Cornell University Reviews

  • 202 Reviews
  • Ithaca (NY)
  • Annual Tuition: $63,200
98% of 202 students said this degree improved their career prospects
99% of 202 students said they would recommend this school to others
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Student & Graduate Reviews

Jensen C
  • Reviewed: 3/21/2017
  • Degree: Architecture
"Cornell is an excellent institution for any person to pursue any study. The university is a hub for intellectual advancement and achievement. Students hail from all fifty states and from all over the world. Located in Ithaca, NY, Cornell is a great place for any student to earn their diploma at."
Lindsay
  • Reviewed: 3/20/2017
  • Degree: English
"I felt that Cornell University was the perfect place for me to grow as a writer and as a collaborator. The University encouraged me to work with others in group projects, and my professors were always willing to meet with me if I had questions or wanted advice. Also, Cornell has seven distinct colleges that bring in students who are diverse in not only backgrounds but also ambitions and interests. This diversity allowed me to hear myriad viewpoints and become more open-minded. I was able to take a wide-range of classes that helped me to delve into other cultures and other times, such as Punk Culture and the 1960s. I truly believe that attending Cornell University gave me the best best undergraduate education possible and a multitude of new experiences and unique opportunities that I could not have received anywhere else."
Jenna B
  • Reviewed: 3/19/2017
  • Degree: Environmental Science
"I truly enjoyed my experience at Cornell, and in the Natural Resources Department. The professors were engaging, passionate and supportive. I learned a lot, and was given the tools needed to start a career in the environmental field. I can't imagine a more positive college experience."
Jasmine Bruno
  • Reviewed: 3/16/2017
  • Degree: Veterinary Science
"Cornell University's College of Veterinary Medicine was the toughest and most rewarding educational experience of my career. It challenged my ability to balance the tremendous work load of lectures, clinical application, and networking, while trying to maintain mental health. The student services are quite helpful and the staff is welcoming to any student at any given time. Diversity at the college can use improvement, as it can at all veterinary schools, however the more interest and applications put forth, the more change can be offered. I do not regret my time in Ithaca because it prepared me well to be a doctor of wit, grace, compassion, patience, and overall excellence."
Josephine Francesca
  • Reviewed: 3/16/2017
  • Degree: Sociology
"I entered Cornell University as a transfer student and that had a large impact on my perception of the school. It is a very large university, with approximately 25,000 students; so finding a niche is particularly important. As a transfer student, my transition was a bit rough. I did not feel fully supported by the university during my adaptation period. Orientation was only one day of lectures and a campus tour. After I was largely on my own. As a large, well-endowed, world recognized ,Ivy institution, , Cornell has a lot to offer as far as resources and a vibrant campus life. In a way, Cornell is like its own city and it helps that the campus is beautiful, with natural waterfalls in its landscape. However, you need to know where to seek and find resources. Make sure to sign up for list-servs that you find pertinent to you. As a minority student, I also found the Office of Diversity Initiatives very helpful as it offered free printing services, study space, and career support. When it comes to campus life, every day there are guest lectures, concerts, speaker events, and student meetings occurring simultaneously. This may seem overwhelming at first. So once again it is important to find your niche. No matter what major you choose, you have to make the most of your education at Cornell. As a Sociology major in the College of Arts & Sciences, the largest school in Cornell, it is easy to feel like a number. The majority of my classes were large lectures, with a few break-out discussion groups. In order to succeed here you need to go above and beyond to know your professors and network. Career Services are available throughout campus to provide one-on-one help with acquiring an internship or full-time job post graduation. Take advantage of these services. They provide resume and cover letter feedback, job fairs, and job listings. The power of the Cornell name is definitely a plus. I can say I learned a lot in my 3 years there. Cornell allowed me to study abroad and the career services helped me get an internship every summer while I was there and a full time job after I graduated. Overall, when contemplating attending Cornell it is important to keep in mind three things: the size of the school, what your niche is or what you are interested in, and lastly, what you want from your education. Cornell is a large school and you need to think about whether or not it can provide you with what you need."
kns
  • Reviewed: 3/13/2017
  • Degree: Biomedical Engineering
"The program is rigorous. I would recommend that you do your homework on where you want to focus before coming to campus. There will be an orientation that will help you finalize your decision. Also, if you are looking to go to workforce start preparing yourself for the career fair and interviews. They all come and go so fast. There are so many opportunities on campus that you can utilize such as clubs, courses from other schools etc. The diversity in the classroom is amazing."
Nancy Machado
  • Reviewed: 3/4/2017
  • Degree: Nutrition
"I really enjoyed the quality of instruction and the access to professors and advisors in the division of nutritional sciences. However, because the school was located in the northeastern United States, networking opportunities were limited for California, my current state of residence."
Hannah
  • Reviewed: 2/22/2017
  • Degree: History
"We all know Cornell University is an outstanding university. But what I found there was much more than an institution. I found the best friends I could imagine, thought-provoking teachers, amazing food, and views that will last a lifetime! I would definitely encourage others to apply!"
Bin Bin Fan
  • Reviewed: 2/22/2017
  • Degree: Psychology
"Cornell University had a profound and positive influence on my life. The four years I spent in Ithaca was enriched in memories that will be with me for the rest of my life. I have also learned many lessons and made countless discoveries about myself during my undergraduate journey there. Although a rigorous school, I would highly recommend this university to anyone who wants to achieve their maximum potential."
