#cornelladmissions

Wait, so you’re going to Cornell in the middle of the school year?

Yeah.

Don’t most people transfer at the beginning of the school year?

Yeah, I guess so.

Don’t you think it’ll be weird? You know, moving in and starting your first semester at a school

in the middle of the year, after everyone’s already adjusted? 

I didn’t think it would be “weird” at first, but the more often people asked about my transfer, the more the notion of an awkward transition seemed to gnaw at my brain. Would everyone else be used to the cold already? Would I look like a total fool in my ginormous parka? What if my roommate resents me for filling up the other half of her room? Did I miss out on my chance at having a fabled fall “O-week” romance?

It’s been a year since then; a year since I first cozied up in JAM program house and a year since I anxiously introduced myself to my January Orientation group (My tagline soon became “My name’s Pegah, like, uh, pegasus.”). Looking back, my transition to Cornell was anything but “weird.” It was, in fact, weirdly smooth.

That said, the ease of adjusting to a brand-new setting doesn’t come on its own (although the Orientation Steering Committee and all of the other new-student programs sure do help). It comes from taking advantage of the unique circumstances of your January arrival. When you finally get to Ithaca, capitalize on the orientation festivities and the less hectic atmosphere that come with starting school in January. Get to meet the other spring admits in a more intimate setting. Use the opportunity to get specialized help from your advisor.

Above all, relax. Take in the beautifully frosted tree branches and the glow of snowflakes on Ezra’s statue. Watch the light glisten over the frozen surface of Beebe Lake. Grab some hot cocoa with a few new friends. January is an incredible time to experience Cornell for the first time.

Make the most of it.