Cornell University Top Questions

The people I've met here have been the most well-rounded, happy, grounded, friendly people I have ever met. Yes, Cornell is a tough school... but isn't that why people want to go here, so they can get a top-notch education? I can guarantee that if you come here, you'll be earning your degree, but it's not like there's anything wrong with that. There's also the Hotelie stereotype, that people in the Hotel school never study, or that people going to Cornell are all going to the Hotel school. The Hotel school is pretty awesome looking, quite honestly. They may not seem to study quite as much as the rest of us, but hey, we don't have to make beds in the Statler. And there's also the idea of the crazy Engineers. Engineers are very, very smart, and they have a lot of work, but they're by no means antisocial. The majority of my friends are in the engineering school and they're some of the funniest kids I will probably ever meet in my entire life. I think it's somewhere around 30{4a082faed443b016e84c6ea63012b481c58f64867aa2dc62fff66e22ad7dff6c} of people who are involved in Greek life... Cornell isn't a crazy fratty Greek campus, but it's definitely a major part of the partying social life. But it's not like you can easily point out who's a frat boy, who's a sorority girl, who's this or that. Cornell's campus seems pretty stereotype-free once you're in it.

The stereotypes vary and depend on the separate schools within the university. Architects are crazy, creative, and sleep-deprived hipsters who work long, long nights for their degree. Engineers are similar in their work ethic, are all Asian, end up making a lot of money, and have no social skills. Kids in AEM (undergrad business) are all about networking, striking it rich, and banking, and they care little about academics. Those in ILR and the Hotel Administration school have the least work, so they party a lot and end up getting weird jobs, for the most part, after they graduate. CALS kids love animals, agriculture, and nature. Arts and Sciences kids are varied, but they usually end up in academia, politics, business, or some random job because they got a Philosophy or English degree. Human Ecology students are either die-hard premeds who are constantly stressed out or people who generally like biological sciences, nutrition, etc. A general stereotype for the entire student body is that we're smart, motivated, and ambitious. I would say that generally the stereotypes are based in truth, but you should never look into them too much or really consider them when you make your college decision. Cornell is a HUGE school, which means the diversity is there to ensure that everyone finds similar people to them. It has so many different colleges within the university that it really doesn't matter what the stereotypes are; the fact that there are so MANY different stereotypes is great. You'll find interesting people just like you, guaranteed. It is also pretty obvious that Cornell is a very fratty school whose social scene is dominated by Greek life. However, each frat and sorority has its own unique stereotype, events, and traditions, so don't be afraid to rush if you'd like to feel part of a community. There are a ton of professional fraternities focused on networking if weekly beer pong and hazing are not your thing. I didn't rush for a social sorority, but I'm very interested in rushing my sophomore year for a co-ed honors or engineering frat, which throws just as many fun (and classier) parties as the typical frat.

I'm not aware of any stereotypes that people have about students at Cornell University. But if there is, it can't be true because the population is extremely diverse. Granted, stereotypes about certain majors might exist -- engineering majors are nerdy while AEM (applied economics and management) students are chill -- but certainly stereotypes about the students at Cornell in general is unfounded.

cornell is one of the most beautiful places in the world and there are a million things to do on campus. ithaca is an amazing town with INCREDIBLE food (more restaurants per capita than NYC). the dining halls on campusare amazing. i am in a sorority and its pretty down to earth. people dont realize that i'm smart when they first meet me, so when i tell them that i go to cornell, they are always surprised. i love the reaction. i love spending time in Mann library (CALS library) and running outside. my favorite building is sage chapel. there is a TON of school pride. AEM was just named the fourth undergrad business program in the country. we have one of the best ice hockey, lacrosse, wrestling, and basketball teams in the country. people are always wearing cornell gear. there is a ton of work here. i couldnt imagine going anywhere else.

From the outside, I would say our school is stereotypically very competitive. But in terms of the specific student body, there isn't one accurate stereotype. One of the wonderful things about Cornell, is that it is truly a university where anyone can find their niche. Whether this means you want to be a frat star, hang out with the farmers, or be into the art scene--everyone has their home at Cornell. Not to mention you literally study anything here!

The great thing about Cornell is that our student population is so diverse, setting a stereotype for undergraduate or graduate students is next to impossible. You're likely to be able to meet someone from every background here, and people who have passions for things you've never even heard of before. About 30{4a082faed443b016e84c6ea63012b481c58f64867aa2dc62fff66e22ad7dff6c} of our students are involved in Greek life, but the frat scene doesn't dominate campus. We have athletes, concert pianists, and animal enthusiasts, theater majors, scuba divers, and squirrel lovers (really -- there's a Squirrel Club. I know the President). There are countless groups and organizations available to undergraduates at Cornell, and it's extremely difficult to sum up Cornell students as a whole. The one thing that connects us all, however, is an active interest in whatever it is we study. Cornell students are notorious for hitting the books.

I had a hard time choosing Cornell because I thought that although my academic career was very important, my social life would be inexistent. I always thought of Cornell students as being very nerdy and geeky prior to coming here. To my surprise however, Cornell is extremely diverse and you can find all different types of people here. Everyone is very social and outgoing but also down to earth and intelligent. I guess thats what I like most about Cornell, everyone can find their perfect fit here.

Because Ithaca is relatively an isolated campus, many outside of Cornell community think that a large number of students here at Cornell are involved in fraternities and sororities. But that is not the case. Yes, Cornell does boast a vibrant Greek community, but we are also involved in numerous other activities as well. Many of us take advantage of various research opportunities as well as club activities to spend our time outside of class. "Everyone is from Long Island." That is another common stereotype of Cornell students. I won't deny that many students are from Long Island but that doesn't mean students from other parts of the United States are not studying here. I'm from California, and many of my friends are also out-of-state students (Washington, Virginia, Oklahoma, Hawaii, Texas, etc.).

Because Ithaca is relatively an isolated campus, many outside of Cornell community think that a large number of students here at Cornell are involved in fraternities and sororities. But that is not the case. Yes, Cornell does boast a vibrant Greek community, but we are also involved in numerous other activities as well. Many of us take advantage of various research opportunities as well as club activities to spend our time outside of class. "Everyone is from Long Island." That is another common stereotype of Cornell students. I won't deny that many students are from Long Island but that doesn't mean students from other parts of the United States are not studying here. I'm from California, and many of my friends are also out-of-state students (Washington, Virginia, Oklahoma, Hawaii, Texas, etc.).

Cornell is known for having a large Greek population, and with 33{4a082faed443b016e84c6ea63012b481c58f64867aa2dc62fff66e22ad7dff6c} of students being in a fraternity or sorority, it is easy to see where this stereotype arose. The truth is, the school has a big enough undergraduate population that anyone can find their own niche. You don't need to be in the Greek system to feel a sense of belonging; you just have to make an effort to get to know people once you set foot on the campus.