Dear Worried,

It is difficult for me to answer your question since there are so many different ways to do a relationship.  Honesty, kindness, respect and appreciation are all of utmost importance.  Open communication is also one of the most important qualities of a good relationship.

If you are worried, talk to your girlfriend about her purchases and find out what they are all about.  Maybe she is on the road to being an excellent Sex Therapist some day, maybe she is cheating on you, or maybe it has to do with something that neither of us would guess. Don't jump to conclusions without input from her. The only way to find out is to talk to her, express your concerns and pay attention to what she says and her actions in the future.

Uncle Ezra   

Dear Student,

A member of the Cornell Ornithology Lab stated, “Geese (and swans) can be pretty aggressive around their nests or when they have young. They spread their wings in order to attack you with them. If they hit you, it hurts. That aggressive behavior will only last a few weeks.

The best way to avoid them is to keep out of their way.”

Additional tips include:

-          Stay calm.  Don’t try to yell or touch the geese.

-          If the geese hiss or spread their wings, then back away slowly.  They are very perceptive to body language, and they can sense fear.

I bet you never knew you had to watch out for "Mother Goose."

Uncle Ezra   

Dear Rekindler of Friendship,

This is a time for you to really speak from the heart.  Let the person know all that you miss about your relationship with them.  Spend some time thinking about what your part was in the misunderstanding and share and apologize for anything that you might have done to cause them grief. Ask them to please let you know how they were hurt and ask what you might be able to do to make up for that. Let them know that you would like to get together to discuss things and work out a healthier relationship for the future, if they are amenable to that.  

Good luck, I admire your efforts to make amends.

Uncle Ezra   

Dear Student,

Janet Snoyer, Assistant Director for Health Careers and Credentials, provided great insights into your question. She says, “It is possible to study abroad for a year and go straight to medical school after you graduate. The applicant needs to keep some things in mind to make this work. 

First, does he or she want to use Cornell's evaluation committee (which is strongly recommended by the medical schools)? If so, the application process will begin in November of the junior year, by watching the orientation to Cornell's committee letter preparation process, which will be posted online.  The current one is up on the HCEC website, if the respondent wants to review it now.  Second, if s/he uses us, the Health Careers Evaluation Committee (HCEC) will expect the applicant to complete our registration process by mid-January of the junior year, if possible. That means about 25 hours of personal reflection and writing work between December and mid-January, completed while abroad. If not, the application process begins in earnest the May before the senior year. All of this can be done remotely.

Third, the applicant needs two to three letters of recommendation submitted by March of the junior year. Fourth, the applicant needs to schedule, prepare for and take an MCAT exam before June of the Junior year. 

Applying to medical school means paying attention to many moving parts of a complex enterprise. Some aspects are under the applicant's control; some are not. Successful applicants prepare to work through these things in a planned way to minimize the effect of occurrences beyond their control.

Finally, most people who study abroad for a year find themselves fundamentally different when they return. They find that they have been on a voyage of self-discovery as much as a voyage to a distant place. This self-discovery is of great interest to medical schools and applicants will want to be able to express it as they re-enter American culture. By completing everything in the junior year, much of the richness of the experience will not show up in the application, although it can be shared in the personal statement they write in May of junior year and the interviews, which may take place in the summer before senior year or in the fall. 

I hope these considerations help our applicants to understand why a gap year is the recommended strategy for anyone wanting to study abroad for a year, but it is definitely not "written in stone".”

Uncle Ezra   

Dear Storage Seeker,

The Dining halls are always receiving boxes of this and that.  Check to see if a friendly worker can go behind the scenes to pull out a few empty boxes for you.  Better to re-use them a few times before they are recycled!!

Uncle Ezra   

Dear Searching for ILR,

Your grandma was right; you can't always trust what you read on the Internet.  There is so much that goes into the admissions process for colleges; SAT scores, GPAs, learning experiences, leadership in activities or clubs, your essay, employment, achievements, your interests and how they match with what the college offers, and some luck.

People with high SATs seem to share that info, those with lower SATs are not so forthcoming.  What I do know is that you should do your very best to follow your passions and excel in what you do. 

Apply to the schools that best fit with what you want to learn, in an environment that matches your style.  Don't go for the school with best prestige or fancy name.  Remember you will be spending four years there, so visit each school, if you can, and talk to students at those schools to determine which might be best for you.

If you are interested in Cornell ILR, be sure to apply and do your best to state why this is the school for you.

Uncle Ezra   

Dear Alicia,

The tree that you speak of is known as the “Mighty White Oak.”  In 2009, it was aged at 350 years old.  The link below provides a story about this tree and other notable ones on campus. www.news.cornell.edu/stories/Sept09/TreeInventory.html< /p>

Take a moment to enjoy it the next time you are on the slope!

Uncle Ezra   

Due Student,

Historically, there have always been polling places on campus, specifically in Robert Purcell.  The locations for this year’s election have not been confirmed/released yet, so be on the lookout for the official locations.

Uncle Ezra   

Dear C,

I understand that hassle and stress that sometimes arises from managing financial aid.  Currently, you can use the CornellCard, to make purchases that will be linked to your bursar account.  “The CornellCard account is a service that allows you to make purchases by presenting your Cornell student ID card.”  Thus, you can make charges on this account (such as textbooks), and the balance will be sent to your bursar account.  When financial aid is dispersed, those charges should be covered.

If you have not already applied for the CornellCard, then go to the following link to do so. http://www.dfa.cornell.edu/treasurer/bursar/services/cornellcar d/index.cfm

Should you have any questions about the CornellCard, the contact the Bursar office at (607) 255-2336 or at uco-bursar@cornell.edu (Please include your 7 digit ID#).

Uncle Ezra   

Dear Concerned Mother,

The Registrar has decided to no longer print copies of the course catalog and instead will make the on-line course catalog for 2012-2013 available beginning in June 20.

You daughter can use the link below to read the course descriptions of courses offered in the past. This will give her an idea of what the course may cover.  Additionally, she will have plenty of time to add another course during the add/drop window.

http://courses.cornell.edu/content.php?catoid=12&navoid=2156

Uncle Ezra   

Dear Goph,

It appears as if the registrar will make the 2012-2013 course catalog available on-line around June 20^th.  Be on the look out for it around that date!

Uncle Ezra   

Dear Rock Hound,

Thanks so much for the great resources.  It is always wonderful to get help from my readers.

Uncle Ezra   

Dear Helpful Reader,

Thanks so much for the great information.  The Museum of the Earth is a wonderful place with excellent exhibits.

Uncle Ezra