Why Cornell? This essay answered the Cornell University college application prompt of the same question. It was originally written in October 2011 and answers why I always wanted to study Communications and attend Cornell University.
I was never the child who squeezed her mother’s leg on the first day of Kindergarten. Later in life, I never teetered on the edge of an unknown crowd hiding behind the hood of my jacket. Conversely, I have always formed relationships naturally, and started researching social careers since the budding years of adolescence. I painted a picture of my future in reverse; after ceaseless self-assessment tests proved that Communications would be the perfect fit for me, I then began the quest for a college that would best suit my designated career path.
My pre-pubescent fascination with communal interactions inevitably developed into several leadership roles during high school, enhancing my understanding of the field. Close contact with my guidance counselor, principal, yearbook and class advisors extended my school involvement beyond a peer-to-peer level. In junior year, my course selection allowed room for Public Relations, which undoubtedly became my favorite class. This crevice of communications broadened my understanding of how to write press releases, create focus groups and research Public Service Announcements.
“…a large university with an even larger spirit.”
One press release was particularly challenging; I was instructed to defend Tiger Woods amidst weeks of public slander in the tabloids. Rather than focusing on the mistakes he’d made, I highlighted his golfing career, philanthropic work and humble acceptance of sole responsibility for his actions. Through assignments like this, I discovered that PR was not only enjoyable, but also something I had a knack for. To me, the field of Communications doesn’t just seek a “people person,” it requires one. Only the most effective communicators flourish in this industry, and what better place than Cornell to cultivate an undergraduate’s talents?
The little white envelope that graced my doorstep last October catalyzed my Cornelian addiction; “Randy Rosenberg (’74) and The Cornell Club of Long Island cordially invite you to spend two days on campus as a prospective undergraduate.” Me? Invited to Cornell? I was awestruck, but didn’t let the prestige intimidate me. I was ready.
“The field of Communications doesn’t just seek a ‘people person,’ it requires one.”
Emerging from my host’s dormitory into a hallway of laughing students, I expected to stand idly unnoticed as merely another “Pre-Frosh.” However, reality was quite the contrary; I didn’t blend in, I fit in. Floor Three of Dixon surpassed a freshman residence hall; it was a family that included me with open arms, even inviting me to “Family Dinner” at R.P.C.C. The Red Carpet Society is not a misnomer; while I was graced with royal treatment, I mostly enjoyed the passion students evoked in a wholehearted presentation of the Cornelian experience.
An ember of excitement warmed my conscience; years of hearing Uncle Antonio rave about his alma mater (BS IRL ’83) finally made sense. Cornell opens the gates to a much brighter future. Here, I will transform from student ambassador to CALS ambassador and a hopeful incoming freshman to a full-fledged member of the Association for Women in Communications. CALS offers an intimately specialized education surrounded by a large university with an even larger spirit.
A World of Curiosity 