Dear Applicant,

The answer to your question is "it depends," the admissions requirements vary by the individual college or school within Cornell that you are applying to. To view the requirements for each of the colleges and schools including SAT, SATII, ACT, etc. go to http://www.admissions.cornell.edu/apply/firstyear_reqs.cfm. For additional information you can also contact the specific college admissions office (phone numbers and email addresses are posted in the sidebar on this page). Good luck!

Uncle Ezra   

Dear Ryan,

That's unfortunate.  You don't know where the letter got lost, so you'll have to start some detective work. First, call the Admissions office at 607-255-5241 and they will help you check on their end, and make sure that there is a note in your file that you are taking care of this.  If the letter can't be tracked down there, your teacher should have a copy that he or she can easily send off.  The Admissions office can tell you exactly to whom it should be addressed and how it should be mailed to get primary attention. You can't keep mistakes from happening, but you can identify them and take the necessary steps to get things back on track.  You'll be able to use that skill again and again in your college career!

Good luck!  I hope to see you here in the fall!

Uncle Ezra   

Dear Hans,

Get inspired and convey your enthusiasm and interest through your application. It's a creative writing program?  B-creative. Who is on the faculty? What have they written?  Talk to someone in the department and find out what they have to offer, so they will know you and you will know them a little better. Find out about the mission of their program and the culture of the school. Your knowledge will not only allow you to present a well-informed application, but will also help you choose when you it's your turn.

The towers of Columbia and NYU contrast to the open horizons of Iowa and Montana. Take a virtual trip to Montana with Robert Prisig in "Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance."  Do you want a big city or small? Do you want to ski or attend theatre when you need a break? Money Magazine and CNN offer a searchable database of cities based on criteria you insert at http://money.cnn.com/best/bplive/.  A graduate program with a short time frame can give you a refreshing new experience geographically and academically.

Pirsig: "Quality is not a thing. It is an event. It is the event at which the subject becomes aware of the object... The Quality event is the cause of the subjects and objects, which are then mistakenly presumed to be the cause of the Quality!"

Uncle Ezra   

Dear Thoughtful,

You are grappling with some tough questions, and ones that have been at the forefront of debate at the national level too. Have you been following some of the dialogue about affirmative action or Title IX? As with any admissions question there is no exact answer because admissions is not an exact formula. If it were, then admission officers would have a chart of qualifications, and if people fit a certain number of criteria, they would be accepted. Cornell and other colleges and universities strive to have a diverse student body with varying interests, strengths, and perspectives. As a result, I hope the following explanation helps to clarify the admissions process for you, although it may not entirely answer all of your questions.

The staff in the Undergraduate Admissions Office explain that legacies (applicants who have a connection to Cornell through a family member that was either a student or an employee) go through the same admissions process as any other applicant. There is no "fast lane" for legacy students. There is also a statement in the Big Red Book (the admissions prospectus) that explains "Cornell Families...The Cornell connection counts. Among applicants of roughly equal qualifications, children of alumni may receive preference. Please let us know if a parent, grandparent, or great-grandparent attended Cornell, or if a member of your family is a Cornell employee." So it is true, that a student may receive some preference, but only if other things are equal.

One could debate the origin and "lifeblood" of the Cornell connection.  Could the 13% legacy students in the class of 2006 be so considerable, not because of admissions selection, but due to a very high number of legacy applicants out of the total pool? The family connection may inspire a student to apply to Cornell,
and influence one to choose Cornell over other acceptances.  Cornell becomes part of a family "identity", more important as our ties loosen in the busy and dispersed world.  Could the geographical connection weigh in?  In this case, could familiarity breed content?  Are you the first in a long line of Cornellians in your family? I hope, if they so desire, we can be a great academic home to them.

Uncle Ezra   

Dear Applying to Transfer,

I'm glad you chose Cornell as your intended!  Although the information you are looking for is not specifically tracked for transfer students, you can look at our other stats. Because of the size of the pool of transfers relative to the overall class size and varying requirements by college, you may not find exactly what you want. With transfer students, as with any applicant to Cornell, many different variables are considered when evaluating each application. Your current coursework is certainly relevant, and was probably not a factor when you originally applied to your school as a new student. The following resources might help you get a sense of where you stand, but don’t take the numbers as an absolute either.

