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Is this true??
Exactly how good or how bad is Ithaca??
from what I've heard Ithaca is a major turnoff for Cornell's prospective students.

any thoughts???

By Itempest (Itempest) on Tuesday, December 30, 2003 - 01:41 pm: Edit

It's just a different kind of city. Big-city-lovers might not like it. Quiet-city-lovers may.

By Freak4korn72 (Freak4korn72) on Tuesday, December 30, 2003 - 04:43 pm: Edit

Ithaca is in the middle of nowhere. True.
Collegetown is all you need with such a huge campus. True.
I've visited campus. True.
I felt fine with it. True.

:-) If you cant find something to do on campus I'd be surprised.

By W1628 (W1628) on Tuesday, December 30, 2003 - 09:03 pm: Edit

Ithaca isn't really that bad - think about it. The city isn't too far away, syracuse is quite close, the campus itself is huge so you'll definitely be able to find something to do, and at cornell, you probably won't have time to notice anyway.

By Maesvt (Maesvt) on Wednesday, December 31, 2003 - 03:32 am: Edit

I visited Ithaca a couple of months ago... BORING!

Yeah I didn't like it much, it's like people there have never seen any foreigners and they look at you a little funny. At least that was my impression from eating at one of the restaurants and taking a stroll through town.

But I've talked to some of my friends who are at Cornell and they say they really don't go off campus much. At least not into the town of Ithaca. And on campus there are supposed to be a million things to do. So don't worry about it.

By Vaskir (Vaskir) on Wednesday, December 31, 2003 - 03:54 pm: Edit

I went up there. Here's what I thought. Excellent country setting. Only marred by a smokestack in the distance. Other than that, beautiful terrain, nice lake. Bonus points for the ski resort 20 mins away. I hate big campuses and big schools, but i liket CU.

By Cornellhopeful (Cornellhopeful) on Wednesday, December 31, 2003 - 04:19 pm: Edit

there's a mall in Ithaca as well, so it's not like if it's dead.

By L_Wonder (L_Wonder) on Thursday, January 01, 2004 - 12:25 pm: Edit

ahh..Pyramid mall-15 stores of goodness!!! It was funny when Old navy would have a sale and every 5th person would have the same shirt on. Small, small place...but i still liked it.

By Libsters (Libsters) on Thursday, January 01, 2004 - 10:32 pm: Edit

Ithaca is cool! It's not huge, but not so terribly small that there is absolutely NOTHING to do --- it is a real college town b/c of Ithaca college right next door. And Collegetown is cool, theres a mall a bit farther away, movie theater, etc. I went to a summer program at Cornell, and belive me, Ithaca does not suck .. And there is soooo much good food ( on /off campus)... Ithaca is Gorges (you know, Ithaca's slogan) ... Yeah

By Mell (Mell) on Thursday, January 01, 2004 - 10:35 pm: Edit

They are printing t-shirts now that say "Ithaca is Gangsta" (a spin off the standard "Ithaca is Gorges") but I would actually say that Ithaca is somewhat Hippie. I've never felt that the townies 'look at foreigners funny' but would say they are an eclectic mix, with more pirate-y looking guys and women with hairy armpits than your average town. Having said that, Ithaca is great for its size, with lots of restaurants and used bookstores, but you'll spend lots of time on campus. Over breaks, people usually go to the city or Canada.

By The_Slc_Bug (The_Slc_Bug) on Friday, January 02, 2004 - 02:03 am: Edit

I love Ithaca. People forget that Ithaca IS a city. Just because it's not NYC or Boston doesn't mean it's tiny and totally un-fun. There are things to do both on and off campus. This is what I've done in my couple trips to Cornell:

Jamaica Kincaid reading (John Updike also read recently, among other great authors)
moe. concert (off campus; there are "big" concerts on campus; Ani Difranco came recently)
Used book warehouse (huge; happens twice a year)
Beer pong, etc.
Cornell art museum
Rented DVD from an on-campus machine (plenty of on-campus movies shown as well)
Balderdash; Scattergories; Boggle, and others
and a few classes.

