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You may be curious about other issues related to your transition to Cornell. Here are some additional frequently asked questions that we thought you'd find helpful. Who will be my Faculty Advisor and when will I meet him/her? Will I need a personal computer? How do I know what books I need and how do I buy them? What is the New Student Reading Project? How can I find out more about Orientation in August? When and how do I declare my major? What is a Peer Advisor (PA), Orientation Leader (OL), and Resident Assistant (RA)?
Who will be my Faculty Advisor and when will I meet him/her? All students are assigned a Engineering faculty advisor when they matriculate to Cornell Engineering. Students usually keep that advisor until they affiliate with a Major, even though the advisor may not be in the Major in which they intend to specialize. You will meet your faculty advisor during Orientation in August and meet weekly with him/her for your First-Year Engineering Seminar (ENGRG 1050) course in the fall. Will I need a personal computer? We constantly maintain and modernize out computing facilities in the college to make sure that each student has access to necessary computing power. So the answer to this question is "no," you don't need to have your own computer, though many students feel that owning one is convenient. If you decide to buy a computer prior to coming to Cornell, check out these recommendations. Do I need a calculator? Yes, a scientific (non-graphing) calculator is necessary for your coursework in some classes. Additionally, most students told us that a graphing calculator, although not necessary, is also helpful for some assignments. Students indicated Casio and Texas Instrument calculators are the most widely used brands for each type of calculator.
How do I know what books I need and how to buy them? The Cornell Store will provide lists of books required for each of your courses. You may buy them through the Cornell Store or an independent vendor of your choice. What is the New Student Reading Project? The New Student Reading Project is designed to give first-year students a shared learning experience and is coordinated through the Office of New Student Programs. How can I find out more about August Orientation? The Office of New Student Programs coordinates the Orientation for Cornell University. In addition, the College of Engineering facilitates several important orientation events that are critical to your transition. Get the schedule! When and how do I declare my major? Most students apply for affiliation (declare their major) during the first semester of their second year. Students apply directly to the Major with which they wish to affiliate. In order to be accepted into their Major, students must have a cumulative grade point average of >2.0 and have satisfied the Major's specific course and grade requirements. Students who are not affiliated or "conditionally affiliated" with a Major by the the end of their fourth semester will be withdrawn from the the College of Engineering. A Peer Advisor (PA) is a sophomore, junior or senior engineering student. PA's are trained by Engineering Advising to provide academic assistance, guidance, and tips to first-year students in the ENGRG 1050 Seminar. An Orientation Leader (OL) is an upper-class student who guides students through the University's Orientation Program in August. They are under the supervision of the Office of New Student Programs. A Resident Assistant (RA) is an upper-class student who is employed by Campus Life. They assist students with their transition to college and residential life at Cornell. |
