Cornell College Admission
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The Facts

Cornell College (not to be confused with the Ivy, Cornell University) is a small, private, liberal arts college located in the town of Mount Vernon, Iowa . The college is home to just over 1,100 undergraduate students, and offers a unique “One-course-at-a-time” approach to learning. The students spend three and a half weeks studying only one topic, then they have a four day break before leaping headfirst into the next course. The entire school year consists of nine such terms, and students are generally big fans of this system, as it leaves them feeling less overwhelmed by their course load. There are a wide range of B.A.'s offered at the college, and some of the most popular choices include psychology, economics, business, secondary education, English, and history.

Admission to Cornell College is not very competitive numerically, however, as the applicant pool grows every year, the chances of getting in lessen. Many of the students who apply already have a strong idea of what they want to major in, which makes admission all the more competitive for those who may be undecided. Last year, over 1,555 students applied for admission and approximately 1,050 students were accepted; of those, about 370 matriculated. The admitted students had an average combined SAT score ranging from 1090 to 1330, and an average comprehensive ACT score ranging from 23 to 29. Additionally, over 60% of those admitted were ranked in the top 25% of their high school graduating class with an average high school GPA of about 3.57.

Cornell College has a fairly low student to faculty ratio of 12:1, and students say that they are constantly receiving one on one attention from their professors. Students are generally very impressed with their professors's accessibility, and teachers have even been known to give students their home phone numbers in case any urgent questions should arise.

The Social Scene

The town of Mount Vernon, Iowa isn't really known for its social offerings, however, it does have the usual amenities of any small town. Most of the excitement is to be had on campus, and the student life office brings many great events to campus such as concerts, guest speakers, and college-wide parties.

There is a very large Greek presence on campus, and many students are involved with the college's many national fraternities and sororities. The Greek houses are at the apex of the school's social life, and are known for throwing some pretty raucous (and equally popular) parties. Drinking is definitely a popular activity, and most students spend their weekends drinking the night (and in some cases, the day) away.

The dating scene is quite vibrant, and we hear there are some real catches at Cornell of the Midwestern hospitality ilk.

What’s Good

“There is a real sense of community here. People aren't afraid to introduce themselves to a stranger, which is nice.”

“The dorms are quite nice, and you have plenty of personal space so you don't feel overwhelmed.”

“The teachers are just incredible, and they have single-handedly made my college experience so wonderful.”

What’s Bad

“The college is really sheltered, and there isn't really much to do here. It's like Pleasantville sometimes.”

“Even nearby Iowa City isn't very exciting. If you crave some urban action, this definitely isn't the place for you.”

“The curriculum structure here is terrible, because if you really hate a class, you're stuck with no respite for three and a half weeks.”

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