Cornell College
Responses from the Student Interview
From a student who identifies as Major: Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Minor: None
Student Self Identifies as: White Pansexual Female
Summary
I’m in a sorority, I’m part of the Hillel group and the Lyrically Inclined club.
Background
Gender Identity: Female
Race/Ethnicity: White
Sexual Orientation: Pansexual
High School Experience: Private high school in Salem, IA with a graduating class of 115 people. There was a culture of going to college.
First-Generation College Student: No
Major: Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Minor: None
Extracurricular Activities: I’m in a sorority, I’m part of the Hillel group and the Lyrically Inclined club.
Did any of your extracurricular activities have a particularly big impact on your experience?
[My sorority] has had the biggest impact on my experience. It has offered me a home to go when I need anything and lifelong friends. Hillel taught me a lot about the Jewish culture that I didn’t know, and gave me the opportunity to meet Jewish people.
Academic Experience
Can you describe your weekly coursework for your major?
There are about four hours of class a day, sometimes with labs. Then there are about three to four hours of homework a night. The exams make up most of our grades.
Is there anything you feel your major’s department does especially well or poorly?
The science departments do really well with offering students tutors and resources in case they need extra help.
How would you describe the learning environment? Do you think it’s particularly competitive or collaborative?
I haven’t noticed it being super competitive, but it’s definitely collaborative. Students are quick to form study groups and help each other out.
How accessible are your professors?
I’ve had professors that are available any time, and I’ve had professors that have limited office hours.
Do you feel that people are open to multiple schools of thought in the classroom?
Yes. The professors are pretty good at applying what we learn to other things, which helps us to think in more of a broad sense.
What has been your favorite part of Cornell College so far academically?
My favorite part is experiencing classes outside of my major and figuring out what I’m really interested in. I like the broad education that Cornell provides. It helped me decide on my major.
Why did you pick your major? Are you happy with your choice?
I’m happy with my choice. I picked it based on my enjoyment for chemistry, and I’m interested in going into the health field. I’m thinking about going pre-med, or pre-pharmacy.
Reasons to Attend
1) Cornell is prestigious and they will help and aid you if you want to go to graduate school. They have pretty high graduate school acceptance rates. [In the class of 2017-18, 17% of students indicated they were accepted into a graduate school while 3% intended to attend graduate school but were not yet enrolled.]
2) Once you find the group of people you want to hang out with, it’s pretty exciting. It’s almost like living with your best friends because the campus is so small and everything is close together.
3) Even though the classes are super faced-paced, you only have to focus on one subject and you get a block break at the end of it.
Reasons Not to Attend
1) It can get super cold in the winter, especially because it’s on a hill. Cornell rarely cancels classes.
2) If you don’t have a car or want a campus that has things you can easily walk to.
Around Campus
Where have you lived on and around campus?
Freshman: Pfeiffer Hall with one roommate
Sophomore: Olin Hall with two roommates
How was transitioning from your hometown to Mount Vernon, IA?
It was more of a difference than I thought it would be. Cornell has its own culture outside of rural Iowa, so it’s not like the small town I’m from. It’s a lot different because you’re meeting people from different cultures and backgrounds from all over. It’s comforting to know you’re not the only one figuring it out, and from there we build our own culture at Cornell. The experiences people have here are really diverse.
Can you describe the level of safety you’ve experienced on and around campus?
I’ve felt somewhat safe, and I know that some of my peers that are people of color or are non-binary don’t feel safe. In the past, they have been subject to some harassment from students. I’d say it’s moderately safe.
Social Opportunities
What kind of weekend activities or nightlife do you like to participate in?
I mostly participate in activities with my sorority. We’ve had movie nights, baking nights, one time we just started drawing, and sometimes we go out to eat. I’d say it’s different than the typical sorority, but we do have parties. Sometimes we just hang out and talk. During the week, I’m usually studying with friends.
What nights of the week do you regularly do things?
Our sorority usually hosts the parties on Fridays and Saturdays that I go to, and they’re located in a sorority member’s suite in a dorm.
What is the impact of Greek life on nightlife?
I’d say Greek life has a big impact on what people do during the weekends, especially this time of year through the spring because the parties try to get new members to be interested.
How happy are you with the weekend options? Is there anything you would change if you could?
I’m pretty happy with them. We usually have a fun night and then the next day I can rest and do homework.
Campus Culture
How did you meet your closest friends?
Through my sorority, I was invited to a party last year and I met them there.
How would you describe the overall social scene at Cornell?
It’s a little cliquey, as in people with similar interests will become friends. Sororities and fraternities will gather together. It’s pretty friendly, but it can be exclusive sometimes. In the dining hall settings or in a classroom, people sit with people who have similar interests, are in the same group, or are in the same sport as them. They tend to only talk to those people.
To what extent do you think people of different races and sexual orientations mix socially?
I’d say not a lot, but definitely a little bit. I know sometimes there’s a language barrier with the international students. They tend to hang out with each other. Other than that, I don’t see it a lot. We have the Intercultural Life house, and there’s a mix of races there. Outside of that, it seems a bit separated. [The undergraduate population is 71% White, 8% Hispanic, 6% Black, and 3% Asian.]
How would you describe the LGBTQ community on campus? How strong is it?
I think it’s pretty strong. We have some good programs for LGBTQ individuals. We have training and places they can go if they need comfort or help.
How do you like the size of Cornell in terms of undergraduate enrollment? How was transitioning to a school with [about 1,000] students?
At first, I thought it was a little too small, and since I went to a small high school I didn’t know if I like that. I actually enjoy the small student body because it feels like we know each other and we have this culture that we’re comfortable with each other.
How would you describe the student body?
The overall personality is welcoming. It’s easy to have conversations with strangers, and there’s a sense that we’re in the same boat so we aren’t going to judge each other.
Careers
Has the alumni network helped you find internships or jobs?
We have a strong alumni connection with our sorority so I’m in touch with quite a few of them. Even though we haven’t met, we talk on Facebook and give each other advice.
What have you used the career office for? How helpful have they been?
I used it to figure out what courses I need to take to get into medical school.
Have you learned any computer programs or computer languages that will be helpful professionally?
So far, I’ve learned a little bit about how to graph on Excel.
Financial Aid
Have you used financial aid? If so, accommodating was the office to your needs?
I have quite a bit of financial aid. I haven’t worked with the office much, but I did ask for a loan refund and that was pretty easy to get. I just had to visit the office a few times and follow up with them.