This week, Ambassador Nick explains how he made the decision to attend Cornell's College of Arts and Sciences. By Nick Smith '20, Economics majorI didn’t exactly grow up dreaming of attending Cornell. In fact, I hadn’t even applied until mid-December of my senior year of high school. Being from Orlando, Florida, I always assumed I’d stay in-state for college. After all, just about all the adults…
Roslyn Jin '15Major: China & Asia-Pacific StudiesHometown: Great Neck, NY Why did you choose Cornell?Going into college, I hoped to pursue international relations, politics, and business, but had no clear vision of the exact capacity and context in which to do so. What drew me to Cornell was the diversity of opportunity offered by a huge research university, along with the strength of a…
In our last post of the month, senior Hadassa writes about her journey of becoming a veteran Zumba instructor at Cornell. By Hadassa Jakher '18, Government and Spanish double major, International Relations and Law & Society double minorOne of my all-time favorite things to do is dance! Growing up Latina, I would always be jamming out to salsa and merengue tunes with my family. So when I…
Danielle Burgess '15Major: LinguisticsHometown: Horseheads, NYWhy did you choose Cornell?I attended the Cornell Summer College program after my junior year of high school and experiencing the beautiful campus that summer, along with meeting so many thoughtful and ambitious peers and faculty, really solidified in my mind that Cornell would be a great place for me.What is your main Cornell…
In our last post of the month, sophomore Shoshana takes us for a stroll across Europe, where she spent the summer studying Psychoanalysis and Art, and traveling.By Shoshana Swell '20, Performing & Media Arts and Psychology double major This summer, I travelled to Prague, Czech Republic to take a class about Psychoanalysis and Art (not to become a prima-ballerina). Halfway through my trip, I…
Happy almost Thanksgiving! In the spirit of the holiday, sophomore Julia Curley discusses why she is so grateful for the spirit of interconnectedness that links Cornell with the greater community in Ithaca, NY. By: Julia Curley '19 Cornell spirit extends beyond our campus. It reaches wider than the homecoming football game; it touches more than students, staff, faculty, and alumni. Our spirit…
It's finally spring here in Ithaca and that means that admitted students are coming from far and wide to visit Cornell's campus for Cornell Days! Some of the most popular events during Cornell Days are the info sessions, which are hosted by Advising Deans and Ambassadors for the College of Arts & Sciences. Sophomore Sydney Mann explains how her experience sitting in on Advising Dean Ray Kim's…
By: Isabel Caro '18 As a student in the College of Arts and Sciences, I am expected to take some math/science courses to fulfill certain requirements. I decided to choose these courses wisely and have some fun – so I enrolled in Astronomy 1195: Observational Astronomy. ASTRO 1195 is an introductory course that gives students (like me!) the opportunity to learn about the intricacies of outer space…
Serge Petchenyi/Cornell University
2021-22 Cornelia Ye Outstanding Teaching Assistant Award winner Zachary Grobe
The Center for Teaching Innovation (CTI), along with a committee made up of faculty and students, has selected doctoral students Janani Hariharan and Zachary Grobe as recipients of the 2021-22 Cornelia Ye outstanding teaching assistant award.
“Their commitment to interdisciplinary approaches and engaging all students in a welcoming environment made our two winners rise to the top of a…
I'll be honest with you: I think of myself as a true Cornellian. "Big Red Blood flows through my veins" (well, technically my arteries). Basically, I love almost everything about this place.Finals are an exception.Luckily, Cornell does a lot to help its students through this rough time we (fondly?) call "Finals Week." Slope Day was last Friday, which was an awesome way to end the semester and…
With the regular decision deadline fast approaching, the A&S Ambassadors hope to make the application decision a bit easier for prospective students. Every Cornell student has a story. This week, Vishal tells us why he chose Cornell.By Vishal Sundaram '21, Chemistry and Chemical Biology majorBy the spring of my final year of high school, I had envisioned many different lives for myself on…
Swati Sureka '15Major: Biological Sciences and Chemistry & Chemical BiologyHometown: Jacksonville, FL Why did you choose Cornell?I visited and loved the campus, but what really pushed me to choose Cornell was the breadth and flexibility that the school, particularly the College of Arts & Sciences, offered. I really felt like I could study anything I wanted here and accommodate a lot of…
Jessica Barragan '15Major: Government & SociologyHometown: Deep River, CTWhy did you choose Cornell?From the moment I stepped onto campus for the first time as an admitted high school senior, I knew that I could call Cornell my new home. While visiting during Cornell Days, it was immediately clear to me that Cornell was an academically rigorous, heavily research-oriented, and diverse…
Dagmawi WoubshetAssociate Professor, Department of EnglishEthiopia, 1989: the Communist regime was beginning to crumble; schools were shut down. That proved the last straw for the parents of Dagmawi Woubshet, who deeply valued education.Woubshet arrived in the United States at age 13, knowing very little English. He credits Cornell alum Toni Morrison, along with other African-American authors,…
Even the most extreme objects in the universe – including black holes – must obey certain rules.