The Cornell Fact Book has admissions statistics for both Freshmen and Transfer Students at http://www.ipr.cornell.edu/factbook/Admissions/Undergraduate/Content s. The "profile of the class of 2006" link provides information for freshmen and transfer students (combined) who matriculated in the Fall of 2002 including high school class rank, average SAT scores, GPA, etc. The "external transfer" link provides information about application and acceptance rates for external transfer students overall and by college. The Undergraduate Admissions website also provides some useful statistics as well as timelines, requirements (both for Cornell and for the individual college or school that you are applying to), housing, and other information specific to transfer students at http://www.admissions.cornell.edu/apply/#transfer.

If you have specific questions or concerns about your application status, beyond what you read on the web, contact an admissions counselor for the school in which you are applying to for additional guidance (contact information is also found on the admissions website). I hope to see you here in the future!

Uncle Ezra   

Dear Aggie,

That sounds like a fascinating course! We are continually discovering  ways that we are shaped by our environment, as we mold it in living our various lives. LA 140 is a new course, and has been approved to count towards the humanities distribution requirements.  Please call Barbara Smith, 5-2017, Director of Enrollment Management and Student Records, if you have any questions.

Uncle Ezra   

Uncle Ezra   

Dear Probably Not My Average CS,

You have asked many serious questions.  Trust in a relationship is a precious thing.  Some people can trust easily, but for most, it takes a lot of time, building on small experiences of trust fulfilled.  For example, does your friend call when he says he will, show up on time, remember something special, show sensitivities to your feelings and preferences? Does he forgive you for small indiscretions?  All of these relationship-building expereinces can help you to try trusting a little bit more the next time it is needed.

You may need to talk yourself out of not trusting.  Try the "that was then this is now" argument.  Or the "that was Tim, this is Jim" one. If you can analyze what is triggering your mistrust, you can help yourself let go of it and try believing in someone's better intentions again. It will help if you can explain your hesitancies to a date so that he doesn't take it personally or misinterpret your distance as a "kick to the curb."

Sex is the ultimate test of trust.  You must allow yourself to be vulnerable and share your most intimate feelings.  The only way you can do this is a little bit at a time -- try something, become comfortable, then move on one more step. There are a few good books about sexuality that might help you -- browse the bookstore to find one that you find helpful. If it's hard for you to buy it in person, take the title back home and order it online.  You might want to work with a therapist on your trust and sexual expression issues. There may be some deeper experiences that are affecting your current feelings of suspicion and anxiety.

It is important to be gentle and patient with yourself, and find a partner who will respect your pace. As with other fears, you can "systematically desensitize" yourself to the step that is increasing your anxiety. When your anxious response is turned off, there will be room for your relaxation response to step in.  Learn to turn off negative self-messages, and to enhance your ability to feel good, to feel the joy of good food, good music and a warm touch. Allow yourself also to give in return, to create a balance, as in a dance, in which you feel you can have some control.  Then, you may also feel you can let go and come back to safety again.   I wish you the best.

Uncle Ezra   

Dear Sugarlessly,

The best way is a variety of ways.  The way not to do it is buying silly creams to melt off fat or magic pills or machines that promise what they can't deliver or unhealthy diets that you can't maintain.  Yes, eat a well-balanced, nutritious diet that is best for you   Yes, get lots of all-around exercise from walking, doing stairs rather than elevators, cycling, running, swimming, rowing.  It can be fun!

Yes, do abdominal crunches on a few different machines at the gym, do sit-ups and toe-touches, and a class in yoga or tai chi or pilates or aerobics.  