I got the impression that there are plenty of options despite the lack of a large city. Plus, it's beautiful up there--lots of great things to do outdoors. You'll have to take gym and, along with basketball and yoga, you can take whitewater rafting, kayaking, backpacking, horseback riding, etc. Don't go to Cornell if you really can't handle being away from the NYC atmosphere, but it's not terrible if you don't need to be bombarded with stimuli 24 hours a day.

By Starbucksfreak (Starbucksfreak) on Monday, January 05, 2004 - 12:51 pm: Edit

Ithaca is a GREAT town. I have worked around that area before, and also spent two days there with my daughter this spring while looking at Cornell. It DOES have a hippie-ish feel to it, but in a yuppie sorta way, if that makes any sense. This is a real college town and I would consider it mid sized as the census shows 22,000 ppl in town limits (excluding Cornell students). I think being in a college town and being in an area known for natural beauty, brings out the granola element somewhat. The town is wonderful, with several delightful restaurants and many I've never had the time to sample. It's ethnically diverse for its location and the food reflects this. My daughter and I absolutely fell in love with the town. It may not be for everyone, but my daughter, who loves the urban suburbs and hates the country, loves Cornell and Ithaca. The campus itself is so huge, it feels like a small city. It has tons of room to spread out but feels urban somehow.

By Cornellian07 (Cornellian07) on Tuesday, January 06, 2004 - 05:19 pm: Edit

After a semester at Cornell, I can tell you that Ithaca is underrated. There are 2 or 3 malls, lots of restaurants in collegetown and at the commons, and lots of clothing stores in the commons. I think Ithaca is a very college oriented city, and people seem to lack that acknowledgement. But to be totally honest, I, along with my friends, spend very little time off campus. There is so much to do on campus that it is very rarely necessary to leave campus.

By Sarahndipity (Sarahndipity) on Tuesday, January 06, 2004 - 09:44 pm: Edit

is there a bowling alley? (addicted to bowling)

By Nyugrad (Nyugrad) on Tuesday, January 06, 2004 - 10:03 pm: Edit

When in Ithaca, don't forget to visit Moosewood. It's a famous organic vegetarian restaurant. Best homemade ice cream I ever tasted. There are many health food restaurants around there. Also some interesting little bookstores. My family has gone up to Ithaca every suumer for the last seven for the summer violin program at Ithaca College.What a great town!! Absolutely beautiful scenery.

By Scarletgirl (Scarletgirl) on Wednesday, January 07, 2004 - 01:20 am: Edit

I don't know if I like the idea of such a small small town...but Cornell is better than some other schools on my list, so why not? I also wonder if it might be a little too big...I think it's the biggest one I'm applying to. I haven't visited the campus yet, could someone tell me what they think of it? I heard it's beautiful.

By Jaybert (Jaybert) on Wednesday, January 07, 2004 - 01:47 am: Edit

yes, theres a bowling alley. Pretty cheap too...$1.75/game most of the time and $2.00/game Fri/Sat/Sun.

Shoe rentals are $1 think, but I am not positive since I have my own.

By Gabushida (Gabushida) on Wednesday, January 07, 2004 - 06:12 am: Edit

Scarletgirl: It was the biggest school I looked at, but visit. Its an absolutely amazing campus.

By Starbucksfreak (Starbucksfreak) on Wednesday, January 07, 2004 - 02:36 pm: Edit

Agreed. My daughter and I hadn't wanted her to go to a large school, but for Cornell we made an exception and applied (along with UVA - we live in VA so it was an obvious choice, plus she has a lot of friends thre). Cornell truly was awesome and all the kids we talked to LOVE it there. Course, the weather is off-pttin for some: it certainly would be for me, and truthfully, I'd head south before I'd go up to NY State. But my daughter loves snow and so that wasn't an issue for her. Bottom line, this college felt so "college-ish", if that makes any sense: everyone seemed at home andhappy. I saw kids playing guitar under trees, kids throwing frisbees, kids laughing and kids studying on picnic benches and on the ground that warm spring day. All types, all nationalities, and surprisingly, they did seem to be mixing in an easy way. I was impressed. And we expected not to like the school before hand! Boy did we change our minds. P.S. The food is GREAT!!

By Varr (Varr) on Thursday, January 08, 2004 - 04:55 pm: Edit

wow its great to hear that Ithaca isnt bad at all!!
but im having some kind of dilema!
You see i want to major in Chemical engineering, would you guys do Cornell ED or Yale EA(although its engineering school isnt highly rated but its a great school and maybe itll be less competitive when applying, although yes, Yale has a lower acceptance rate).

