intellectual landscape the College of Arts & Sciences provides, and with academic interests ranging from data science to poetry analysis, Leina knows better than anyone that the college emphasizes breadth of study. Around campus, Leina dives into research and her work as an admissions ambassador, and she's become a human map! After challenging herself to take every bus route, she has found many favorite and niche places in the Finger Lakes region. Read Full Story Portland, Oregon

Karlah C. Karlah pursues Biology & Society at the College of Agriculture & Life Sciences (CALS), where she loves delving into the societal implications of healthcare. Karlah's post-graduation plans include applying to medical school to become an OBGYN, and her goal is to work specifically in infertility treatment and open an IVF clinic. On campus, she stays engaged in various clubs and activities while enjoying all that Ithaca and Cornell offer. Read Full Story Bronx, New York

Hamid R. Hamid, an aspiring computer scientist from Afghanistan, takes advantage of the many resources Cornell offers its students. He can be found relaxing on Libe Slope or studying in Uris Library and is grateful for the expansive academic possibilities he finds in the College of Arts & Sciences curriculum. Read Full Story Afghanistan

Ariela A. Ariela brings passion and purpose to her community. Her interdisciplinary coursework spanning sociology, economics, law, public policy, and political science, plus her internship at the White House, prepare her for a career in public service. Beyond academics, she founded Refugee Scholars in Ithaca and is hoping to become a volunteer firefighter, part of her commitment to serving the city she loves. Read Full Story Chicago, Illinois

Melaina T. As an AAP Ambassador within the College of Architecture, Art, and Planning, Melaina bridges her love for art with her commitment to community. The BFA program allows her to explore diverse interests through elective classes while, outside of the classroom, she revels in all of the activities available at a large university. Melaina’s journey at Cornell is a canvas painted with passion, community, and boundless creativity. Read Full Story Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Jeffrey R. Jeffrey’s Cornell journey is filled with exciting experiences and a passion for giving back. As a member of Colombianos Unidos, Footvolley Club, Aviation Club, and Running Club, and as an Academic Excellence Workshop Facilitator, he is deeply involved in campus life. The College of Engineering provides the support and flexibility for him to thrive as he explores his interests on campus and abroad. Read Full Story Fairfield, Connecticut

Daniel D. As a Public Policy major at the Brooks School, Daniel is driven by a desire to use his education to impact the world positively. Support across campus, from the Career Exploration Center to the Veteran Services Team, has been invaluable, providing mentorship, career preparation, and a seamless transition from military service to academia. Daniel feels he’s found a home at Cornell that champions community and personal growth. Read Full Story Norwalk, Connecticut

Mary E. Even before her first semester began, Mary found community and support by attending Cornell’s Pre-Collegiate Summer Scholars Program. Now, with hands-on classes like Equine Management that give her the opportunity to apply classroom learnings, and student organizations like Minority Animal Science Students, she is well-prepared to achieve her goal of returning to her community, the Gila River Indian Reservation, to practice veterinary medicine. Read Full Story Tempe, Arizona

Alexandra G. Alexandra’s Cornell story is one of appreciation for the small things the campus and community have to offer: professors eager to have undergraduates in their research labs, walking past waterfalls on the way to class, attending chimes concerts at McGraw Tower, and paddleboarding or watching hot air balloons take off at nearby Cayuga Lake. The collaborative spirit and robust academic support at Cornell Engineering have only solidified her belief that this is the perfect place for her. Read Full Story Bedford Corners, New York

Jonna C. With her family's nonprofit dedicated to aiding children with rare diseases, Jonna has seamlessly blended her love for business and healthcare at Cornell. This unique combination empowers her to continue making a difference for rare disease patients. On top of that, Jonna has found incredible support for her own health condition through campus resources and the unwavering encouragement of her professors, forging strong, impactful relationships along the way. Read Full Story Howell, New Jersey

Saty P-T. Saty is passionate about evolutionary biology and biodiversity, especially in the world of things that creep and crawl. Cornell's location is perfect for someone who enjoys nature and biology, but she also appreciates that you aren't limited to the coursework required for your major, and took full advantage of the variety of courses offered. Read Full Story Honolulu, Hawaii, United States

Rose X. The program has helped me connect with faculty, learn how to find research opportunities, and navigate different situations that come up in the research process. Read Full Story Ningbo, China

Rowan L. Starting out as someone who had no idea how to even start applying to labs, the Rawlings program helped me immensely in navigating Cornell research. Read Full Story Dallas, TX

Matt B. The experience helped to solidify my decision to pursue engineering professionally, and I learned a ton of skills. Read Full Story Belmont, CA

Elizabeth M. As a pre-med student, Elizabeth wanted to study the sciences and continue studying Italian. The College of Arts and Sciences afforded her the perfect opportunity to do so at a university with strong school spirit, a well-connected campus, and a strong sense of community. Read Full Story Brookville, NY, USA