Ho ho ho.

That's the file for our New Year's Resolutions.

#1: Plan ahead.

#2: Get organized

#3: Relax and enjoy the holiday.  Join me?

Uncle Ezra   

Dear Me,

The situation in regard to music lessons at Cornell isn't quite as drastic as you describe, the Department Chair explained to me.  First, music majors may receive a scholarship from the Music Department that covers the full cost of their lessons, if they are studying with a Cornell faculty member, or up to $225 per semester if they have an outside teacher.  In addition, students who play or sing in Cornell ensembles, whether they are majors or not, are also eligible for scholarships of up to $100 per semester.  So depending on the individual student's situation, whether the teacher is on the Cornell faculty or not, etc., the cost to the student is often substantially lower than what you quote--or even free.  Lessons not taken for credit DO require a fee, which I think is not hard to understand.  If you are unsure of the various options, I recommend you go to the Music Department and talk your situation over with the Director of Undergraduate Studies, the department administrative assistant, or the chair.

As for the practice room fee, it exists because pianos have to be tuned and regulated frequently in order to keep them in good playing order.  I don't think you are interested in playing on a piano that has keys sticking or is out of tune.  Such professional services have to be paid for, so the department has no choice but to charge the users a fee.  Think of it like the lab fees you pay in science courses.  And of the $25 key fee, $20 is returned when you turn in the key at the end of the semester.  Fees for lockers also are mostly deposit--it only costs $4 out of pocket to have a locker for four years.

As to the issue of the value Cornell places on musical performance: Are you suggesting that musical performance be required for graduation, like the other courses you mention?  Maybe you should propose that to the Educational Policies Committee!  But as for valuing music on the part of the University, the Music Department moved only two years ago into the renovated and expanded Lincoln Hall, so Cornell has put a LOT of money into music in recent years.  You should have seen the practice rooms before!  Perhaps more to the point of your question, students at Cornell are allowed to earn credit and even satisfy distribution requirements via musical performance or lessons--which is NOT true at many other institutions. That strikes me as a strong vote of confidence on Cornell's part in favor of the value of music-making to an undergraduate education.

I hoes this help you understnad your issues better.  May you continue to find ways to keep music an important part of your life! Stike the harp and join the chorus - fa la la la la la la la la.

Uncle Ezra   

Dear aspiring,

There used to be a Tuesday group who played at Anabel Taylor. A retired professor named Carl (?) was in the group, but I haven't found further information about it. These people play at weddings: Michael Crawford, 277-0852, Barbara Harris, 785-0373, Marty DeVault, 754-8494. A Cornell student names Kelley Ruggles has taught, as has a high school student who seems to be very busy now, and a younger person downtown named Dustin Elesworth, at 256-0615.  I hope you can pursue this fascinating interest, and I'll see you out there on March 17!

Uncle Ezra   

Dear AP,

Please accept my condolences if you were not accepted at Cornell this round. A student denied during early decision cannot reapply regular decision. The next opportunity for a denied early decision applicant to apply is as a transfer for fall 2004. I hope you can find a good school to continue your education and prepare you for the next step.  Best wishes.

Uncle Ezra   

Dear Next Step,

Focus on doing well throughout the remainder of your senior year. Make sure your counselor sends updated grades to Undergraduate Admissions as soon as they are available. Send Undergraduate Admissions, in addition, any updates from yourself or news about awards or achievements since your original application was filed.

Finally, a deferral to regular decision (sometimes also called a postponement), is neither a harbinger of bad news, nor is it a sign of better news to come. Continue to prepare applications to other institutions and proceed with your college search in case Cornell is ultimately unable to offer you admission. Good luck!

Uncle Ezra   

Dear Determined,

Cornell does not release school or college-specific ED statistics.  Please contact the school or college admissions office to which you applied to discuss how you can increase your chances (see http://admissions.cornell.edu/colmajors/ for the appropriate phone number and e-mail address).

