Cornell UniversityNewsletter for Counselors

FALL 2017

Inside this issue:

Meet Alyssa 1

Orrantia of Diversity

Outreach

Cornell’s Pre- 1

freshman Summer

Program

Learning Outside of 2

Class

CBO/High School 3

Spotlight

The College 3

Application:

A Personal Process

Come Visit Us 4

Diversity Outreach - Undergraduate Admissions

Meet Alyssa Orrantia

Greetings, counselors! I am

Alyssa Orrantia Bienerne, the new Associate Director for Diversity Outreach at Cornell's Undergraduate Admissions

Office (UAO). A first-generation college graduate from Oxnard,

California, I never imagined I would work at such an incredi­

ble university, let alone help others from like backgrounds get here.

Having visited colleges and cities across the U.S., I believe that Cornell and its home town, Ithaca, New York, are exceptional in a variety of

ways. Cornell has a unique legacy of welcoming and sup­porting students of all back­grounds, a service-oriented

mission, and a gorgeous cam­pus and surroundings. We also

have an extraordinarily talent­ed and cohesive community.

As is common for many in the college counseling/admissions

world, my career path has

been a winding one. I first got involved in this work as a mul­ticultural recruitment intern in my college's admission office. Later I conducted stra­tegic recruitment for Leader­ship Enterprise for a Diverse America (LEDA), a national

CBO based in New York City.In addition to my admissions experience at Cornell and as well as Occidental College in Los Angeles, I directed college counseling at KIPP Houston

High School and served as an advisor for Yspaniola, a col­

lege scholars program in the Dominican Republic.

Prior to my new role, I was Cornell's Southwest regional

admissions representative based in Texas. My family and I moved to Ithaca from Hou­ston two weeks before Hurri­cane Harvey. My heart goes out to those of you and your

students who have been di­rectly impacted by this and

other natural disasters. I and my colleagues are here to help clarify the Cornell appli­cation process, which we hope will alleviate some stress as your communities focus on

recovering and regrouping.

I understand from experience that counselors are pulled in a number of directions on a daily basis! Your work is complex and vital to your students' success. However, you are not alone. We are here to help answer any ques­tions you have about Cornell's

academic opportunities, student life, admissions, and more. There are many wonderful colleges and universities, but, as you know, helping students find schools that are the best fit for their interests

and needs is key. Cornell can be a great match for many of your

students, but they may need as­sistance choosing one of Cornell's

seven undergraduate colleges and schools or navigating the application process. Again, we're here to help!

At Cornell, questions are welcomed. Prospective students can explore the UAO website, read our informative emails, and

they and their families can reach out to us at 607.255.7233 or

diversitv@cornell.edu. I welcome calls/emails from families who prefer to communicate in Span­ish. My team and I look forward to working with you this fall!

Cornell’s Pre-freshman Summer ProgramBy Olive Onyekwelu '21

Hello! My name is Olive Onyekwelu and I am a fresh­

man from Houston, Texas ma­joring in Animal Science in the

College of Agriculture & Life

Sciences. It is just the begin­ning, but I can already say I am excited that I chose to attend such an amazing

school. I attribute his strong and enthusiastic feeling to

the Pre-freshman Summer

Program (PSP). This life-changing

program prepares incoming first- year students for the upcoming

school year. While any incoming student can attend PSP, it can be especially helpful for students like myself who come from

underrepresented backgrounds

and communities.

PSP Program Assistant, Jaried Buxton, points out,"Participants learn more about the academic and social oppor­

tunités on campus, including gaining better insight on ser­vices, resources and actvites

dedicated to working un­derrepresented students." How­ever, there are more benefits!

Take it from fellow PSP partici­pant, Brendon Gaunthier'21, from Opelousas, Louisiana. He

says, "PSP provided [him] a sense of belonging." PSP has helped him and others learn more about the Cornell commu­nity and make life-long friends.

Another fellow PSP participant, Funke, who was hesitant about participatng in the program at first, later said, "I am actually glad that I attended PSP be­cause not only did I survive a few tough classes, but I also feel better that I know how to get to places [on campus]."

PSP this past summer was a memorable experience. One

particular person left an indelible mark on each of us. We will all miss the amazing,

unforgettable Winston Perez Ventura'21. Winston was a loved and well known PSP

participant and Cornell stu­dent, architect, friend, son and brother, who sought to shine light in a world full of many dark moments. Win­ston left us with these words of wisdom: 'The only person you should be better than is the person you are today." His unique charisma inspire us to pursue our best poten­tial In life.