A central law for black holes predicts that the total area of their event horizons – the boundary beyond which nothing can ever escape – should never shrink. This law is Hawking’s area theorem, named after physicist Stephen Hawking, who derived the theorem in 1971.
Fifty years later, physicists…
In the last post of the year, junior Meredith guides us through how she came to decide to study abroad in London next semester. Thank you all for following our blog this year, and happy holidays!By Meredith Chagares '19, History major, Business and Law & Society double minor Next semester, I will be studying abroad in London through the Hansard Scholars Program. This program consists of two…
This week, sophomore Yousef Anwer describes how his interdisciplinary experience at Cornell has been utterly magical... By: Yousef Anwer '19, Economics major, Law and Society minor Growing up I had Harry Potter fever. I still low-key blame J. K. Rowling for ruining fantasy books for me, because nothing I’ve read since has ever been able to match up to the wild imagination that was allowed to run…
This week, junior Solveig Van der Vegt writes about her experience conducting undergraduate research as a member of the Fromme Lab. Through the Office of Undergraduate Biology, Solveig and many other Cornell students are able to earn academic credit while also working on their own independent projects. By: Solveig Van der Vegt '18 BIOG4990 is the class students take to get credit for working in a…
Patrick Molligo '15 Majors: German Studies & EconomicsHometown: Manhasset, NYWhy did you choose Cornell?I wanted a school where I wouldn't feel pressured to fit a mold. The motto "any person, any study" doesn't feel tired, even after four years here. Like most students, I didn't have a very clear plan when beginning my freshman year. I found it comforting that Cornell, and the College of Arts…
As the semester heats up (figuratively and literally - it's 65 degrees here in Ithaca!), we've asked Ambassadors to take a break from classwork and share their experiences with "Work and Community Service" on campus during the month of March. Senior Sarah Marie Bruno starts us off with a post about her experience as a Student Assistant in Hans Bethe House. Enjoy! By: Sarah Marie Bruno '16For the…
By: Julia Montejo '17 Every October, during the first weekend of the month, the Great Downtown Ithaca Apple Harvest Festival takes over Ithaca Commons. For the past three years, this has been one of my favorite times of the year! Colloquially known as Apple Fest, this event brings together students from the city’s three colleges (Cornell University, Ithaca College and Tompkins Cortland Community…
Kemar Prussien '15Major: PsychologyHometown: Philadelphia, PAWhy did you choose Cornell?I never really put much thought into where I was going to go to college for most of my high school career. However, I underwent two incredible experiences the summer before my senior year that put me on a path. First, I volunteered at The Hole in the Wall Gang Camp--a pediatric summer camp for children with…
Sydney, one of our graduating seniors, discusses how Arts and Sciences has instilled in her a true passion for learning, a quality she hopes to take with her to whatever field she ultimately decides to pursue.By Sydney Mann '18, American Studies major, English minor To be quite honest, I’ve been faced with the question “what are you doing after graduation?” more than—at this point—I would have…
This week, junior Jady looks back at her time at Cornell thus far, and shares how she was able to make the vast campus her own through classes, clubs, and friends. By Jady Wei '19, Economics and Government double major, Law & Society minorI can still remember walking into my very first class at Cornell as a freshman. It was at 9:05 a.m. on a Tuesday, all the way at the Statler Hotel, which…
In this last "Cornell Love" post, junior Jendayi describes two of her favorite places on Cornell's campus - one of which is quite literally off the beaten path! By: Jendayi Brooks-Flemister '18 It's important to take tests and write papers, but it's also important to have time to unwind. One of the most amazing things about Ithaca and Cornell really is how naturally beautiful they are. We’re in…
This week, our secretary, Information Science major Meg Shigeta '17 , gives us a window into her summer experience as an intern in New York City. Enjoy! By: Meg Shigeta '17, Events Coordinator/Records KeeperThis summer I had the opportunity to work in the media industry as an intern for the Dentsu Aegis Network, specifically for the Carat New York office. One of my favorite aspects of the job was…
By: Sarah Marie Bruno '16 Cornell is a big school. When I arrived on campus as a freshman, I had no idea how I would possibly decide where to eat dinner, let alone what to study. Over time, though, I've found my niche here, and this big school has started to feel like a much smaller community.There are many places to find this small community. You can find it in your dorm hall, your freshman…
Anthony Halmon '17Major: Africana StudiesHometown: Chicago How did you decide on your major? Have your plans changed since you started Cornell?It was an interesting journey deciding on my major. Coming into Cornell, I just knew I had to be an engineer because I heard that they made a lot of money, and that it would provide me with the resources to take care of my mother and family. However, I…
by Ari Bernstein '15 During my first few weeks on campus as a freshman in the fall semester of 2012, I was both amazed and overwhelmed by the abundance of extra-curricular opportunities that Cornell provides its students. I attended Club Fest, in hopes of discovering a few clubs that resonated with my interests, yet walked away with more than twenty. As a pre-med student interested in the…
