During last week’s Cafe Series, Adam Shwartz came to speak to us about Cornell Tech and the new degree programs they have planned. How Shwartz pitched the Jacobs Institute was very interesting; he emphasized how Cornell Tech values collaboration, and interdisciplinary studies in technology, business, health, and connective media. Cornell Tech is very focused on the art of “creating something” and almost all classes have a culminating project that involves a building component. Additionally the school specializes in intensive immersion working, in which faculty and students are constantly collaborating together that simulates a real life working environment. Although Cornell Tech is not very relevant for me, I appreciate hearing and learning about this new model of education, which I would really appreciate if something similar is implemented in our undergraduate campus. I feel as if this talk helped to spread the word about Cornell Tech, but it wasn’t very useful as Shwartz didn’t cover much that would be directly applicable to undergraduates, such as admissions or how to get involved early on.

I am a little ambivalent about the creation of Cornell Tech.  I would have loved having this kind of school, similar to Weill Cornell and its resources be accessible for undergrads to get a head start as well. Being from NYC, I feel like Cornell Tech is just a hopeful attempt at grabbing a stronghold in the city because many of its business people might worry that Ithaca is too far from most of the jobs. Regardless, I am appreciative of the new curriculum model, and I’m looking forward for Cornell Tech to establish its presence.