My background 

I'm Georgian-American. For the first two years of high school, I was in the United States, having immigrated there at a young age. During COVID, I decided to move back to Georgia, where I finished my education at a private school. This private school allowed me to take AP courses, prepare for college, and do everything I needed to apply to competitive universities.

Stats and Extracurriculars

When applying to Cornell, I chose the test-optional route. I didn't submit any of my AP scores or SAT results. I had a perfect GPA with As in all my classes. Additionally, the AP classes added extra points to my GPA, raising it to approximately 4.44 on a 4.0 scale.

I centered my essay and extracurricular activities around my intended major, future goals, and career aspirations. I interned at a local organization called American Corner, where I gave presentations to children and led clubs. I taught them about human rights and political events. Additionally, I served as the chief editor of my school newspaper, writing articles and editing those of my peers before publishing them within our school.

I also attended numerous language classes and expressed in my application my desire to continue language studies at Cornell. Furthermore, I participated in various other activities: for instance, I took art classes, which, although not directly related to my major, I presented as a hobby to showcase my diverse interests.

Myths about Cornell

You may have heard that Cornell students are often depressed and overworked. In reality, this varies depending on one's major and which college within the university they attend. As a government major, I chose to take many credits, which naturally led to a heavier workload. Other majors like engineering and architecture have substantial work from the start, even without extra credit classes. I would agree that one of the cons is the heavy workload, but it really depends on your major and how much you choose to take on. For instance, no one obligated me to take those extra credit classes. Overall, it is very competitive and can be time-consuming.

Regarding depression, I haven't noticed it much within my social circle. Personally, I believe depression is prevalent in most American universities, not just Cornell. I think it's often related to the workload and isn't particularly pervasive on our campus. Cornell takes mental health seriously and provides numerous resources, such as psychological counseling services, to support students.

Highlights of Cornell 

What really stood out to me about Cornell is the size of their campus. This was significant because I prefer a quiet, calm environment. The campus is really large, so it can be challenging to get around. Moving from class to class is quite a workout, but it's a beautiful campus. We have many traditions, such as Slope Day, which is dedicated to a concert where we bring a musician to perform for us.

I also appreciate their Russian program, which is very effective, as I'm trying to learn the language. Their government program is excellent as well. Additionally, I like that we have a large student body, which provides more opportunities to meet people.

What surprised me was the sense of community. I didn't expect to find such a strong sense of community among so many people on such a large campus. However, there are many friendly people here. It was nice to see so much acceptance among students. Before applying, I had heard that due to Cornell's competitive nature, people didn't form many friendships, but that hasn't been the case. This was a very pleasant surprise.

My life at Cornell 

I'm not involved in many student organizations because I take a heavy course load each semester, which leaves me little free time. However, I prioritize internships during summer and winter breaks. These are really important to me. Currently, I'm doing an internship here in Georgia called Action for Community Transformation. We focus on underprivileged Georgian citizens, especially students. Our goal is to bring more opportunities to Georgia's youth and expand opportunities for everyone. Many teenagers here might feel limited due to a lack of resources, and we aim to address that issue.

Downsides of student accommodation

One of the biggest downsides for me is probably dorm life. Depending on which dorm you get, it can be hard to manage, and we don't have the option to live off-campus for the first two years. It can be frustrating when you're trying to sleep and there are people outside making noise. While some universities might offer the option to rent an apartment, we don't have that choice. Being confined to a dorm can sometimes be difficult, but of course, the dorm experience varies depending on many factors, so experiences may differ among students.

Advice for freshman

For your first year, I'd advise not to overwhelm yourself with work. Classes and student organizations are competitive, so take your time and proceed at your own pace.