PSP is no ordinary summer program because it does not only prepare an individual for life at Cornell, but for life in general.

Learning Outside of ClassBy Morgan B. Dickens '20

College is the time to en­counter new people, experi­ences, environments, and opportunities. These oppor­

tunities could come in the form of trying new sports or joining a student organiza­tions on campus. What stu­dents sometimes fail to real­ize is that many opportuni­ties are also available off campus both during the aca­

demic year and breaks. Often, instructors and offices will be contacted by industry

professionals seeking in­terns or lab aids.

Working in the industry is invaluable because it gives a sense of what to expect after graduation. If intern­ships are away from home, students gain experience with independence and adapting to new subcul­tures. To look for and ac­cess these opportunities, students can contact or visit their school's career services office. I looked for internships by visiting the Cornell Career Services

office and exploring its ex­clusive databases (each of Cornell's undergrad colleges has its own career develop­ment resources).

I ultimately found my in­ternship by talking to pro­fessors about my goals and asking for guidance. While applying, I noted how I found the position since the staff members I would work for and the person who re­ferred me to the internship position were mutual con­tacts. I also made sure to connect with my interview­er on a more personal level to ensure a memorable in­terview and I sent a thank you letter afterward.

This past summer I had the opportunity to intern at Takasago, a flavor house based in Japan with head­quarters in the U.S., Mexico, and several other countries across the globe.

As a Food Science major in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, I appreci­ated the opportunity to experience different aspects of the field. For most of the summer, I worked in Con­sumer Insights and Market Research where I was given three projects:

First, I took research con­ducted by the company and drafted a report on the eating habits and flavor preferences of people by age group. Next, I drafted a report on current and up­coming trends in seafood.

Last and most interesting to me, a girl with a dream of eating her way across the globe, was researching tra­ditional foods from other countries and comparing

them to current trends in those regions to determine what

global flavors could become popular next in the U.S.

Alongside other interns, I visit­ed the other departments for a few days at a time where we:

♦ compounded (created)strawberry, curry, and blue cheese flavors to make flavored chocolates, cook­ies, salad dressings, pret­zels, and dairy products in the Applications Depart­ment.

♦ thought of new flavor ideasfor popular soda brands in Marketing.

♦ tested mouthwash intensi­ty at the Sensory Evalua­tion Center.

♦ learned how new flavorsare made at the molecular level in the labs.

From this internship I figured out where my true interests are within the field. Before this summer I was planning to earn a business minor and open my­self up to the possibility of working in food mar­keting. Now, I know that I would rather work hands-on at the point where science and ready-to-eat food physically meet. At a flavor house, this intersection occurs in the Appli­cations Department, but there are corresponding departments at other food science compa­nies like Pepperidge Farm, Wrigley's, or Ben and Jerry's.

If not for this internship, I would still be pursuing an area I would not necessarily enjoy after graduation. Students who take on internships while in college benefit from being able

to learn and make discoveries about their interests through first-hand experience.

CBO/High School Spotlight: Urban Prep (Englewood) Campus)By Joseph Olalusi '19

I am Joseph Olalusi, a rising junior in the Cornell SC John­son College of Business stud­ying Applied Economics and

Management. I grew up on the south side of Chicago where the majority of neigh­borhood "role-models"

showed their futures to be in either sports or crime. If it

were up to my community, statistically I would not be as successful as I am today.

I owe most of the credit to my high school, Urban Prep Charter Academy- Eng­lewood Campus. Urban Prep is a CBO with all-male high schools located in some of

the harshest neighborhoods in Chicago. By being cen­tered in these communities

and admitting students through a lottery, these schools provide an engaging educational experience and a community that incentiviz- es self-awareness. For the past few years, Urban Prep has sent young men from America's worst neighbor­hoods on full rides to top

universities.

As an alumnus, I believe

most of Urban Prep's suc­cess comes from its college counseling system. There are about three college counse­lors per campus, in addition to a College Supervisor Di­

rector who oversees the college admissions team.

The college counselors work with students starting from

9th grade. They advise stu­dents on what to do during

school breaks and make sure students know about

programs/opportunities. By working with counselors early on in high school, Ur­ban Prep men find it easier to fill their college applica­tions with activities and

accolades.

