My son was just accepted to Cornell for Physics. What are some tips or what do you wish you knew before you attended Cornell?
I’m sure this applies to almost anywhere, but FWIW:
-Great study/work habits.are the key to success. Work ahead, not behind.
When/if you fall behind is when you can get in trouble.
Particularly towards the end of semesters.If you haven’t budgeted your time properly you can get killed at the end.
The last regular problem sets and “prelim” exams are followed shortly by final exams, final papers/ projects, etc.
-Don’t just study. Make a commitment to have a social life, engage in extracurriculars, maybe get a part time job.
D2’s great experience there was in part due to this. it’s a great university that offers a lot, make use of it.
Don’t go it alone! Go to study groups, review sessions, TA and prof office hours, etc… Ask for help the minute you don’t understand. Get a tutor if you need one on one help. It’s not a sign of weakness or failure, it’s a sign of maturity!
Don’t over schedule yourself. The activities fair can be crazy overwhelming (more than 1K clubs at Cornell) and it’s tempting to get involve in too many things. Pick one fun thing, and one academic/professional thing only. Re-evaluate after first semester. Clubs don’t disappear if you don’t join them right away.
Try new things!
Do whatever you can to get yourself to a hockey game!
Go Big Red!
Excellent advice from @momofsenior1 and @monydad! My additions based on my experience at Cornell, but applies generally:
Academics (physics oriented):
(1) College is different from high school in the amount of out-of-classroom preparation required. You will likely be given a syllabus at the beginning of the semester. Make sure you read on the topics covered in lecture BEFORE the lecture!
(2) Make sure you’ve made a first pass attempt on your problem set BEFORE your recitation/discussion section (usually led by a graduate student teaching assistant). Pro-tip: Make a list of questions you would like to have addressed at your recitation and get them to your TA ahead of time so s(he) can ponder it and have well thought out, efficient responses (based on my own experience as a TA).
(3) Go to your TA’s office hours EVERY WEEK. Compile lists of questions to ask and make sure your questions are answered. Your TA’s salary is paid by your tuition, so get what you need! Go to your professor’s office hours every once in a while if you’re confused about something in lecture.
(4) If you will have AP Physics C and AP Calculus BC credit, do as the Cornell Physics Department suggests and surrender your AP Physics C credit and enroll in Physics 1116 (Honors Mechanics) first semester. This course is several degrees of difficulty higher than AP Physics C, but the preparation of the entire honors physics sequence will prepare you well for upper division physics courses.
(5) Have a serious discussion with your Physics advisor about which math sequence works best for you. The engineering math sequence actually aligns better with the sequence in which the physics courses are taught.
General Cornell Items:
(6) Make an effort to get to downtown Ithaca when the weather is decent. Walk down there and take the bus back to Cornell. Or, if you are ambitious, walk both ways (it’s pretty steep).
(7) Talk to others (perhaps parents here on CC) and figure out the best way to get home for break. Getting in and out of Ithaca can be tricky, particularly at Winter Break.
(8) Start making plans (hotel reservations) now if you have to travel to Ithaca for drop off in August.
(9) As @momofsenior1 mentioned, go see a hockey game. Even better, pick a sport that doesn’t have as many followers and support them (Women’s Ice Hockey team was in the Frozen Four this past year and they could use more people in the stands).
(10) Pick a winter-themed physical education class for spring semester your freshman year. This gets you outside doing something physical during the long winter months.
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The A&S College has extremely unfair study abroad requirements. If you come in without credit, you must take a language every semester at Cornell to study abroad in any foreign speaking country, even if that program is taught in English.
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You essentially must know exactly what you want to study by the end of sophomore year. There is a little more flexibility if you wish to switch your major within the A&S college past this point, however past sophomore year, you cannot transfer to another college and are stuck with whatever major you chose.
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You cannot double major across colleges.
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Be prepared to be graded extremely unfairly. Here is an actual quote from oe of my math professors: “Today, I am going to introduce the next topic to you guys, but you have already seen it. It was on your first prelim (midterm).”
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When applying for the freshman housing lottery, claim you have an allergy in order to get a much better dorm.
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There is a large lack of diversity of thought on campus.
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You are not guaranteed housing past sophomore year.
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A gym pass and bus pass cost money (bus pass is free freshman year).
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People tend to be more focused on themselves than they are in developing a friendship.
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Many professors are more concerned with research than with teaching students.
These are just some things that I have noticed. I am sure it is different for everyone. There are quite a few good things about the school as well, but certainly things I find problematic.
re #4:
“You cannot double major across colleges.”
Not indiscriminately, but you can under the right circumstances, A friend of mine did it.
http://internaltransfer.cornell.edu/concurrent-degrees/
Also, consider that perhaps you have met only a small subset of 14,000 undergraduates, and maybe all 14,000 actually are not all the same, and there are people who actually do care about friendships and have their own thoughts about things which may not be identical to everyone else’s. Whether you happen to have net them or not, or are aware of all of the attitudes even of all the people you have met.