Confused Goose

I just got back from a holiday and all the deluge of emails including this bursar bill issue left me very confused. This thread did clear it out for me though I'm up for a meeting anytime - brunch, BRB, anything's good.

Even I was under the impression that cards were to be given out during registration on 23rd. "You should plan to arrive in Ithaca on Friday August 20th. If you are planning to live in on campus housing, this is the date that the dorms will be opening. During the weekend, there will be a number of orientation events that you will want to take advantage of. Once there is a schedule posted, I will be sure to share that with you all." This is from a mail sent out by my dept. I'm guessing then that the schedule's not final yet, and the date mentioned on the To Do page may be last year's.

I submitted the ID form about 10 days back and it says on the to-do page that cards will be given out at the Cornell Bound check-in event on August 20. As for the health form, I sent it out about 2 weeks back, and there hasn't been any update yet. By the way, I also found out that they update immunization information in your Gannett records which you can access on the Gannett website. So, if they've received your form and verified it, and assuming they've updated the information, you can check it out online. @matcha : Is there a mailing list for students in your department? I don't know if you've tried it but I guess putting a word out among grads in your program (already studying or incoming) would be a good bet.

Thanks GradJen! I'm in ECE and will be moving back and forth between Pew Engg. Quad and Clark Hall for most of my work. Coming from the tropics, I guess it would be tough then to figure out how easy (rather, difficult) it is without actually going through my 1st winter there :-| I was hoping to be a Green Grad Anyway, it would be great to meet all fellow Cornellians in August!<br>

Hi. I've finally decided (again... ) to go to Cornell. So excited!!! Can't wait for August! I've left all other work aside and am looking for apartments, getting acquainted with the geography of the city, etc. I'm looking to use a bicycle as my primary mode of transportation. Can anyone tell me how feasible it is and how cyclist-friendly the roads and motorists are? Also, which neighbourhoods would be more convenient, considering the hilly terrain? I'd prefer some place which is lively but not raucous, and it seems lower-collegetown and downtown are two possibilities, but it looks like the campus is uphill from there. Anyone with a biking experience in Ithaca?

<br /><br /><br /> I got an admit off the waitlist on 16th evening PST. I called them on 19th, Monday, morning and was told that if funding hasn't been assured in the email notifying the decision, then most likely there wouldn't be any funding as they had used up all fellowship money! :-(

That's precisely the reason why I'm still considering it. The benefits are far to significant to dismiss the offer casually. However, arranging for funds is a little difficult, and the Cornell offer is really nice. In addition, there's the issue of seeking a release from Cornell...hence the dilemma. BTW...I work in photonics/optoelectronics. And a big congratulations on your decision!! It's a relief finally knowing where one is headed!

I'm in a similar position. I've already accepted a great offer from Cornell, but I got an admit to Stanford off the waitlist 16th evening (PST). I called yesterday and they said there were no more funds to give away Stanford's is easily a better program by far, and in my area of research, significantly ahead of Cornell. More so, there are many many more professors working in this area, as against 2/3 at Cornell. I'm still considering this offer, as I've been told by many friends who went there last year, as well as those from my school who have gone there over the last few years that getting an RAship hasn't been a big problem normally.

There shouldn't be any problem due to funding. The only requirement for an F1 visa is proving funding (your own or scholarships or financial support from the univ) for the 1st academic year. The details, such as an option to switch groups, are not mentioned on the I20.

By all means! Go Big Reds!

You're going to Cornell? Nice to meet future schoolmates :-) Perhaps we could arrange for a Cornell GradCafe Forumites party in August

Thanks everyone for all your inputs. I've decided upon Cornell (finally after sooo much vacillating!!!) I talked to loads of people, and realised that while I do have prefer the UCLA project, my interest in such a thing was purely academic, something not entirely compatible with my long term goals. Plus, I've been working on something relatively similar for a couple of years now, and am eager to learn something new. Once this got out of the way, the location question resolved itself. I guess many of my concerns, though genuine, were magnified in my perception because of this contradiction. Much relieved now and quite excited about Fall!!!

Hi. I just declined my UCLA offer. Will be joining Cornell.

Well...my head says 'Go to Cornell', heart says 'Go to UCLA' <br>As for Purdue, I guess it should be an easier decision since the offer is not funded.<br>