<p>So how can we help campussci? He (she?) seemed to have problems with 1) ILR academics, and 2) finding his niche on campus.</p>
<p>On the academic front, I think the most important thing is to not just study a lot, but to study effectively. Reading all of the papers assigned to you in class might help, but reading the abstract and intro and conclusion for all of said papers, looking for the defining themes (as brought out in lecture) and then scanning the paper for references to the defining theme is a more effective and time-saving way to study.</p>
<p>On the residential front, the most important thing at Cornell is to find a group of people who shares your values, pastimes, and outlook on life. But most importantly, these people should have a fun and inquisitive nature. The upper-level residential houses can help out with this a lot, especially given the in-house faculty, weekly dinners, and organized events on the weekends. But the program houses are quite good as well. My former girlfriend loved the Holland International Living Center.</p>
<p>As for Risley, you don’t need to be ‘privy’ to go to Risley. Anybody can eat there any weekday and strike up conversations with others. And their coffee house is open and free to all every Saturday night.</p>
<p>You do need to be privy for the Telluride parties, but well, that’s life.</p>