Ithaca College

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Students Say - Academics
If you don't know whether you'd be happier at a small school or a large university, Ithaca College offers the best of both worlds. With just more than 6,400 undergraduates, Ithaca College is "not so big that you get lost, but not so small that you have a lack of opportunities." The school offers 100 major programs, with instructors who "are enthusiastic and genuinely interested in the subject matter and the students." A senior tells us, "In the end they become more mentors or friends than professors. We call them by their first names, and they take note of what's happening in our lives outside the classroom." Ithaca College was originally founded as a Music Conservatory, and their music programs continue to have an excellent reputation, as does the Park School of Communications. More than 1,000 Ithaca undergraduates are pursuing majors within the communications field, doling out praises for their strong and practical education. A senior enthuses, "We run radio and television stations, newspapers, [and] ad campaigns. We make films! We try to make a mini-real world so that we are super prepared for real life." Not everyone has contact with the school's administration; those who do say that they are "more than willing to work with you and give you respect." A junior attests, "I am a member of Student Government, and thus far the administration has really valued the opinions and ideas of the students." While the town of Ithaca's natural beauty is universally touted, on campus "some buildings are a little dated."

Students Say - Campus Life
Ithaca is a great place to get the full college experience. Residential life helps to forge a strong bond between undergraduates, as "all students live on campus for the first three years." In their free time, almost every student takes part in extracurricular clubs, sports teams, or campus activities. Off campus, Ithaca is a bustling college town with plenty of student-oriented attractions. In their free time, "a lot of people enjoy what is offered in the town of Ithaca. The commons has a large variety of restaurants and shops, and the farmer's market is amazing!" Due to the natural beauty of the region, "going hiking in the gorges is also very popular, especially in the warmer months." At the same time, students warn us that, "the weather here is usually very gloomy; sun is very rare past November." When the snow begins to fall, "a good amount of the population enjoys skiing and snowboarding" and, students admit, partying becomes a more popular activity. In general, however, partying is just one of the many options available to IC students; life at Ithaca is well rounded, multifaceted, and fulfilling. A senior agrees, "People here focus on everything from school work to parties to political issues. There really is a good balance."

Students Say - Student Body
Getting involved in the community is second nature to most Ithaca students. A junior explains, "The typical student has a cause: some issue that they are passionate about and will devote much of their in-class study and extracurricular activities to-from gender issues, to LGBT issues, to race, to sustainability and the environment." Of particular note, "many students here are concerned about their environmental impact. There are a lot of clubs and classes centered around environmental awareness and education." Nearly 45 percent of the student population comes from the state of New York, and "the general student population is similar in background." However, students repeatedly reassure us that, "while Ithaca College is not the most diverse school, it prides itself on making everyone feel welcome and accepted. We are a community, and no one gets left out." Students acknowledge the existence of cliques, but they reassure us that, "unlike high school, you are not limited to being friends with the ones who are just like you. Everyone interacts and gets to know each other."

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