So, CUE?

Myal · 04-07-2007, 10:10 PM

The Columbian Urban Experience seems like an awesome opportunity...does anybody here think they'll apply?

Also, I was wondering: current students, if you participated, did you enjoy it? Their website indicated that they "couldn't accept all first-year applicants"--is this program actually very selective? I know that it incorporates CC/SEAS/GS/Barnard, so it might be...

crazyformints · 04-08-2007, 08:41 AM

I'm thinking of applying for this, as well as for COOP. I'm just wondering, since they seem to be fairly selective (due to high standards or lack of spaces), would it be possible to apply to COOP and CUE in order to be part of at least 1 orientation program?

In other words, is an acceptance into COOP or CUE binding?

Thanks!

Skraylor · 04-08-2007, 07:42 PM

i have no clue if its binding...i dont think they are actually really selective, just lack of space thing...

i dont have any friends that did cue but i know a bunch that did coop and they absolutely loved it....just a short anecdote..

Denzera · 04-08-2007, 08:19 PM

COOP is like your 2nd chance (after Days on Campus) to start making friends before orientation. it's a huge leg up on the social scene - I mostly met friends during orientation through people who had made friends at COOP (i.e., people i knew who'd gone to COOP introduced me to friends they'd made there).

CUE is a much smaller program by comparison, I would do that only if you feel really strongly about it. This isn't a system worth gaming.

Shazkar · 04-08-2007, 09:52 PM

Do COOP. It's awesome. I did COROP. I met cool people. Makes you more comfortable with everything, at least for me, plus I had a blast. Except it rained a lot, which sucked, but when it was sunny, and you were sittin there on your canoe as a giant flotilla with your leg in the other canoe holding yourself together, it was amazing. Plus, pirate flag thief wars.
And campfire games. And food. And... yeah just do COOP.

Plus, some of my friends are going to be COOP leaders next year, and they are awesome kids.

Myal · 04-09-2007, 05:06 PM

Thanks, guys. I still think I'm more into CUE--this couldn't possibly sound dorkier, but I'm not the athletic or outdoorsy type and I would really love to get involved in the community through service, and meet like-minded people. Is the application process for these places complicated? For CUE, at least, the app isn't up yet on the website.

AllisonCU · 04-14-2007, 04:42 PM

I did CUE, and it was amazing. The program itself is great. The community service projects that you'll participate in around the city are so much fun (I worked at a summer art camp at the Harlem YMCA, the best program), and every night the group goes to different places around the city. Plus when orientation and school starts it's great to have a bunch of people you know, especially uperclassmen who are a great resourse and really helpful throughout the year. When I had problems getting into classes/ joining activities/ ect., my CUE leaders were the ones I contacted to help me figure it out. And after CUE, I had already figured out the subway system, which put me a step ahead of everyone else. CUE is definately something that I recommend everyone do. Or COOP if that's more your thing.

msjhop · 04-15-2007, 02:06 PM

My daughter signed up for CUE last year and wasn't accepted. It was somewhat surprising given her community service/work experience background, so I'm not sure what was lacking in her application. (As an aside, she has been selected for a number of very competitive positions during her freshman year so this rejection was certainly not indicative of her future involvement in extra-curriculars, including service-oriented ECs.)
The main issue I recall from the application process is that selection wasn't made until quite late into the summer, which presented a problem if you were trying to schedule airline flights as cheaply as possible.
Hope this helps - again, I don't recall exact numbers, but I think acceptance rate was something over 50%, although not a lot higher, and I would have thought my daughter's experience would have made her a shoo-in. Perhaps there were more applicants last year than usual, to which someone involved in the program might be able to answer.

Denzera · 04-15-2007, 08:28 PM

there was a rather low acceptance year the fall of my freshman year (2002). i think CUE is a rather small program compared to COOP, so there's relatively few people they can take.