By Gabushida (Gabushida) on Thursday, January 08, 2004 - 06:03 pm: Edit

Cornell. Its flat-out better for engineering. The only Ivy school that is SOMETIMES considered to be near Cornell in engineering is Princeton (although Penn is not bad). Yale is not for engineering. Its amazing at Cornell. Best of the Ivy's (if you REALLY want Ivy), and one of the best period.

By Cornellian07 (Cornellian07) on Friday, January 09, 2004 - 01:43 am: Edit

One of my friends on my floor in the dorm (also an engineering student) told me he visited Princeton's engineering program, and he said "their electrical engineering department was literally one room" verbatim. My guess is that Princeton's engineering is ranked so high because of the school's reputation as the best in the country.
I actually have a friend at Yale majoring in civil engineering. I'm not sure why she's doing engineering at Yale when she was also accepted to Columbia (which has DECENT engineering) and Stanford (which has geat engineering). Varr, do Cornell ED. Yale engineering will still be harder to get into than Cornell engineering, and it is not nearly as well-reputed.

By Varr (Varr) on Friday, January 09, 2004 - 10:49 am: Edit

thanks!! Cornellian07 I was hoping you'd answer
hehe I just realized it'll be closer to my house, its about 7 hours from Toledo to Ithaca and from Toledo to New Haven its around 10 hours.

Hey Cornellian what can you tell us about your over all experience at Cornell??
Did you do ED?

By Cornellian07 (Cornellian07) on Friday, January 09, 2004 - 06:38 pm: Edit

Varr, I am very flattered that you're so interested in my experience at Cornell. I applied early decision to the engineering school.
The classes at Cornell are not necessarily difficult, but they do require a lot of work. After a few days, I thought that these kids at Cornell weren't as smart as I expected, but I realized that I was wrong. They come off as average intelligence, but that's because the students are generally very modest. They are not conceited, like every Harvard person I have ever met. People may act like total drunk idiots on the weekend, but don't be fooled. They will kick your ass in classes if you ever for a second think that you're better than them. Academics are very time consuming, and the best advice I can give you from personal experience is DON'T PROCRASTINATE.
The social life at Cornell, in my opinion, is excellent. Although it is a relatively rural campus, there is so much to do on campus, and there are a lot of restaurants and clothing shops in collegetown and the Ithaca Commons. There are so many different types of people with so many different types of interests, that you're bound to encounter very cool people, and to join activities which interest you. The weekends, whch start on Thursday night, are the times when everyone lets loose. Most people get crocked off their asses at frat parties, or in their rooms with a couple of close friends. Overall, my experience at Cornell has been great. I did not get very good grades first semester, but that had a lot to do with outside factors, such as the death of my grandmother, going home multiple times, and just getting accustomed to the intense workload. If you want to go to Cornell, then I would say apply early decision. If you're not sure you'll get in, then get recruited for a sport. The athletes at Cornell are signficantly less intelligent than the rest of the students, but hey, they got in much more easily. Anyway, good luck with your college search.

By Varr (Varr) on Friday, January 09, 2004 - 09:50 pm: Edit

wow thanks!! Its great to hear the "real facts" and not just what people think about Cornell.
Im really sorry about your loss, but im certain god is taking good care of her !
Is getting recruited hard?, because I really am interested in playing soccer or college tennis.

By Rogerevans (Rogerevans) on Saturday, January 10, 2004 - 06:07 am: Edit

Varr, go to Cornell web site and proceed to "athletics" page. There is a form to fill out for athletic recruits. You should also email the soccer and tennis coaches. Good luck!