Uncle Ezra   

Dear Dedicated,

Focus on doing well throughout the remainder of your senior year. Make sure your counselor sends updated grades to Undergraduate Admissions as soon as they are available. Send Undergraduate Admissions, in addition, any updates from yourself or news about awards or achievements since your original application was filed.  In the mean time, continue to prepare applications to other institutions and proceed with your college search in case Cornell is ultimately unable to offer you admission.

Information on odds is very specific to the Cornell school or college to which you applied.  Cornell does not release college-specific statistics.  You can check the factbook for general numbers.

Uncle Ezra   

Welcome,
new niece!

The EDP financial aid letters are going in the mail  right now -- the first batch of letters was sent 12/12, and are continuing to go out  -- so if you haven't received a letter yet, you are more than welcome to contact the office to track your letter. Looking forward to seeing you in August,

Uncle Ezra   

Welcome,
 New kid on the block,

Students will receive Housing information and other materials about life at Cornell in the spring.  Meanwhile, check out the Campus Life website (http://www.campuslife.cornell.edu/) for a wealth of information about the residential communities on North Campus.

As an entering student you will be associated with approximately 3,050 other freshmen students on North Campus either in a traditional residence hall or one of 8 Program Houses, based on interest.  You will find yourself among a multicultural, multinational population of other students to grow and learn from with others whose life experiences are different from yours, as well as individuals with backgrounds and values similar to yours.  The residence hall experience provides many opportunities to find a strong connection between learning and living at Cornell. 

Freshmen who apply for university housing are guaranteed a room assignment.  Room assignment priority is determined by a computer-generated random ranking of all applications post-marked by May 1.  During the Housing Application process students are asked several lifestyle/preference informational questions which assist in making housing assignments.  Students are matched with roommates or receive a single accommodation.  Students are not assigned by college, but each residential community is a mix of students from all seven colleges.

Be prepared for a wonderful living/learning experience!

Uncle Ezra   

Uncle Ezra   

Dear Anonymous,

Professor J. Ellen Gainor, the Associate Dean of the Graduate School, is interested in helping you and others in similar situations, of whom she sees more that a few!  Here is her response: "Thank you to the Cornell undergraduate who posted the query on the re-taking of GRE exams.  This is an important question that I'm sure is of interest to many students.  First, let me say that for most graduate programs, the score on the GRE is only one part of the application file.  The scores on the general exam (as opposed to the subject exams, or the specialized tests such as the LSAT or MCAT, which play a much larger role in the admissions process) are used by most admissions committees only as rough indicators of a student's potential to succeed in graduate school.  Most graduate schools or individual graduate programs will provide a target range of scores appropriate for admission to their institution or discipline, if they require the GRE (and you should know that some graduate programs no longer even require the GRE).  If your scores fall within, or exceed that range, then you should feel confident that you will be a competitive candidate.  Obviously, the more prestigious graduate programs will be looking at many applicants who have high scores, but these programs will also be paying close attention to the academic record, the letters of recommendation, and the documentation of the student's work and personal statement.  In my fifteen years of experience in graduate admissions, I can tell you definitively that we have never admitted a student to my field at Cornell purely on the basis of the GRE score.  And, moreover, we have on multiple occasions admitted students without the highest scores in the applicant pool, precisely because of the quality of their applications, taken in their entirety.  Retaking standardized tests always contains an element of risk.  You could do better a second time, your score could be consistent, or your score could decline.  If you feel confident that you can improve your score (perhaps you were very ill the day you took the exam, for example), then you may feel it is worth the expense and the time, especially if you plan to apply to extremely competitive graduate programs.  Unfortunately, it is impossible to predict what individual faculty who serve on admissions committees might think of more than one set of scores, especially if the second score is lower than the first.  But in general, I would recommend putting your energies into presenting the strongest overall application package possible.  Request letters of faculty (or supervisors) who know you and your work well, and who can speak in detail to your qualifications.  Write the strongest personal statement you can.  And make sure the samples or documentation of your work are as polished as possible.  Good luck!"

