Lauren Q.
I am part of the Organization of Urban and Regional Studies; Architecture, Art, and Planning Ambassadors; Architecture, Art, and Planning Community Crew; Big Red Thon; Big Red Marching Band; Big Red Pep Band; Cornell University Indoor Drumline; and JAM Program House Resident.
My favorite thing about Cornell is the community. I always felt like I had struggled to fit in when I was in high school. Now, I feel like I have found my place and I feel beyond blessed with the amazing connections I have made with peers and professors across the University.
The College of Art, Architecture, and Planning is a great fit for me because of the amazing professors and the unique opportunities that are available to get involved with other students. The low student-to-faculty ratio for my major encourages me to have more personal conversations with my professors and TAs. Getting involved in Ambassadors and Community Crew for my college lets me live out my dream of being a tour guide while building connections with other students and being a familiar face for students as they make their arrival at Cornell.
My favorite part about majoring in Urban and Regional Studies is the endless possibilities for what to focus on in the major and what to pursue after completing the undergraduate degree. Personally, I have a passion for real estate and how it fits in with the urban environment. My major allows me to explore that through a wider lens while considering other factors such as transportation, policy, and economic development. There are also many options available for what to pursue after graduation such as a master's degree in regional planning, a master's degree in real estate, law school, etc.
I found most of my friends in my major during orientation week. We left our final orientation to go explore campus and we have not left each other's sides since. I also have gained some friends through the Big Red Marching Band and Big Red Pep Band. It felt like home for me when I arrived at Fischell Band Center, as my favorite part of high school was participating in music ensembles.
I chose Cornell because of the Urban and Regional Studies major. Nowhere else around me had the major and I did not even know it was a major until I toured here with my twin sister. When I sat in on the presentation in Milstein Auditorium, I walked out knowing that it was exactly the major I had been searching for.
My favorite thing to do in Ithaca is go to Stewart Park to sit on a bench and spend time with my boyfriend. It is a beautiful viewpoint to look at Cayuga Lake and you can often catch some really pretty sunsets on the water.
My favorite memory so far was parents weekend this year. My twin sister came up and surprised me, and she even got to play her instrument with me at the football and hockey games.
My family inspires me the most. They have always believed in me and helped me to believe in myself. Shoutout to my sister, mom, dad, and grandparents! I truly would not be here without their love and support.
My favorite class so far has been CRP 1103: Observing the City. It was very hands-on and got me to explore Ithaca ranging from the Commons to the wastewater treatment plant. I also got to meet a lot of the kids in my major as we split off into smaller groups.
The Organization of Urban and Regional Studies usually takes a once-a-semester trip. In the fall of 2023, we went to Pittsburgh for a 3-day, 2-night trip to explore the city. We got to meet with alumni over dinner, take guided tours around the college areas, and visit the nearby trolley museum. We even had free time to explore the city without guidelines.
I believe that the beautiful campus makes the Cornell experience unique. Walking from North Campus to Central Campus is always so breathtaking as the sound of the falls floats from the background. Having our own botanical gardens shows the overwhelming beauty and size of campus, as well as wonderful geographic features such as the Libe slope.
My favorite spot in Ithaca is Ithaca Falls. It is nestled into Lake Street, but the view takes my breath away every time.
When I was applying to Cornell, I wish someone gave me the confidence that I could break out of the stereotypes put around me that I could not make it at an Ivy League school. Coming from a small town with low test scores, I almost did not apply and doubted my acceptance. I was very nervous to arrive here, but through dedication and opportunities to break out of my shell, I really cannot picture myself going anywhere else.
I would say that my favorite dining hall to eat at is Morrison dining hall because of the variety of options. My favorite thing to order using Big Red Bucks is an orange chicken burrito served at Terrace in the Statler Hotel every Wednesday and Friday.
I am part of the Organization for Urban and Regional Studies (OURS), AAP Ambassadors, and the AAP Community Crew, and I have an on-campus job at the Statler Hotel.
The College of Architecture, Art, and Planning has been a great fit for me for many reasons. One of them is the tight-knit community that the Urban and Regional Studies major offers. My major class size is relatively small, having just over 30 students, allowing me to get to know most of my classmates. This community is an amazing support system I could not imagine going without. The support is not just from my peers; AAP offers all of its students extraordinary support, and their Office of Student Services has been one of the most useful resources I have found.
Urban studies encompass many different aspects of the built environment and how people interact with it, along with how laws affect these interactions. For me, I am the most interested in how laws affect urban poverty and quality of life. People's quality of life in cities is a topic that has become increasingly interesting to me and has become intertwined with my previous passions. These passions have led me to start working toward a public policy minor so I can gain a better understanding of government policy and how policy affects everyday people.
I found reaching out to colleges and ambassadors intimidating when I was applying to college, so I often would wait to email or call. Waiting will not make the intimidation go away, so reach out! The sooner you do, the sooner you will get answers. Everyone you are contacting to help and answer your questions.
Many of my close friends are also in Urban and Regional Studies. Our similar interests allowed us to become friends quickly, and I am so glad that this major allowed me to meet them. I met other friends by living on the same floor of my dorm, and I ran into them multiple times before becoming friends. I also met friends through clubs or from running into them over and over again because of our common schedules.
Exploring Ithaca is one of my favorite things to do. Once I became familiar with Ithaca's public transportation (TCAT), I quickly found it fun to go on solo adventures around Ithaca. From going to the Ithaca Commons to visit the cats at the Alley Cat Cafe to finding new trails to walk, this time to myself is special. Everyone at Cornell is busy, and it's normal to spend a lot of time with other people, so being able to take time to myself to explore new places has become one of my favorite things to do in Ithaca.
I am currently the trip planner for OURS, the Organization for Urban and Regional Studies. This year, I was able to join the club for an overnight trip to Pittsburgh. I loved this trip, and I got to know both club members and the city. We met with officials and Cornell alumni that offered a lot of information about the city. I was also able to join our second trip of the year to Utica. I had never been to Utica before and being able to see the city and meet with their officials was enlightening. I am excited to work with other club members next year to make future trips even better.
I never thought I would miss chicken noodle soup when coming to college, but chicken noodle soup was the one I missed the most. One of the best places to get it on campus is Goldie's Cafe, and I go at least once a week to get it during the winter. They also have great sandwiches to get for lunch as well. Overall, Goldie's has some of the best cafe food.
People are what make the Cornell experience unique. There are so many different types of people here who are passionate about different things with different real world experiences than me. Being able to learn from everyone's experiences is an opportunity I wouldn't trade for the world. People here are outspoken, passionate, and opinionated. I came to Cornell to learn. I am happy to say I don't just learn from professors. I learn from every person I talk to.
I have many study spots on campus that I like to frequent. One of my favorites is the Dean's Room in Uris Library. The room has both desks and comfortable chairs. The library is in a convenient location for when I need to get work done between classes, and the Dean's Room specifically always has space.
One of my favorite places in Ithaca is the Alley Cat Cafe. This cafe has two of my favorite things: cats and coffee! If I'm on the Ithaca Commons, I always stop by the cafe to grab a coffee, but when I am missing my cat, I like to take the time to sit with the cafe's cats. It helps me not miss my cat as much and is a great place to just relax if I have had a particularly busy week.
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