Sofia S.
Pickleball Club, Cornell Health Education and Awareness Raising Together (HEART) Club, Cornell Undergraduate Research Board Peer Mentor Program, and Alpha Chi Omega Sorority.
How beautiful and expansive the campus is, especially during fall. I already have so many photos of campus on my phone, including incredible sunsets and the changing of the leaves at Cornell. There are so many places to go on campus, and all have their own feel.
I chose Cornell because there are endless opportunities here to follow your passions and gain new experiences. There are so many on-campus labs, clubs, and organizations to get involved with.
My go-to place to eat on campus is Big Red Barn, and my go-to thing to order is their Pesto Chicken sandwich. They also have these dark chocolate quinoa crisps that are so good. The atmosphere at Big Red Barn is also very cozy and warm; it feels like you are in a ski lodge. It's perfect to warm up on a cold autumn or winter day, and I love to grab lunch and get some work done during the day.
I love to go to the Ithaca Farmers Market on the weekends and grab a maple latte and a breakfast burrito. The farmers market is on the lake, and it is super pretty at the beginning of the fall semester. It is super lively, and you get a feel for the Ithaca community as a whole.
My favorite Cornell memory is when my family came up this semester to visit. They even brought our dog, Charlie. We went hiking around Ithaca and ate delicious food in the Commons (I highly recommend Taste of Thai).
I am inspired by my family, who have worked very hard to give me the opportunity to go here and still work very hard; especially my dad and mom. I am inspired by seeing my family members work hard for their dreams and goals, and I want to do the same.
My favorite class so far is Islam and Gender. We cover very interesting topics about how gender factors into one's religion, and even get into the topic of queerness. There is so much freedom to write what you wish on the papers. It's also a small class, and it is mostly discussion-based, so you can interact directly with your fellow students and your professor.
Cornell is an academically rigorous school, but the student body is not competitive; if anything, they are uplifting. I have met tutors who will do anything they can to help you with your problem set, classmates who go out of their way to help you, teachers who understand that problems arise and are flexible when it comes to personal health, and more. People at Cornell are not here to put others down; they are here to lift others and themselves up, and that's what makes Cornell a great academic institution.
I plan to take a gap year and then attend medical school!
My favorite place to study is Mann Library. The Mann cafe is a great place to grab a coffee, and then I head to the second floor to study by the windows. It's great to study in the late evening and have the sunlight filtering through the windows.
My favorite spot on campus is the ILR courtyard. There are tables to sit outside and do work and there is so much greenery around. It feels super secluded and on a warm sunny day it's wonderful. Many people when it's warm will sit on the grass and eat their lunch.
CALS is a great fit for me because it is the largest school on campus and there is so much diversity in what people study and where they come from. I know people majoring in animal science, communication, landscape architecture, and so much more. CALS will also bring out animals like small fluffy cows, goats, and sheep for some of our events. CALS is also in charge of the dairy bar, and I have gotten free ice cream from an event!
I like how my major, biological sciences, has a lot of freedom within the major for what you want to specialize in. Biological sciences has concentrations that range from a variety of different biology topics. I am still deciding between cell and molecular biology and nutritional sciences. It's great that you get to decide what your upper-class electives are and have a lot more discretion over your major classes in your last couple of semesters.
The Learning Strategies Center for tutoring is an amazing resource for course help. They have tutors for chemistry, math, biology, and physics. I go to see tutors almost every week for Organic Chemistry 2, and it is super helpful and a great way to get to know some upperclassmen! I discovered them because a friend recommended them to me.
I wish I had known that though the world may seem very heavy right now and it feels like everything depends on where you get into college, there is a path ahead no matter where you get in. You will do amazing things and make amazing connections no matter where you end up!
I found my friends at Cornell through orientation week, through my sorority, and through clubs! A lot of clubs will have their own versions of "big little," and it's a great way to find friends and a form of mentorship.
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