Catherine R.
I'm a biological sciences major on a pre-veterinary track, and I've found it so interesting to learn both about broad biology concepts as well as specialized concepts related to my animal physiology concentration.
I've learned that the best resource for me when I am struggling with a concept in a class is office hours, either with a TA or a professor. The transition from high school to college for me was a big one, and I found myself struggling more in courses than I ever was used to. The great thing about Cornell is that there are so many resources out there to help you if you're struggling in a class! College is very academically challenging, but everybody wants you to succeed.
Be yourself in your essays and don't stress! I remember being very worried when I applied because I didn't think my stats would compare as well to others, and I didn't know what I wanted to do after college yet like so many of my friends did. To make up for that I really made sure to showcase my personality in my essay, because at the end of the day Cornell is admitting people, not numbers.
During orientation week, I made sure to attend all the events that Cornell hosted, even if it seemed intimidating or scary, and that's where I met my best friends to this day! I also found community by joining a sorority on campus, and I have found lifetime friends and opportunities through this organization.
I wanted to be able to go to college somewhere far from home on a traditional college campus, and I also wanted to go somewhere where I could take a variety of courses before deciding my major. I am a big gut-feelings person, and as soon as I set foot on campus for my Arts and Sciences tour, I instantly knew that Cornell was where I wanted to spend the next four years of my life.
I get lunch on campus every day, and my favorite place is Trillium, which is set up like a food court. I always get a chicken quesadilla with sour cream and a soda. It's so delicious and is a great pick-me-up between classes!
When it's warm out, I like to go on hikes, and my favorite hike in Ithaca is at Taughannock Falls State Park. When it's not so warm out, I love to go to the Commons and hang out at the cat cafe.
My favorite Cornell memory was Homecoming my first year! In the week leading up to Homecoming, there were so many fun events, like one where we built our own stuffed bear. The night before, there was also a fireworks show on the football field that was super fun to watch! Even though the actual Homecoming game got rained on, I really felt the school spirit that week.
Seeing all of my friends work so hard towards their majors and goals inspires me to do the same! Everybody here is so dedicated to their studies and their passions, and it inspires me to be the same way.
I really enjoyed Music 1212: Music on the Brain. It was such an interesting course because it combined music theory concepts with psychology concepts. The final project was to compose a piece of music and then talk about how that music affects different parts of the brain when one listens to it, and it was so fun to compose a piece of music and also to hear everyone else's compositions!
There are so many people studying so many different things, and as a Cornell student you have the opportunity to take classes in any field you want!
Tri Delta, Arts and Sciences Ambassadors, and rock climbing.
Definitely the people that I've met. People at Cornell are incredibly hard-working and diverse in their interests, and it's been such a great experience to get to know so many different people that I otherwise would not have known.
I came into Cornell undecided. I knew that I wanted to major in something STEM- related, but I wasn't sure what that was. Because I was in Arts and Sciences, I was able to take a variety of courses in different subjects such as math, music, computer science, psychology, information science, and biology before deciding on Biological Sciences as my major.
I plan to attend veterinary school!
I love to study in Mann Library on the first floor. There's a bunch of computer monitors set up so I can project my work onto a bigger screen, and it's such a wide-open space to study in. I also love to study in the Olin stacks at night and pop down to Libe Cafe on my study breaks to grab a hot chocolate, since it's open until 11 pm.
My favorite place on campus is the Lindseth Climbing Center. Whenever I have free time or need a break from studying, I go there to climb and it takes my mind off of whatever is stressful for me. Climbing is a great way to exercise and I love seeing so many familiar faces whenever I visit the gym!
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