Cornell University Admission
Cornell University Undergraduate Program
Cornell University Application

The Facts

Cornell University, an east coast Ivy League, is a large, primarily private school located in the college town of Ithaca, New York .  A fantastic draw for Cornell is that three of its seven undergraduate colleges are state-funded and considerably less expensive, especially for in-state students.  The three public colleges are the schools of agriculture and life sciences, human ecology, and industrial and labor relations.  The four private undergraduate colleges are the schools of hotel administration, engineering, architecture, and art and planning. 
Cornell offers a wide variety of majors within all of its schools; some of the most popular with students include majors in biological and life sciences, engineering, agriculture, and social science and history. 

Admission to Cornell is fiercely competitive and is only becoming increasingly so; last year, about 20,441 students applied and only 6,334; were admitted; of those, 3,135 matriculated. The admitted students come from a highly capable bunch; last year's admitted students had an average combined SAT score ranging from 1230 to 1420, and over 87% of those admitted were ranked in the top 10% of their high school graduating class.

Cornell has a wonderfully low student to faculty ratio of 9:1, and most classes are discussion-based and made up of under twenty students.  Students offer pretty mixed reviews about their professors; there are some who say their professors are easily accessible, and some who criticize that they push their students with an iron fist and whip in hand.  Students also say that the science departments are extremely cutthroat and students are very intense when it comes to their studies.  Cornell's Ivy League status is definitely felt day and night at the school, as students are always aware of the high expectations placed on their shoulders.

The Social Scene

The town of Ithaca is thought by some to be the quintessential college town; it is home to several other institutions of higher education, and the town offers plenty of inexpensive activities for college students. Although the town may not be the chicest of locations, it is very welcoming and friendly, which helps take the edge off students' constant stress.  The winters are particularly harsh, and students with cars are quite grateful for them when the temperatures begin to plummet.  For students without cars, the school also offers a free bus system that does a great job of getting students around.

The school does have a Greek scene, and the many houses frequently throw parties.  The Greeks are also involved in many community service projects that raise funds for various causes.  Students also like to head off campus to various bars and clubs.  Students say that drinking is definitely prevalent.  Students also love to wallow in the beautiful outdoors; hiking, swimming, boating and skiing are all popular activities.  Hockey is also a big deal at the school; Cornell plays against their rival Harvard, and the “big game” is cause for many rowdy parties. The dating scene is pretty vibrant; the guys and girls tend to be quite wealthy-- a sugar daddy perhaps?

What’s Good

“Cornell offers many great and unique majors taught by world-class professors who really care about your progress.”

“People in Ithaca are very friendly; they really cater to college students.”

”The dorms are awesome and they give us plenty of room to party.”

What’s Bad

“There are some professors that could care less about their students; it can feel really alienating.”

“People here are waaaay too competitive, and the intensity can get to you after a while.”

“The people here all have massive chips on their shoulders and are way too wealthy for their own good.”

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