Choosing the right university can feel overwhelming, but for students searching for a school that blends rigorous academics with natural beauty and community spirit, Cornell University is the place to look. With only a five-hour drive upstate, Cornell University is nestled in the scenic town of Ithaca, New York. Julian Kimball, a Schreiber 2025 alumnus, currently attends.
Founded in 1865 by two New York state senators, Cornell has a rich history. It was founded with a mission to support agriculture and forestry, which is part of the reason why so much nature—such as the Arnot Teaching and Research Forest and the Uihlein Maple Research Forest, which combined take up over 4,000 acres—exists on campus. Cornell University has also continued to implement several green initiatives over the years to help reduce environmental impact, with the hopes to achieve net carbon neutrality by 2035.
“When I visited Cornell, I instantly fell in love. The on-campus nature is breathtaking, from views of the Ithaca Valley and Cayuga Lake on Libe Slope to the two gorges that run through campus,” said Kimball.
Cornell’s Campus is divided into three residential areas: North Campus, West Campus, and South Campus. Freshman all live on North Campus during their first year, creating a strong sense of community.
“I fortunately live in one of three new freshmen dorms. Cornell has put a lot of money into building new facilities and renovating old ones,” said Kimball.
After freshman year, students can live in residential colleges on West Campus, which consists of five houses, each overseen by a Cornell professor. There are also apartment-style dorms on South Campus, which is near Collegetown, a popular student area filled with cafes and restaurants. “There are also houses which off-campus students lease. Every club has a house, like the “Glouse” for Glee Club,” said Kimball.
Cornell plays in the NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision, which consists of 129 teams. They also play in the Ivy League, an elite group of universities which was founded in 1954 with the intention of creating a league that fostered athleticism with corruption of academia. At Cornell, pride runs deep, both in academics and athletics. It has 35 varsity intercollegiate teams that compete as the Cornell Big Red, with their biggest sports being men’s lacrosse and ice hockey. School spirit at Cornell also extends beyond sports.
“Because Cornell is so big, the biggest of the Ivies, the spirit is actually based on which school within Cornell you are in. People are very proud to say they’re a Cornell engineer, architect, or hotelie,” said Kimball.
This sense of spirit and community is a crucial value that makes its way into the student body. Due to the academic rigor, having a strong community is essential to make it through.
“Additionally, the people are the best mix of intelligent and social. Everyone here wants to see you succeed, so every student has a large support system. People are also very social here, so you can strike up a conversation with anyone and they’re happy to talk to you,” said Kimball.
Cornell is not just known for academics and scenic beauty, it is also famous for its food. Frequently ranked among the top 10 colleges nationwide for dining, currently ranked at fifth according to The Princeton Review, Cornell’s food scene keeps students happy. It has 10 dining halls across campus, each with different menus for every meal of the day. Part of what makes Cornell’s food so good is that most of it comes from local sources, such as their own apple orchards or the Cornell Dairy Bar, keeping the food fresh every day. There are a total of 29 on-campus dining options, so there are plenty of options to enjoy.
“The dining halls are also super cozy and freshmen are required to have unlimited meal plans, so freshmen just hang out in the dining halls to take study breaks or hangout. Finally, the Cornell Dairy Bar makes free, fresh ice cream daily for freshmen,” said Kimball.
While Cornell’s academics are demanding, students find plenty of ways to pursue their passions and take breaks from studying. With over 1,200 clubs and organizations, Cornell’s extracurricular scene has something for everyone, whether it be a performance group or professional society to community service and outdoor adventure clubs.
“I am in the Glee Club, which is Cornell’s oldest club. This prestigious choir was the first collegiate choir to tour the USSR and has been televised numerous times. I also celebrate Shabbat every week thanks to the amazing Jewish organizations on campus,” said Kimball.
For Schreiber students considering applying to Cornell, the most important thing to do is to be your authentic self. With eight undergraduate colleges, nearly 80 majors, and 120 minors, Cornell offers something for every type of student, and you want to show that you would be the type of person to take advantage of everything they have to offer.