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. 

Hi! I'm Rebecca Karpel, a sophomore from Great Neck, New York. I am a student in the Cornell College of Human Ecology, majoring in Human Development. My career goal is to get a Ph.D. in Neuropsychology and perform psychological assessments for children and adolescents. I invite you to join me on this lovely spring Tuesday, where I'll take you through my day! 

Arriving at a college campus can be overwhelming for a plethora of reasons. At Cornell, we have many resources to guide you through your academic journey. Below is a list of five resources that may be useful for your time at school. 

Every spring as the snow and ice melt, Cornell’s student organizations Amber Dance Troupe and Illuminations Dance Troupe put together Rhythms of China, our annual Chinese traditional dance showcase. This yearly event invites the Cornell community to travel through time and space to feel the beauty of another country.

Choosing a college major can be an overwhelming task. With so many fields of study, it can take time to determine what aligns best with your interests and career goals. When I began my college journey, I struggled with this very issue. My interests include economics, government, political science, philosophy, law, and more. After much contemplation and research, I decided to study policy at the Cornell Jeb E. Brooks School of Public Policy — this was the perfect fit for me!

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.   

Cornell’s vibrant campus became my new home soon after I arrived for new-student orientation. I was terrified. As a transfer student, I feared other students would already have close friends, and I would struggle adjusting to my classes. However, when we were placed into orientation groups, we had the chance to meet fellow students and ask our leader any questions. Whether it was about the intensity of courses or where the best food on campus was, my orientation leader reassured us we belonged at Cornell and would succeed.