re #2, what I posted is about all my daughter told me. The only other thing I recall is the Cal transfer person thought Berkeley was too "politically correct’ . But I don’t think that was the sole factor, just an offhand remark that they made to me.
As for the other, the only valid descriptor for Cornell’s student body and people’s attitude I can think of is:
it is diverse.
Its very different colleges attract very different types of people. with different attitudes. There are large enough cohorts of varying types that one can generally find their compatible group. But there are all sorts of people studying there.
Re #13, Fall is also beautiful. In fact it is Fall I remember best.
maybe some of these links still work:
http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/cornell-university/235783-some-pictures.html
Many upperclassmen live in apartments with year leases, so they have housing there for the summer.
This can lead to staying there in the summer, which is realty wonderful, I recommend it.