Kim Layne
  • Reviewed: 2/15/2017
  • Degree: Animal Science
"Cornell University is undoubtedly a great university in terms of reputation and a number of academic programs the Animal Science department is no exception. As someone who was born and raised in Idaho, I chose to go to Cornell primarily because of the reputation that the Animal Science department has and because of the opportunities that an Ivy League institution could provide. I also never toured or visited the campus before deciding to attend, so everything about the area was a complete surprise to me when I moved into the dorms my freshman year. I will go over as concisely as possible the categories that I had to rank for Graduate Programs. In regards to the quality of instruction, I found that my animal science professors were amazing, supportive, and good educators. Some classes were overly difficult, but overall I enjoyed all of the hands-on opportunities ranging from laboratory work to farm chores and field trips. I was always comfortable asking for help and there were plenty of opportunities to be involved in research and extracurricular activities. In terms of classes outside of my respective department the quality of instruction was really quite variable. In large classes it was easy to feel like you were lost in a sea of other students who were simply trying to fill a prerequisite and the professors similarly had casual attitudes towards teaching some of the introductory courses with true quality. That being said, almost every professor was very helpful if approached after class or in person. Hardly any of my classes were taught by graduate students and the few classes that were taught by grad students were still high quality. I gave this category 4 stars overall primarily because I felt that my prerequisite courses were of a lower quality than the rest. The coursework at Cornell University is hard. Thats just the simplest way to put it. You will work hard in almost every class and there are only a few majors that are known for being considerably easier. If you put in the time and bear through the long nights, you will graduate and realize you learned quite a bit. The plus side is that you can kind of pick-and-choose from a great course catalog and ensure that you have some easier courses to balance the ones you know are going to be brutal. Student diversity at Cornell University is 5-stars. The very motto of the institution, I would found an institution where any person can find instruction in any study, says it all. You will have classes with people from around the world and be surrounded by those who believe and think differently. I learned so much just from other people at Cornell University, and I feel that diversity is really a strong suit for the campus. Its undeniable that there are many students from very affluent backgrounds, but there are also many students who receive Pell Grants, are self-funded, or are working to maintain scholarships. Any individual can find there place at Cornell and feel comfortable with their socioeconomic status. Campus safety gets only 4-stars because there were too many instances throughout my four years when I or my friends had something sketchy happen. Several of my friends had their apartments broken into (just off campus), and there were some years where women were assaulted walking around at night. That being said, this campus is unbelievably safe compared to most institutions across the United States. My opinion is coming from an Idaho girl that rarely had to lock her door at night as a kid. On a different note, a lot of students actually leave their laptops unattended at the library or other places on campus for minutes or hours because theft is so uncommon. Overall, I felt very safe at Cornell and walked around at night by myself quite often. The one significant negative I have about the university is that depression and feelings of hopelessness are prevalent throughout the university. Whether due to the high stress environment, the weather, or some other factor, many students will experience depression at some time. The university offers many resources to help with mental health issues. This is something that prospective students should be aware of though. Lastly, in terms of career opportunities Cornell was great. As a graduate, the internship and career opportunities are one of the main reasons Im satisfied with my education despite the many nights when I thought I would never graduate or survive ha! All of my friends and I had wonderful internship opportunities and everyone I knew graduated with jobs or had higher education plans."
Mark, 29
  • Reviewed: 1/31/2017
  • Degree: Law
"Excellent environment and career opportunities"
tc_47567
  • Reviewed: 1/24/2017
  • Degree: Computer Science
"Great school. Nice location. Great professors. cold weather"
Anonymous
  • Reviewed: 1/24/2017
  • Degree: Engineering
"Cornell has a beautiful campus with very nice facilities. The teachers and students are intelligent and motivated. It is very expensive."
Ratboy
  • Reviewed: 1/3/2017
  • Degree: MBA
"It has great teachers and teaches skills well. It focuses a little too much on grades then on career help."
Anonymous
  • Reviewed: 7/22/2016
  • Degree: Developmental Psychology
"I got the master's degree as part of the PhD program, which I would recommend to anyone pursuing psychology research"
Anonymous
  • Reviewed: 7/22/2016
  • Degree: Computer Science
"It was really nice and I felt like the professors were helpful and honestly cared about how the students learned. It was so tiring and it took a lot of effort, but I'm happy with what was my college experience."
Jess
  • Reviewed: 7/22/2016
  • Degree: Biology
"Very very very hard and stressful, not a very sympathetic administration but you will learn and you will be smarter because of Cornell. You will have very good job prospects upon graduation. Requires a lot of hard work."
Sebastian Placide
  • Reviewed: 7/11/2016
  • Degree: Sociology
"Cornell University is a wonderful institution with a myriad of opportunities for its students. Students, however, should not approach Cornell without the right mindset. One must truly be prepared for the rigor of the courses of instruction. Take your education here very seriously and you will go far."
Haadea Khan
  • Reviewed: 7/9/2016
  • Degree: Biomedical Engineering
"Cornell University has an endless amount of opportunities for getting involved in research, community service, tutoring, and pre-health organizations. The best part was the diversity of educational programs. Engineering students, pre-health students, pre-law students, and humanities students work together to ensure each other's success."
Christine Cummings
  • Reviewed: 7/9/2016
  • Degree: Biology
"Cornell University is an amazing place. The opportunities I was afforded were endless. During my four years at Cornell University, I transformed into a leader, problem solver, and global citizen. I co-founded FootPrints, an organization whose mission is to provide shoes and school supplies to children in need. Cornell funded the organization and because such opportunities, we were able to travel and help those in need internationally. In my opinion, the networking opportunities at Cornell is one of a kind. The people I have met are always willing to help and so friendly. As a current medical student, Cornell prepared me for success. Medical school is challenging, however, with the training I received at Cornell, I am able to handle the rigor. I would encourage anyone to apply and attend Cornell University. This school and my experience changed my life."