My name is Emely Rodriguez. I am a first-year student from Long Island, New York. When I was offered admission to the School of Industrial and Labor Relations, I was overjoyed and extremely eager to commit to a program that so closely aligned with both my personal and professional goals. Nonetheless, I was equally anxious at the thought of attending such an esteemed institution as a first-generation college student. Naturally, I was worried that my limited prior knowledge and connections would hinder my success as a student.

As I was applying to college, I was mortified about locking into a “major.”  The blank space I was pondering over in my Cornell application was intimidating – after all, what I choose is going to define my future, right? Am I defining the rest of my life, through this one choice? How could I make such a weighty decision with a click of a button? 

As a prospective student looking at Cornell's housing options, North Campus may seem intriguing due to its proximity to the Morrison and North Star dining halls and the Robert Purcell Community Center, a hub for students to hang out. However, an option that many students tend to overlook is the program houses on campus. Each of these living areas has a theme, such as environment and sustainability, which is the foundation of the Ecology House. Just off Triphammer Road, it is a reformed hotel that now houses 96 students living in doubles.

Hey everyone! My name is Kiran Abraham-Aggarwal, and I’m a junior in the School of Industrial and Labor Relations (ILR) from Poughkeepsie, New York. My college journey has been an adventure of discovering and immersing myself in the vibrant communities that make up the heart of Cornell. Reflecting on my experiences, I'm compelled to share how the community's essence deeply permeates through every corner of our campus, creating a sense of belonging and togetherness. 

Often, people believe that working at a research lab looks a certain way: lab coats, microscopes, and vials. However, research can range anywhere from fieldwork that allows you to travel the world and work with animals to behavioral research where you work with people to computational research where you work with code. I’ve met people who conduct food science research with cheese, and one of my friends gets to work with animals at Cornell’s Veterinary School. There is so much diversity within research at Cornell that I truly believe that there is something for nearly everyone! 

Entering my senior year of high school, my main concern was the thought of moving away from my family to a new environment. My two older sisters had attended relatively small- to medium-sized universities, and their outgoing natures and self-assurance in pursuing their interests helped them succeed without much struggle. I, on the other hand, was unsure what I wanted to major in.

Hi! My name is Morielle Mamaril. I’m a freshman in ILR from a small agricultural town in California called Watsonville or “Strawberry City.” March 30th, 2023: Ivy Day. After nervously waiting for the “Application Status Update” email, a steady stream of tears flowed as soon as I read, “Congratulations!” Busy in joyous celebration with my mom right beside me, I relished the unknown of what the next four years of my life would look like at Cornell.  

Fun fact: I spent four years learning how to fix planes in high school. When people come to learn about my experience with aircraft maintenance, they ask, “Why are you not majoring in engineering?” It was certainly not easy to make a big switch in my career trajectory without much experience in the business field. Yet, I still think I made the right choice. Although these two fields feel very different to most people, they have many similar transferable skills between them. 

I was excited and nervous when I first came to Cornell as a transfer student. Meeting my faculty advisor, Laura Schoenle, during the transfer student orientation became the beginning of a meaningful relationship that shaped my academic journey.  

During my first year of college, my roommate was a friend from high school. We communicated that we wanted to be roommates over the summer, and because I knew her, I thought, “Oh, I don’t need to talk to her about anything ahead of time.” After living with a roommate, I’ve realized you should talk deeply and set expectations no matter how close you are. It’ll help you both acclimate and help each other if you have a new roommate or will in the future. Be sure to reference these tips to help develop a strong roommate relationship.