The moment finally arrived. My parents and I hopped out of our fully packed car, following the workers escorting us into a modernistic, chic-looking building.

Barbara McClintock. These two words were displayed on the entrance.  

On August 20th, Cornell Move-In Day, we opened the doors for the first time to the year-long home for my twin sister and I, who, at that point, were filled with emotions of excitement, fear, and worry for our long-awaited “college dorm experience”.  

Would Cornell live up to our expectations that we’ve dreamed of since we were little?  

Long story short: yes, it did.  

As I’m typing this, I’m wrapping up my first semester here, and retrospectively, I have so much to thank this very special building for.

To start off, the layout and atmosphere of McClintock were such that I’ve formed absolutely amazing friendships through the pod-style space, lounge areas, and more. I have met my closest friends and the coolest people through simply doing laundry or attempting the piano located on the main floor. Furthermore, our amazing RA made my twin and I feel instantly comforted in this new chapter of our lives.  

Regardless of which dorm you get placed in, each has its own quirks: for example, Balch Hall is known to be more “homey” cozy while the newest trio (RBG, McClintock, and Hu Shih) gives off a clean, sleek image.

However, all residential halls share its similarities; each contains a shared kitchen (be prepared to try many diverse meals cooked by random students), study rooms for when you need to lock in (or host 3 am yap sessions), and a main lounge (the best spontaneous friendships will be built here). Of course each dorm has its own quirks, like McClintock, which comprises a Wellness Room filled with tens of board games.  

It would be wrong for me to praise the aesthetics and layout of my dorm without also acknowledging our amazing janitors, who do an exceptional job maintaining it. Many students have built strong relationships with our staff, including our Faculty in Residence who provide amazing support and opportunities to students, adding another layer of community to this diverse environment.  

Our dorm hosts weekly dessert get-togethers called Barbara Bites every Tuesday. Here, students receive a little pick-me-up and wind down. As a part of the Barbara Board (pictured above), I also help plan out fun events within the dorm, like our recent Decorate Your Door event to celebrate the fall/winter season.  

All of these things have truly made my time thus far at Cornell’s housing amazing, and I’m thankful for the amazing friendships and camaraderie that came along. So, if you’re coming to Cornell, be prepared to enjoy your new home! :)

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