Cornell College

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Students Say - Academics
Welcome to Cornell College, a small liberal arts school in Iowa that employs a unique one-course-at-a-time program, allowing students to focus on just one course (or "block") each month and providing an "intense, thorough, complete immersion." Though students agree that this "series of experiences" makes for "three crazy weeks," it also increases the quality and amount of knowledge gained and gives them a better chance to throw themselves into their extracurriculars. "You either are overloaded or underloaded with your class; there's no mixing," says a freshman. Some classes may not be the most challenging, but "upper-level courses are very engaging and fulfilling." The block plan also makes it very easy to gain off-campus field experience or do international study, and "it's really nice that they can bring in professionals and outside experts to teach class for a block." Administration is generally well-liked here for their accessibility and their devotion to the institution though some note that, "there is not much transparency at the administrative level," which can be "out of touch" at times. The registrar is "the most dreaded office on campus," with residence life a close second. On the classroom side, professors "are incredibly helpful and really want students to succeed," and though "you may get a bad apple maybe once a year," they are "very supportive of students in their academic endeavors." "I could not possibly imagine being closer to my profs. Not a single one has asked us to call him/her by anything other than her/his first name, and generally by the end of a block I feel I know my prof as a person," says a student. All in all, students love the block structure and the sense of community it creates, as "no matter what it is you may want to do, you can find someone to do it with you." One student claims he "cannot imagine learning any other way."

Students Say - Campus Life
Since Cornell is very campus-focused ("there is very little to do in the surrounding area"), the school makes sure there is "a large variety of campus organizations to fit everyone's personality and interest." Cedar Rapids and Iowa City are both only a 20-minute drive away for those seeking shopping, bowling, and movies, and "ice climbing, rock climbing, paddling, and hiking" are popular outdoor pastimes. In addition, the school provides seven "block breaks, which last four and a half days and give students the opportunity to travel or go skiing or camping, etc. The cold weather can cause problems here, in both a locked-in feel and the possibility for accidents, and a few students wish the school did a better job of clearing the snow and ice on the sidewalks. Many here tend to have a love-hate relationship with sports; some claim that the athletics are a huge boon, while others think there is an "unfortunately high number of jocks." Much like the curriculum, lunchtimes are pretty unique, and students all eat in a common cafeteria, naturally falling into a somewhat "high school" habit of eating at the same tables every day. The meals themselves are another matter. One student sums up the feelings of all: "Cornell needs to work on the food. There, I said it." Parties do take place on weekends, as do long, cold walks to the bars, but "it is entirely possible to not be involved with substance use at Cornell."

Students Say - Student Body
There is "a great spectrum" of people that attend Cornell, and students have a hard time defining a more common characteristic than the fact that almost all are driven and involved. Some division into typical groups does occur-the "jocks, nerds, and the 'artsy' students"-but "even group to group there is always mingling because you never know who will be in your next class." Since the classes are so small and "you see the same people four hours a day for three and a half weeks," students "get to know the people under the stereotypes, and most everyone is very accepting." As one freshman says, "The only intolerance I've seen is toward the consistently indolent."

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