If you're applying to Cornell early decision, you absolutely must be passionate about Cornell. Not only must Cornell be your first choice, but it must be a school that you are willing to pour your heart and soul into. While that may sound ridiculous, it's true. The majority of ED applicants to Cornell are in some way connected to the University,...

Simply put, "Ithaca is Gorges". Some people, however, are put off by Cornell's location. Cornell is what we call 'centrally isolated'. Getting to Ithaca is a pain – once you get off the highway (no matter which direction you're coming from), you need to drive a minimum of 40 minutes on local roads to actually reach Cornell. If you're concerned about driving, be aware that there are a lot of transportation options both around and to/from Ithaca. Within the city, you can use the TCAT Bus service to get anywhere – freshmen at Cornell have free unlimited bus passes, while upperclassmen recieve...

I don't have much experience with this particular facet of the applications process, but I do have one small piece of advice regarding recommendations from college coaches, professors, etc. The summer before my senior year, I participated in a three-week summer course at Cornell. One of my professors, who happened to serve on the admissions committee for the Hotel School, made this point...