Alex Q.
What drew me most was the sheer breadth and depth of Cornell's academic resources. I wanted a place where intellectual curiosity was not just welcomed but actively nurtured, and Cornell delivered on that promise.
The Cornell Dairy Bar, without question. Their chicken avocado sandwich is absolutely outstanding; it's the kind of meal that genuinely makes your day better. If you haven't tried it yet, please do yourself a favor.
I love heading down to the lake to feel the breeze and sketch. There's something about sitting by the water with a sketchbook that completely resets my mind, it's become my favorite way to decompress.
Surprisingly, it's finals season. Not the stress itself, but the sense of solidarity that comes with it, everyone gathered together, sharing notes, encouraging each other, pulling through as a community. Those moments of mutual support are something I'll carry with me long after graduation.
The chimes of the McGraw Tower. Hearing them drift across campus at unexpected moments has a way of grounding me, reminding me of what I value and what kind of person I want to be. It sounds simple, but there's a quiet moral clarity in that sound.
CHLIT 2214. This course asked me to sit with difficult questions about literature, culture, and the self, and genuinely changed how I see the world by Ancient Chinese Philosophy. It pushed me toward a deeper kind of self-examination that I think will stay with me for years.
My cat, Nixon, a tabby who has absolutely no idea how much he contributes to my academic career. Studying with him curled up nearby makes even the hardest problem sets feel manageable. He's an unofficial but highly valued member of my Cornell journey.
I plan to pursue graduate study, a master's and eventually a doctoral degree in Information Science. I'm excited to go deeper into research and contribute meaningfully to the field.
Know what you want to get out of your college experience before you arrive. Cornell offers an extraordinary range of resources, but it's easy to let them pass you by if you haven't thought intentionally about your own growth. Be proactive; your development as a person matters just as much as your GPA.
Mann Library. The atmosphere there strikes a perfect balance, quiet and focused, but never cold or sterile. It's where I do my best thinking. Also, a lot of beautiful Bonsai.
Cornell Herp Club
The Cornell Botanic Gardens. Walking through there feels like stepping outside of time. It's beautiful in every season and one of the most underappreciated gems Cornell has to offer.
Bathing in a beautiful sunset on the slope.
Cornell CALS is an excellent fit for me because it aligns closely with both my academic focus and the way I approach learning. As a student majoring in Statistics & Biometry and Information Science, I am particularly interested in using quantitative methods and computational tools to understand real-world problems. CALS' strong emphasis on applying data science to fields like public health, environmental systems, and human behavior directly matches my goal of working at the intersection of data and impactful, real-life applications. Also, I am naturally inclined to connect ideas across fields rather than study them in isolation, and CALS actively supports this through flexible curricula and cross-department collaboration. This allows me to combine statistical rigor with insights from information systems, which strengthens both my analytical thinking and practical problem-solving skills. I also value the inclusive and collaborative environment within CALS. As an international student, I appreciate being part of a community that encourages diverse perspectives and open dialogue. This sense of belonging has made me more confident in participating in discussions, group projects, and campus activities.
My academic passion lies in pursuing a career in the biopharmaceutical industry, where I can apply statistical and computational methods to solve problems related to health, medicine, and human well-being. What I enjoy most about studying Biometry & Statistics and Information Science at Cornell is not only the rigorous foundation in data analysis and modeling, but also how these tools are constantly connected to real-world scientific challenges. One aspect that has genuinely surprised and inspired me is the breadth and quality of academic talks and seminars available on campus. Cornell regularly hosts researchers from leading institutions who present cutting-edge work at the intersection of statistics, machine learning, and applied sciences. For example, I attended a talk by Yihong Gu that explored how to identify stable, causal relationships in complex and changing data environments. This topic directly relates to challenges in biomedical research, where distinguishing true causal effects from spurious correlations is critical. In addition, events organized by departments such as mathematics and statistics expose me to emerging areas like advanced statistical theory and its applications in new scientific domains. These experiences expand my perspective beyond coursework and help me understand how theoretical tools can be translated into impactful innovations. Overall, what I value most is that Cornell creates an intellectually rich environment where I can continuously connect my academic training to meaningful, real-world applications in biomedicine.
My favorite resource is the Stats Lab at the Learning Strategies Center. A senior I look up to was working there and recommended it to me; I'm so glad he did. The tutors are genuinely warm and enthusiastic, and they have a way of introducing unexpected problem-solving techniques and fresh ways of thinking that I never would have found on my own. One tip: come prepared with your class notes so the tutor can quickly orient themselves to your course's specific material and give you the most targeted, useful help possible.
Many of my closest friends are people I lived with my first year. There's something special about sharing a hallway with strangers who quickly become family. I also made a surprising number of connections just by being present, striking up conversations on the way to class or at orientation events. Those early friendships deepened naturally over time, and I feel genuinely lucky to be surrounded by such warm, supportive people.
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