When you think of your tummy, you need to think about the upper abdominal area, the lower abdominal area, and the side abdominal near the side and back waist.  In your routine, work these muscles at the specific area of the stomach in isolation to get yourelf in top shape.  You might also hear about workouts that emphasize strengthening your "core muscles" these include the muscles in your abdominals, back, sides and hips, so you may find these workouts of interest too.  If you are a member of the Cornell Fitness Centers or Wellness Program, you can make an appointment with a fitness professional to help get you started.  I hope you find a routine you can stay with. 

As for the sugarless part, I hope your taste buds can become trained to the more subtle flavors that sugar overpowers. It takes time, but you can do it if you keep your goal in mind.

Uncle Ezra   

Dear Loyal Reader,

Cornell Cooperative Extensions offers an ask the expert service at http://www.cce.cornell.edu/food/, or can you browse old Nutriquest archives (it is no longer in service) at http://www.nutrition.cornell.edu/nutriquest/nghome.html.  Cornell Career Services has expanded such that their website is extremely helpful.  As the career world has changed so, current information is most relevant to today's job seeker, so an archive might not be so helpful.  And, a personal appointment to have a conversation about your unique situation makes more sense with something as important as your career. They are there to serve you! 

Uncle Ezra   

Dear Employee,

I hope you've enjoyed your break. You can always check with your superviosr about rumors or uncertainties. Often, there is merely a misinterpretation. There was no announcement for Thanksgiving, but the following has been announced for December:

"This year, the university’s official winter break period runs from Wednesday, December 25, 2002 through Wednesday, January 1, 2003. In order to foster a safe and happy start to the winter holiday, providing more time to spend with family and friends, President Rawlings has authorized closing the university at noon, Tuesday, December 24, 2002.

"Those staff who are normally scheduled to work on the afternoon of December 24, and who leave work at 12 noon, will be paid their regular rate of pay for the remainder of their scheduled hours that day. Those staff required to work after 12 noon on December 24 will be paid in accordance with the Holiday Pay Policy. If you have any questions regarding the submission of time worked, please contact your supervisor or human resource representative."

Uncle Ezra   

Dear Recent grad,

Congratulations on completing your Cornell degree.  Cornell does not terminate its services to you at that point.  Cornell Career Services are available to alumni like you who are moving around in the complex world of careers to find the best place to use that degree.

Getting along with coworkers is one of the most difficult challenges in the work world, yet not often addressed in your classes. It can help to talk to someone about the best way to get along with a difficult person, so that the situation doesn't become a personal stressor. Workers often find that a few effective techniques employed in workplace interactions can help things go more smoothly. If your workplace offers Employee Assistance Program (EAP) services, take them up on it!

"Smoking your pain away" doesn't sound like a healthy choice of responses to your situation.  Even if you don't mind low sperm count, marijuana causes serious motivational problems in users.  If this is an issue for you, please find some help to identify healthier ways to manage the pain and keep yourself going under these current stressors. I say this because I care about you and your long-term success, so I hope you can hear it in a spirit of kindness and not condemnation.

Dealing with depression is a challenge, also. In addition to medications, insight work through counseling and reading or groups is important to help you keep a positive outlook. Your environment can have a strong influence on your mood.  Pardon my California stereotypes, but I would expect there are several Feng-shui consultants out there to help you make your home feel warmer and more comforting.  Some people offer free advice, and there are several good books to help you identify elements of design with psychological significance, e.g. color, light, or organization.

Singing - how wonderful that you have that talent! Nurture it, if only in small doses.  Is there a choral group you can join, or a theatre group you can involve yourself in?  These are also places where you can meet people and make connections for work or play.  Knowing people can help you get your foot in the door job-wise.  And once you're in, you meet more people and become aware of more opportunities.

Sometimes the world does indeed seem to be full of closed doors and dead-ends.  Sometimes it takes a while to find the right key, or to uncover the path that leads out of the woods.  Keep your dreams alive, and allow yourself to gradually wake up to the possibilities they present to you. Find people who can help you sing out the hope in your heart, and sing it like the bird who announces spring again and again.

"If I keep a green bough in my heart, the singing bird will come."  (Chinese Proverb)

Uncle Ezra