When people discover that I’m from Hawaii, the most common question I’m followed up with is, What brought you all the way to Cornell? Here, I share the three main reasons that brought me to a college across the country.  

Unique Areas of Academic Study 

When I started my “college search” in high school, I wasn’t sure what to major in. My interests in and out of the classroom varied: I was fascinated by science and medicine, I loved learning about world language and culture, and I had a long-standing passion for cooking.   

I was on the Cornell Admissions website when I came across the Nutritional Sciences major for the first time — I was immediately drawn to the field as it perfectly captured my interest in health, culture, and food. Upon further research, I discovered that Cornell offered one of the largest undergraduate nutrition departments in the nation! I also wanted to study abroad during college and was excited to learn that Cornell had global and experiential learning programs within the major. I chose Cornell because the academic opportunities aligned with my interests and goals.  

As a current student, I believe the saying, “... any person ... any study,” rings true. Cornell offers a wide variety of majors and minors, and it is amazing how the school provides so many robust, niche programs that would be hard to find at other schools. There is an academic program for everyone at Cornell!   

Nature & Outdoor Recreation 

Having found a passion for outdoor recreation in high school, I wanted to spend my next four years in a place that would foster my sense of outdoor adventure and allow me to experience nature in ways I couldn’t back home. The natural scenery of Ithaca and the outdoor opportunities offered by Cornell Outdoor Education seemed like the perfect match for me.  

Now that I am here, I can attest that the outdoor experiences at Cornell are incredible. Before moving in, I made some of my closest college friends on a six-day backpacking trip through Outdoor Odyssey, Cornell Outdoor Education’s pre-orientation program for first-year students. I’ve tried my hand at rock climbing and cross-country skiing through my PE classes, and I’ve gone ziplining at the Hoffman Challenge Course. I also had my first sledding experience on fresh snow at the Slope — something I could never do back home! The daily walk to class past Beebe Lake and the gorges is remarkable throughout the year, and the sights and sounds of nature in Ithaca are wonderful. I love living in a place where I can experience all four seasons. 

Campus Community 

I knew I wanted to attend a university that had a large and diverse student body; I wished to learn alongside friends, peers, and faculty from different backgrounds and lived experiences. I also wanted to be part of a campus with a strong sense of community and build lasting friendships that would continue even after graduating. As a school located in a college town with a large undergraduate population, Cornell fulfilled both of these desires for me.  

I’ll be honest — a part of me was nervous about attending a large school like Cornell. How would I meet new people? How would I build close friendships in such big classes? However, coming here has made me realize there are many ways to connect with others — clubs, residence halls, campus jobs — and even on such a large campus, you often see familiar faces. Plus, many Cornellians want to meet new friends! I’ve had many positive experiences starting up conversations on campus with people I hadn’t talked to before, and some of them are my closest friends today. It’s a great feeling meeting so many new people on one campus while also forming close friendships — there are so many connections waiting to be made at Cornell!