Meet Alexandra

Alexandra’s Cornell story is one of appreciation for the small things the campus and community have to offer: professors eager to have undergraduates in their research labs, walking past waterfalls on the way to class, attending chimes concerts at McGraw Tower, and paddleboarding or watching hot air balloons take off at nearby Cayuga Lake. The collaborative spirit and robust academic support at Cornell Engineering have only solidified her belief that this is the perfect place for her.

What clubs/activities are you involved with on campus?

I am a member of the Cornell Alpine Ski Team, the Biomedical Engineering Society, Big Red Student Ambassadors, the Society of Women Engineers, and the Cornell Rowing Club.

Why is the College of Engineering a great fit for you?

Every engineering class I have taken has always stressed the importance of collaboration. The professors strongly encouraged us to work on problem sets, take-home quizzes, and review lecture notes with friends. This collaborative nature is something Cornell has intentionally built into every aspect of their teaching, which made me realize that I was an excellent fit for Cornell. Being a very visual and interactive learner, I knew that Cornell's approach — incorporating numerous group projects and in-class collaboration time — meant that I would not only get to meet new people in my classes but also understand the material on a deeper level than just listening to lectures, as is common at many other colleges. Wanting to do research as well, I found that almost every professor was enthusiastic and excited to have new undergraduates join their lab. At other universities I looked at, fewer undergraduates were involved in research compared to Cornell. The opportunities to participate in research and the collaborative environment that Cornell Engineering is built upon made it a perfect fit for me.

What is your academic passion?

Being the daughter of a physician, I knew I wanted to go into healthcare to impact the lives that others can live positively. As a biomedical engineer, I have the potential to impact the lives of many more people than if I had my own practice by helping to design solutions to the problems many people face.

What are your go-to campus resources? How did you discover them?

On campus, my go-to resource is the Engineering Learning Initiatives (ELI). One of my biggest fears going into Cornell was that I might fall behind or not know as much as other students in my classes. On a Zoom call before enrolling in classes for my first semester at Cornell, I learned about a class called Academic Excellence Workshop through ELI. This 1-credit, student-led supplemental math class was designed to help students practice solving problems. It was one of the best choices I made — not only did it help me immensely in my class, but I also met one of my closest friends there. I also discovered that ELI offers free, one-on-one tutoring that you can schedule at your convenience to help you feel prepared before exams. These resources support me not only in my classes but also in my research. Through ELI, I received a grant to stay in Ithaca and conduct research over the summer, which was one of my favorite experiences at Cornell so far.

Tell us about your favorite place to study.

My favorite place to study is in the A. D. White Reading Room in Uris Library, particularly next to a window seat overlooking Libe Slope. I also play a fun game where I go into a library or building and see how deep into the building I can get before I can't go any further, and I study there. You'll find that at Cornell, there are a lot of small study spaces hidden within buildings. It is a fun way to discover new study spots while getting to know the Cornell campus better.

What is your favorite class so far, and why?

My favorite class at Cornell was a bioethics class I took as my First-Year Writing Seminar. It was a philosophy course and one of my first classes at Cornell. I had an idea of what I thought a philosophy professor at Cornell would be like, but on the first day, the professor walked in and immediately told us to just call him "Matt." This class had some of the most interesting discussions, and it truly made me think about my work as a biomedical engineer in a new light. It was filled with fun moments and serious debates, expanding how I think ethically about medicine. It was also a class where I met many friends with whom I'm still close today.