火爆社区

Small class sizes that afford plenty of 鈥減ersonal attention,鈥� 鈥渙utstanding鈥� scholarships, and cross-registration with nearby Cornell University are a few great reasons to choose Ithaca College, a smallish school in central New York that offers many of the resources you would expect to find at a much larger university. 鈥淵ou are able to be a part of a community and get the chance to pursue interests that are not necessarily a part of your chosen course of study,鈥� relates an English major. 鈥淲e have loads of opportunities to do and try a wide variety of things.鈥� The vast multitude of academic offerings includes 鈥渙ne of the best communication schools in the country.鈥� Also notable are 鈥渟trong鈥� majors in music, business, and drama; a 鈥渉ighly competitive鈥� six-year doctorate program in physical therapy; and programs in television, photography, and digital media and in film. Professors are 鈥渞eally engaging and understand how to present the material so that it is relevant and meaningful.鈥� On the whole, faculty members are 鈥渞eally passionate about their fields and have a genuine interest in getting students excited about their passions.鈥� By far, the most common academic complaint about academics at Ithaca concerns registration, which can be trying. Some say, 鈥渢he buildings鈥攊nside and out鈥攁re a bit outdated.鈥�

The typical undergrad here is 鈥済enuine,鈥� 鈥渆asygoing,鈥� 鈥渁lways busy,鈥� 鈥渨ell-dressed,鈥� and has a 鈥渟unny disposition despite the gray skies.鈥� Beyond those qualities, the population is 鈥渁 wide mix of hipsters, jocks, theater kids, music students,鈥� and 鈥渃runchy granola hippies.鈥� Cliques are often based loosely on academics, but it鈥檚 worth noting that 鈥減eople of all kinds fit in here鈥� and 鈥渆veryone finds their niche,鈥� thanks in part to the way that 鈥渆ach school (music, communications, business, etc.) is its own community.鈥� Ethnic diversity and other kinds of diversity are 鈥渘ot entirely unheard of.鈥� However, people are 鈥渦sually from the Northeast,鈥� and 鈥渢he population of students that fit into the typical suburban, upper-middle-class family is definitely significant.鈥� Politically, 鈥渟tudents at Ithaca tend to be liberal.鈥� Some students tell us that you鈥檒l find 鈥渁 lot of people are environmentally and socially conscious鈥� here who want 鈥渢o change the world.鈥�

The number of extracurricular choices is 鈥渃onsiderable鈥� at Ithaca College. At the same time, 鈥渢he school is small enough for anyone to get involved.鈥� There are 鈥渟peakers and events offered on campus.鈥� There鈥檚 also a nearly professional-quality college radio station. Many students 鈥渁re part of an athletic team or participate in intramural athletics.鈥� For relaxation, students often 鈥渉ang out on the quad,鈥� throwing Frisbees or 鈥減laying music on the lawns on tie-dye sheets.鈥� The social situation at Ithaca is 鈥渘othing like the party scene you鈥檇 find at a larger university,鈥� but 鈥渢here are some good parties鈥� now and then. While the campus is a little 鈥渋solated,鈥� students also frequently manage to attend frat parties at Cornell and generally 鈥渆njoy the social scene鈥� the nearby Ivy offers. 鈥淭he town of Ithaca is quaint but lively.鈥� There鈥檚 鈥渁 good music scene and a lot of cool stores.鈥� When the weather is nice, 鈥渢here鈥檚 always some festival,鈥� or at least it seems that way. 鈥淚f you鈥檙e an outdoorsy person,鈥� the wooded and rocky surrounding area is a wonderland of activity. 鈥淭he hiking here is unbelievable,鈥� and few other schools offer the opportunity to 鈥済o cliff jumping on a hot Saturday.鈥� On the negative side, winters are cold as a matter of course, and 鈥渢he cold and rain do hinder activities.鈥� Students joke, be prepared to get your exercise walking between classes; 鈥渢he hills here will kill you.鈥� That said, the walk is worth it, as the campus is known for its picturesque beauty. 鈥淧eople aren鈥檛 kidding when they say 鈥業thaca is Gorges (gorgeous),鈥欌�� promises one student.