Uncle Ezra   

Dear Bothered and Stressed,

Your moral dilemma, should you accept, is to make a difficult decision that doesn't exactly make you feel "great" no matter what you decide to do! But this one isn't about you. I admire the fact that you are realizing that a wrongdoing may have occurred, and that you want to do something about that. Making hard choices and standing up for justice are not easy tasks but are also some of the most important and valuable learning experiences that we encounter during our college years. If we learn a wealth of information, but we do not use it ethically or morally, what have we gained?

The Code of Academic Integrity is taken very seriously at Cornell, in order to provide a safe and honest academic environment for all community members. The principle of the code is "absolute integrity is expected of every Cornell student in all academic undertakings. Integrity entails a firm adherence to a set of values, and the values most essential to an academic community are grounded on the concept of honesty with respect to the intellectual efforts of oneself and others. Academic integrity is expected not only in formal course work situations but in all university relationships and interactions connected to the educational process, including the use of university resources."

While I do not know the specific circumstances of your situation, using, obtaining, or providing unauthorized assistance on examinations is a violation of the code. If a student or staff member discovers an apparent violation they are asked to report the matter to the faculty member in charge of the course or to the chairperson of the appropriate Hearing Board. If a report of potential academic misconduct or a violation of the code is brought forward, there are certain steps that are followed to investigate the circumstances. If the allegations are found to be true, appropriate punishment will be enforced; a student is not automatically expelled without appropriate consideration of the offense, or due process. The complete code is published in the Policy Notebook,
which not only provides the specific rules, but also includes examples of violations, types of violations, etc. Taking a few minutes to read through the elements of the code may help you clarify your decision. Each student is entitled to a copy of the Policy Notebook, so if for some reason you cannot find yours, ask your roommate or your college registrar for one.

If you feel uncomfortable speaking to the faculty member in charge of the course or you know that what the student did was wrong but you don’t want to get overly involved in the situation, consider speaking with your faculty advisor or another trusted faculty member. That person may be able to intercede, i.e. pass information on to your professor without naming the source. In addition, if you are still having reservations about stepping forward, your faculty advisor may be able to help you grapple with the issues at hand.

Remember, sometimes the easy thing to do (in this case turn our heads) is not the right thing to do. There are so many great leaders in our history that have demonstrated this, and made the world a better place because of it. Good luck coming to terms with this situation.

Uncle Ezra   

Dear Transfer,

I understand your worries and the hopes for the future which you are feeling unsure about.  It's great that you have gotten involved in Orientation to help others like yourself transition smoothly.  I can't say how your college handles AP issues --some people in some of the colleges personally call students who are withdrawn or suspended.  Why not contact your student services/advising center to find out what the particular policy of the college is?  You could also try talking with profs in courses in which you are unsure of your performance.

There are several possible outcomes in your situation, depending on your grades.  In some cases a student on warning from a previous term who does not meet certain standards in the following term risks being permanently withdrawn from his/her college.  Your concerns are justified.  In other cases, though, a student can be put on final warning or put on suspension for one or two semesters---it all depends on what the breakdown in grades reveals.   

Did you receive help from the Center For Learning and Teaching's workshops and other services to improve study habits, note-taking skills, etc.? Evidence such as this could help you argue that you are making efforts to improve.  Could there be addition stumbling blocks to your success, such as an undiagnosed Learning Disability, or perhaps need for a change in major? 

Take the "planning, organizing, doing" approach to preparing for your career with successful educational experiences.  Don't procrastinate on yourself, but rather help yourself take better care.  You're worth it!

Uncle Ezra   

Dear Statistician,

The application process is a difficult one, so hang in there for the rough ride ahead.  "If at first you don't succeed, try try again." Unfortunatley, this is not a pure math problem. The admissions people tell me that the stats that you requested are not obtainable because the probability of your admission to Cornell will be based on the regular decision applicant pool, whose size and quality is yet to be seen, and your performance throughout your senior year. 