By Anj6 (Anj6) on Saturday, January 10, 2004 - 06:32 am: Edit

About 'recruiting' athletes--
how involved do you have to be in a certain sport?
i consider dancing a sport (ive been dancing for 11 years, but not everyone considers dancing a sport) and ive been fencing for two years in high school (since it was only offered in junior and senior years). if i show interest in continuing these 'sports' at cornell, does it help me in any way?
what exactly do you have to be/do to be recruited for athletics?
(i reallyyyy want to get into cornell, and i dont know how to go about increasing my chances)

By Cornellian07 (Cornellian07) on Sunday, January 11, 2004 - 04:25 pm: Edit

You just need to contact the coach. Depending on which sport you are getting recruited for, they'll ask you for certain stats such as awards you've won, positions you've held on your team, the number of years you've been playing the sport, and time trials (if it's crew or cross country). They will also ask you for your academic stats, such as your GPA, SAT scores, and extracurricular activities. Because Cornell is an ivy league school, we have very good athletics, rendering it pretty difficult to be recruited. Most of the athletes I know are amazing. Our hockey team annually sends players to the NHL, and even our not-as-good sports such as baseball send a few kids to the major leagues. If you are confident in your abilities to play your sport and do not mind dedicating a lot of time to it in college, then go ahead and get recruited.

By Drexx1979 (Drexx1979) on Sunday, February 01, 2004 - 01:16 pm: Edit

I just came back from visiting Cornell and I have mixed feelings. The University is impressive and I liked it mostly, however the town of Ithaca made me want to cry. Since I'm from Boston I didn't think the cold would bother me, and it really doesn't, but the town is SO REMOTE that you drive through NOTHING for hours and hours to reach it. This is also one of the cloudiest places in the country and the students I talked to said the sun barely shines from November until April...which is when the 5 feet of snow begings to melt :-/ No wonder everyone seemed so depressed and pissed off. If you've been anywhere in the world and consider yourself a city (or even suburban) person you will really feel isolated and out of touch here. If you can get into another Ivy, go there instead.

By Libsters (Libsters) on Sunday, February 01, 2004 - 03:56 pm: Edit

Drexx --- I am from the suburbs of Boston, and it just so happens that in order to get to Ithaca from here, you have to drive through HOURS of cow towns . However, I promise that beyond Ithaca and in Ithaca there is plenty to do! And everyone is defintely not depressed and pissed off! I know a few undergrads at Cornell, and they all seem quite happy = ) Good Luck with everything = )

By Crankitdb711 (Crankitdb711) on Sunday, February 01, 2004 - 04:17 pm: Edit

anj6, i made a suggestion regarding increasing your chances in the 'firstday' link page thingy a few days ago... check it out; sports show you're well-rounded and can handle multiple things at once, but you probably won't be good enough to get recruited; i knew a girl in fencing there and she was hot but she "had a boyfriend" which is a line girls at cornell learn to use to say "i don't like fun"; i personally rowed crew for couple years there but when i got kicked out of chemical engineering for having exemplary grades the crew had to fall by the wayside (according to ncaa) so academics i guess were fairly challenging (see cornellian7's procrastination comment); after one visit to the bowling alley, i became banned for life but there are other better things to do, like khuma's and ultimate man challenges: where you reach equilibrium late at night and challenge yourself... for example, cutting two holes in the ice in a gorge and going in one and swimming out the other; there are all sorts of innovative ways to have fun in ithaca even when it's cold. it's true people do hibernate through the winter, and their bodies show it, but you learn to love hockey, and all your depressed friends from boston teach you that being a red sox fan is a fun sort of sickness that helps pass the time. Someone in ithaca give a shoutout to Dave Pendergast at Dino's and all the dirty little girls of theta!

By Starbucksfreak (Starbucksfreak) on Sunday, February 01, 2004 - 06:57 pm: Edit

While the decription of the weather is 100 percent accurate - no sun for 6 months, snow and cold - I found over several years' time working near and/or visiting this school that the students were usually VERY friendly, and laid-back. There are always kids sitting out on the green, playing guitar, frisbee, or whatnot. Also, my daughter and I are from a suburb of Wash, DC which has spoiled my d somewhat as to convenience. Granted, she hasn't experienced life at Cornell as she is still a senior in h.s. here, but she has visited many times and finds there is plenty to do on campus, what with so many undergrads (13,000) there and so much land to roam on. The town is adorable, and caters to students, and is nowhere near as small as we thought it would be. It has 22,000 residents, which I consider to be middle-sized. Dartmouth is much more rural and in a much smaller town, which I happen to like more than big cities but which I could see might be off-putting to some...but Cornell definitely feels like a small city oasis in the midst of MILES of cows and windy back roads...