This week, Ambassador Eric writes about his favorite class at Cornell.By Eric Shen ’20 Physics, Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Music majorsThe class that stood out to me the most was definitely honors organic chemistry. In the moment, it felt like one of the greatest mistakes I could have made; but looking back, it was one of the best decisions I made here. It was an intense but great mix of…
The Value of a Liberal Arts Education To address the greatest challenges in our world today, we must acquire skills that belie singular modes of understanding. As this era is defined by rapid social, technological and economic changes, the liberal arts model of education and inquiry is perhaps more relevant today than ever before. It is the best long-term training for innovation, entrepreneurship…
Rose Hanson '15Major: HistoryHometown: Anchorage, AKWhy did you choose Cornell?I chose Cornell because it gave me a chance to gain an amazing well-rounded education in an environment where people really love to learn. Coming from a high school where everyone knew everyone else, I wanted a school that was large enough that I could create my own community instead of have one chosen for me, and…
Happy March! This month, ambassadors will be writing about academic research they conduct on campus. For the first post of the month, I am sharing a little bit about my experience completing a psychology honors thesis! By Suzy Park '18, Economics and Psychology double major, Law & Society minorOne of the biggest decisions I made as a senior was to participate in the psychology honors program…
Claire Stack '15Major: College Scholar (specializing in Theater and Psychology)Hometown: Rochester, NYWhy did you choose Cornell?I’m from upstate New York, so Cornell was always on my radar. I visited Cornell the summer before my senior year. It was August, one of two beautiful months in Ithaca, so the campus was in full bloom. I loved the academic freedom possible in Arts and Sciences, which was…
This week, senior Hadassa shares with us how she spent her summer interning at the U.S. Consulate General in Barcelona, an experience that complemented her studies in Government and International Relations. By Hadassa Jakher '18, Government and Spanish double major, International Relations and Law & Society double minor I had the incredible experience of spending my past summer interning with…
One word sums up this post and its author's message about Cornell's intellectually diverse community: passionate. In this last November post, junior Carlee Moses describes how the spirit of interdisciplinary inquiry first drew her to Cornell. Enjoy! By: Carlee Moses '18To me, the spirit of Cornell is defined by the diverse and varied passions of its students, faculty, and staff. When I first…
Being a student here definitely has its perks - one of the reasons that students choose to attend Cornell is the wealth of opportunities available to us during the school year, during school breaks, and even after we graduate! In our last April post here at the blog, junior Julia Montejo discusses the variety of ways in which she was able to give back to Cornell and the surrounding community…
By: Braulio Castillo '18Coming from a Latino household on the West Coast, the move to Ithaca in upstate New York was definitely a big change for me. The transition was certainly challenging, but Cornell offers so many opportunities for students to remain in contact with their culture and feel right at home that I was quickly able to adjust.Two weekends ago, I was invited to a performance by a…
By: Maya Golliday '17 What’s good, prospective students and parents!? I am currently almost finished with my semester abroad in the beautiful “La Habana” and would love to tell you a little bit about my experience thus far. I guess I’ll hit the ground running and start with why I chose Cuba (and also how I’m able to study in Cuba given the history the US has had with Cuba and restrictions on…
This week, Renee explains why she chose Cornell, after a visit to campus in high school.By Renee Girard '20, Government, Law and Society and Public Policy majorI first walked onto Cornell’s campus as a high school sophomore. I knew I wanted to apply, but as a senior preparing my college applications, I decided to visit Cornell once more to ensure that Early Decision was right for me. As a high…
Eliza Baird-Daniel '15Major: Biological SciencesHometown: Seattle, WAWhy did you choose Cornell?I wanted to explore a new part of the country and was specifically drawn to Cornell because of the strong research community, outdoorsy culture, and diversity of studies. When I came to visit, I was not only so impressed by the caliber of research but also that undergraduates were deeply involved in it…
As Bob Dylan reminded us, the times they are a-changing. According to a Cornell University poll, young adults are much more likely to report that they will be politically active over the next few years, compared with everyone over 25. As a result, the pollsters said, “The U.S. will have a significantly different political climate in the future.”This and related polls show that younger citizens…
Happy October! This month, we will be focusing on two themes, "Easing Back into Classes" and "Summer Adventures." In the first post of the semester, senior Solveig shares with us her experience interning in London this past summer. By: Solveig van der Vegt '18, Biological SciencesAbout halfway through the Spring 2017 semester, I was starting to panic a little because I had not yet found an…
