Uncle Ezra   

Dear Senior,

Everyone has their own idea of what experiences are “unmissable” at Cornell. My best advice is to do the things that appeal to you and ask your friends what experiences they have valued most in their years here!  And of course, be sure to look back on all the things that you have done already and appreciate them.  Those are the things that memories are made from.  Remember that quantity is not necessarily better than quality.  A few well-loved adventures will always beat out a laundry list of things that you rush through.

That said, in the Cornell Daily Sun’s October 12, 2010, there was a list, “Things Every Cornellian Scientist Should Do.” Many are great ideas for nonscientists as well. Here are my personal favorites from that list:

--Visit the Museum of the Earth and monitor earthquakes from around the world

--Make the trip to the Lab of Ornithology, just to see the stuffed penguins

--Let a tarantula climb all over your face at Insect-a-palooza

--Stick your hand (up to your elbow) in the Hole-y Cow during Ag Day

--Argue about the validity of science fiction with a world-renown scientist

--Listen to the sounds of your favorite Spielberg films while visiting the library at the Lab of Ornithology

--Dress up like Harry Potter and visit Snape’s Cabinet at the Fungal Herbarium

--Try out the medicinal herbs in the Robinson York State Herb Garden (look for tussie-mussies and nosegays)

--Collect fossils from the gorges with your evolution class

--Check out the anthropology department’s collection of early human bones

--Ride your bike around the Wilson Synchrotron particle accelerator (Hans Bethe did it. We have pictures!).

--Ride a virtual roller coaster at the CAVE in Rhodes Hall

--Touch a real meteorite in the Space Sciences Building

--Tour the rock collection in Snee Hall

--Take a grad-level science course you’re completely unprepared for, just for giggles

--Ask Prof. Steve Squyres about the weather today … on Mars

--Enjoy a pancake breakfast after visiting the maple syrup factory in the Arnot Forest

--Don a clean-suit for a visit to the nano-labs

--Fight with an engineer about who’s got it worse

Uncle Ezra   

Dear Governmental Doctor,

I don't really know that answer, but do know that some students can pull off a double major, with one of those majors being pre-med.  In recent years, 13%-17% of those Cornell students continuing their education directly after graduation have selected some area of human medicine for their studies.

Cornell provides a wide range of pre-med services: advising, a letter of evaluation, programs, and resources to help students who are pursuing human health care achieve their career goals.  Contact an advisor in the Health Careers Office, 103 Barnes Hall, 255-5221.

Uncle Ezra   



Dear Spring Breaker,

I am stumped by your question and my failing memory just doesn’t go back to the “dawn of time”—or the “dawn of the university.” I have searched for an answer, but have come up without anything definitive.  I do know there was a Spring Break as far back as 1970, which for you probably seems like the beginning of time!

Dragon Day began in 1901 and was originnally called Spring Day. Dragon Day  is celebrated at Cornell each year on the day before Spring Break. So maybe Spring Break goes back that far?

Any Cornell historians out there want to clarify this?

Uncle Ezra   

Dear Student Composer,

Good news from Charles Raniewicz, Network Administrator/Sound Engineer, in the Department of Music:

“The Music Library has a MIDI composition lab. Everything they’d need is there, but will need to get permission to use it. Prof. Kevin Ernste (or possibly Cindy Johnston Turner since Wind Ensemble is mentioned) can grant that and Nicole in the office can get the ID card coded for door access. Sibelius and Finale are installed (both composing packages) along with Reason, Live! and many others.”

Sounds good to me!

Uncle Ezra   

Dear Almost Done,

Essentially you miss a great event and the excitement of being part of Cornell University.  If you are not there that day, your diploma is mailed to your home address.

Uncle Ezra   

Dear Crossroads,

You are not alone.  There are many people who think that a certain direction is right for them, and then find a different path makes more sense.  Luckily, you are becoming aware of this early in your academic career.  A low GPA might make transferring more difficult, but not impossible. On the other hand a low GPA might be indicative of being in the wrong major.  My guess is that how and what you do this semester will help you determine what you are passionate about.

My suggestion: talk to an advisor in the CALS Counseling and Advising Office,
140 Roberts Hall, 254-5386.  They are there to help students navigate the system.

The Counseling and Advising Office offers consultation and support for personal issues.  Two counselors with an expertise in college policies and guidelines provide confidential consultation and support appropriate to each student's academic circumstances.  Students seek advising, consultation and support on a variety of issues including academic problems, course problems and college procedures, graduation requirements, personal and family problems, stress management, and time management. 

Another avenue open to you is to meet with someone in the Cornell Internal Transfer Division, 220 day Hall, 255-4386.  They assist students considering transfer between colleges at Cornell.  Call the office to set up an interview so you can explain why you want to transfer.  They will let you know what the requirements will be and how to go about it.

Uncle Ezra   

Dear Baseball Rookie,

You might consider joining the Cornell Baseball Club, which currently has 35 members. Here’s how the club describes itself on the Student Activities website:

“The purpose of the organization is to provide the opportunity for members to compete in the game of baseball. We aim to play competitively in the western/upstate New York region with the ultimate goal of going to the NCBA World Series.

The team practices between 2 and 3 times a week. The times will vary depending on when we can get space in the Ramin Room, or time at a local baseball field. These times are yet to be determined. Information on when practices will be held will be posted on our website.”  For more information see http://sao.cornell.edu/SO/org/10-11/211.

Since this sounds like it might be a higher level than you want, you might just gather a group of friends together for a pick up game this spring.

Uncle Ezra   

Dear Helper,

Thanks for the info.

Uncle Ezra   

Dear Apartment Hunter,

It’s really easy to find an apartment to sublet in the summer, because many student leases are year-round but the students go home for the summer and want to sublet their places. Your best option is to go to the Off-Campus Housing website at http://offcampushousing.cornell.edu/dos/cms/ocho/search-for-housing.cfm and click on “Housing Listing Service” and then on the next page click “Search for Listings.” From there you can specify the time period and type of place you are looking for. You can also join their listserv to see who is searching for a summer subletter: on the same web page, scroll down to “Join the OCHO listserv” and follow the links.

Another approach would be to check the Cornell Daily Sun classifieds for summer sublets.

Regarding on-campus housing during the summer, Brigitt Schaffner of the Housing Office says that students who are enrolled in a summer session or doing research may apply for a room on campus. One residence hall will be selected for that purpose but has not been chosen yet for summer 2011. The online application should be ready by February 1, so you can apply then by going to http://housing.cornell.edu. In the meantime, if you have questions, you can email Brigitt at bms3@cornell.edu.

Uncle Ezra