When I talk to high school students, this is one of the most frequently received questions. I’ve also noticed that people have a tendency to focus in on Cornell as an “Ivy League” school. While we are privileged to be athletically associated with other top institutions in the country (the Ivy League is just a sports conference!), Cornell is so much more than that label. My experiences as a student and ambassador of the university have led me to the following conclusions.

Progressive Founding & Mission

No conversation about the spirit of Cornell would be complete without discussing our university’s early history. Our university’s founders, Ezra Cornell and A.D. White, worked to establish a great American university, but with new, radical ideas that would define its ethos. Those ideas shine most brightly in our university’s motto, which derives from Ezra Cornell’s speech at the university’s inauguration: “I would found an institution where any person can find instruction in any study.” Cornell University was one of the first institutions in the country to admit students regardless of gender, religion, race, or nationality. Furthermore, while the founders of Cornell wanted to continue the liberal arts tradition that pervaded in higher education, they also wanted to offer study in disciplines that would tangibly benefit working Americans like agricultural sciences. Cornell is not perfect by any means, but our university community—students, alumni, faculty, and staff—actively strive to fulfill Ezra Cornell’s vision of academic excellence and inclusion.

Academic Excellence Across the Board

Cornell’s 4,000 classes, 100+ academic departments, and 80+ majors constitute the core of our “any study” motto. Apart from the variety of classes and academic opportunities I get to choose from, it is so cool to have friends studying everything from Policy Analysis and Management to Food Science. As undergraduates, we have the opportunity to participate in the world-class research that Cornell professors and graduate students are conducting. Nevertheless, undergraduate education has always been at the center of Cornell; undergraduates outnumber graduate and professional students 2:1.

Our Home in Ithaca

While our “Ithaca is Gorges” tourist slogan might be a bit cheesy, it definitely captures the natural beauty of our city! Where else can you find a huge waterfall next to your freshman dorm? On top of that, Cornell is bordered by the beautiful Cayuga Lake that can be viewed from the heart of campus on Ho Plaza. Even so, Ithaca is a bustling small city that abounds with great food and cultural amenities, yet is simultaneously a community that looks out for each other.

Local Conscience with a Global Reach

As a land-grant university with four of its colleges/schools partially funded by New York State (CALS, HumEc, ILR, and Vet), Cornell has a unique commitment to public service, particularly in New York state. From keeping the state’s produce healthy to modeling cleaner transportation in New York City, Cornellians’ expertise is being put to good work all across the state. Nevertheless, as a renowned teaching and research institution, Cornell is well-established around the world. And do undergraduates get to take advantage of these global connections? Of course! Whether you are interested in a study abroad program or want to receive funding for research and other projects, Cornell will get you where you need to go.