There are a few things you can do. Please make sure that your counselor sends updated grades to the Undergraduate Admissions Office (UAO) as soon as they are available. In addition, you should also send the UAO any updates or news about awards or achievements that you may have received since your original application was filed. During this period, it is also important to continue to prepare applications to other institutions and proceed with your college search in case Cornell is ultimately unable to offer you admission. If you have any additional questions, please contact the UAO.  I wish you the best of luck with your college applications and hope that you will keep up all of your wonderful efforts!

Uncle Ezra   

Dear Parent,

The Office of the University Registrar oversees certifications of degree and enrollment.  Each year they get thousands of requests for certifications of enrollment for health insurance or student loan purposes, and degree verifications from potential employers and other parties.

Due to the volume,
the Registrar's Office works directly with the National Student Clearinghouse to see that these certifications are processed efficiently.  If you need a certification of any kind, you can contact the Clearinghouse directly.

For a paper certification, fax or mail your request to:

National Student Clearinghouse 13454 Sunrise Valley Drive Suite 300 Herndon, VA 20171 (703) 742-4239 (fax)

They will send the certification back within 3-4 days by mail or fax.

If there are no paper documents needed (as is the case with many perspective employers) you may email or call them at enrollmentverify@studentclearinghouse.org, (703) 742-7791, there is a small fee for phone certifications.

I hope this service provides you with the information that you need.

Uncle Ezra   

Dear Alum,
Congratulations on your successful work that brought the bonus.  You may be among the few this year.  Your old laptop is sure to find a grateful home.  

In addition to the ideas below that are in a previous posting, and which may be more appropriate to computers than laptops, you could call the high school math (274-2191) or science (274-2190) departments, or the middle schools, and find a worthy recipient. You can check online for email addresses.  Another thought is the Refugee Assistance Center, TC3, where many refugees are honing their computer skills, or any local churches who might have families in need.  Or they might need it themselves! This time of year, many local charities put out a call for donations for their offices, and laptops are among them. So, you could offer it to Suicide Prevention, Mental Health Association, etc. and get a tax write-off, too. 

The Youth Bureau Computer All Stars Program repairs donated computers.  Call Pearlman at 256-0510 or e-mail her at tap27@cornell.edu. Babbage’s Basement  (http://www.lightlink.com/babbages/) is the Sciencenter’s Rescue, Reuse and Recycling Computer Center  which allows community members to pick up used computers and equipment for a small donation. Babbage’s Basement is located on the third floor of the Emerson Power Transmission building, off Rte. 96B before Ithaca College on the right. 

I hope you can make someone's holiday bright!

Uncle Ezra   

Dear Sea-faring,
How far out at sea are you?  Was this the case of "Brandy," that you told her the love of your life was the sea?  Or did you make any plans with her at all? Did she cheat on your committed relationship, or did she say good-bye to you when you left town without promises to keep? You say "I wanted" but don't allude to a "we" and so I am curious about what she would say.

The best way to stay out of a relationship is not different from how to stay in one - committment. If you want to keep that door closed, promise yourself to do it, and then go out and do something, take care of your anger, loneliness, depression, and take responsibility for your healing and the direction of your moving on. If you work hard at understanding what happened, you can take better care of yourself the next time around.  "Hung up" sounds pretty one-way to me.  Find someone you can have a back-and-forth with, someone who can be as hung up on you as you are on them. 

You say things got nasty, and that makes me wonder whether you have in mind repairing some broken fences. That could help you to move on, if you are feeling unfinished business that keeps you stuck in guilt or shame.  If you need a conversation with her about that, or if you want or need forgiveness, try cleaning out that closet, and then see if things feel a little clearer to you. I wish you the best.

Uncle Ezra