Admissions

Ithaca is a great place to be and if you decide to attend that take advantage of all these great opportunities. Take a class that sounds any bit interesting to you, join a team or club if is about something you like to do, be part of the work study program if you are worried about money, go out and meet new people, and don't be afraid to ask your advisor or professors for help or advise about anything. You only have four years of college, make sure you use those four years well and live them to the fullest.

If I could give prospective students some simple advice, I would tell them to focus on school and plan your time wisely but also have fun. Make sure you love your major and if not become and exploratory major so that you can easily determine what you are good at. Also, always plan ahead and try to stay organized. Take advantage of the tools, professors, and other students that the school has provided to help you.

Take advantage of all that Ithaca College has to offer. Take classes you enjoy, study, and have fun. Get involved. Also study abroad if you can.

1) Develop good study habits if you have not already done so. It is very rare that one will do well on college exams if they have not studied. Notecards work best for me, but I am sure different strategies help different people more.
2) Pack clothes for each of the four seasons, especially winter. Winter is definitely the longest season here at Ithaca, but it can be beautiful. At the same time, when it is hot here, it is very warm. You really just have to be prepared for everything.
3) Be social. Making friends and knowing who you should study with and who you can have fun with is very important. Everyone gets homesick, no matter how far away from Ithaca you live. Meeting new people is one of the best parts about college. I am only a sophomore and I am already so close with the people I have met here. But I do have friends that I can be productive with, others I can have one with, and then some I can do/be both with. It is important to figure that out early on.

If you want a school that has a huge, diverse population, Ithaca may not be the best choice for you. Many (but definitely not all) students are from the East Coast of the US. The student population is around 6,500 undergrads I believe, so you can always meet someone new but still recognize most people you see on campus. Though we're a liberal arts college, the educational quality is great and IC prepares you exceptionally well for your future career.

The town of Ithaca is a legit collegetown which means everyone should explore it especially the Commons. It is a great place to shop and eat.
The parties are good here too especially at Cornell but remember if you stay out late, there are vey few busses that will bring you back to IC. The taxi service is wicked expensive too.
One thing I wish someone told me is how quickly winter comes. So bring a heavy jacket after fall break. Trust me, you are going to need it.
Cortaca is the biggest little game in America. Seriously. If you dont go to any other football game, go to this one.
Visit Ithaca College before you start, I guarantee you will make your decision in a snap.

Like any college application, put a lot of love and care into it. Show that you are sincerely interested in what they have to offer. Be sure to include all the little details... Ithaca is one of those colleges that will actually look at them.

Visit not only during spring or summer, but also in the winter. It's not as bad as I thought, but I'm from Connecticut and the only difference I found was that there was wind chill because of Lake Cayuga. For others, though, the sharp cold plus all the hills and stairs can be a deterring factor.

I know this is generic advice, but get involved with as much as you can. There is so much to do and see around Ithaca and over 200 clubs and activities that allow you to experience that.
Ithaca has pretty unpredictable weather. Since I've been there, there has been snow is September and sun in January. You really want to make sure you're prepared for those days when its 30 degrees and raining and then suddenly its 50 degrees and sunny.
There is so much to get involved in, not only the school, but the town itself. If you don't get work study, get a job off campus. I volunteer at an animal shelter only 15 minutes away from the school. There are so many festivals and events downtown, so make sure you don't spend all your time on campus.
Don't be afraid to take a class you don't know anything about. I know nothing about computers but I am getting ready to take a 3D animation programming class next semester and I couldn't be more excited! Ithaca has so many different fields, it's impossible to not want to try them all.

Get involved in your classes!! Professors love it if you talk in class and come to their office hours. Don't be afraid of appearing nerdy, the extra effort on your part will definitely help you down the road.