Along with this college ad­vising throughout their four years, students in their sen­

ior year take a mandatory composition class with the

college counselors. This writing class is exclusively geared toward completing college applications, meeting college admissions ambassadors, and seeking

financial aid and scholar­ships. This class was critical

for me because it helped to maximize my college appli­

cation potential rather than limit it. By the end of the fall of

senior year, my friends and I had applied to over 20 universi­ties, a majority of which were top-tier, in addition to about five scholarships per individual. As senior year came to a close,

my best friend and I were both admitted to Cornell and award­

ed the Gates Millennium Schol­arship which would allow us to

go to college together.

While applying, I did not believe

I had the credentials to be ac­cepted to an Ivy League institu­tion or go to college for free, but Urban Prep believed and they made sure that my poten­tial was not oppressed and

wasted. I am truly thankful for my school's hard work to

change the status quo for young men on Chicago's south side.

The College Application: A Personal ProcessBy Dominique Thorne'19

After months of college

tours, browsing through college websites, college counselor visits, and stand­ardized tests, the time had come for me to apply to college.

I was a senior, level four drama major at the Profes­

sional Performing Arts School in New York, NY. I was among the top in my class (academically and the­atrically), a third year mem­ber of the MCC Theater

Company's Acting Lab, and very much expected to con­tinue my theatre education

and training at a conservato­ry. Just a few days after my

applications were submitted

I would go on to become a

Young Arts Winner in Spo­ken Theater and later, the 2015 United States Presi­

dential Scholar in the Arts.

My drive and my passions

were so clearly aligned with the dramatic arts.

However, outside of the theater I had one other

faintly noticeable interest, people, particularly people affected by our govern­ment immigration system.

In 12th grade, I wrote my senior thesis on the then-

newly introduced DACA and DAPA legislation. The

paper rekindled my inter­est in people and the sys­tems that affect them. With this réintroduction to

this passion I applied to what I considered to be

the best two programs for

my two greatest interests: theatre and immigration. I applied as a Drama major

to two conservatories and I applied as a Policy Analy­

sis and Management ma­jor in Cornell's College of

Human Ecology.

When I was admitted to

all three programs, the decision to attend Cornell was swayed largely by:

Opportunity: Through theatre I had spent four years of my life living through what I still con­

sider to be some of the greatest, most challenging

and self-fulfilling experi­ences in my life thus far. Four years of an academic

study at a school as rigorous and renowned as Cornell seemed like an

opportunity to pursue another strong interest by way of obtaining a high-quality undergraduate edu­cation and joining a network of people known for affecting change across the nation and the globe.

Growth: I believed that exposing myself to change (such as the one from theatre to policy analysis and management) would encourage a new kind of self-understanding.

For better or worse, I believed that I would learn more about the world and myself and gain a new take on life that I might have

missed had I continued a study I was familiar with. I believe in the

notion that "life experience is acting experience!"

Circumstance: As a first genera­tion West-lndian and the first in

my family to pursue higher educa­tion. I knew very little about to look for in colleges. I was advised

by teachers, friends, and ads on MTA buses and subway trains.

Despite this, I recognized that I would be the first in my family to

pursue higher education to com­pletion. I believed all It takes Is for one person to put In the work It takes to step outside of circum­stance and prove that It Is possible to reach for and achieve greater things. So, I decided to attend Cor­nell University. I choose to achieve what my mother and grandmother

once hoped for. And, I am en­

suring that my daughter and granddaughter will not hope, but will know that they can pursue their dreams.

Undergraduate Admissions2017-2018 Admission & Financial Aid PatesFirst-Year Applicants (U.S. Citizens. Perm. Res.. DACAmented)

November 1: All required Early Decision application materials due November 21: All required Early Decision financial aid materials due January 2: All required Regular Decision application materials due February 15: All required Regular Decision financial aid materials due

First-Year Applicants (International and Undoc. without DACA)Cornell University practices need-aware international admissions and provides need-based financial aid to admitted international students

and admitted undocumented students without DACA status who apply for financial aid by stated deadlines (below) and who show

demonstrated financial need. For more information and how to apply, please visit: finaid.cornell.edu/applv-aid/international-applicants·

November 1: All required Early Decision admission application and international financial aid materials due

January 2: All required Regular Decision admission application and International financial aid materials due

Please see some other helpful links below:

Financial Aid Office: 607.255.5145 I finaid(5)cornell.edu

http://finaid.cornell.edu/applv-aid/prospective-applicants

Office of Academic Diversity Initiatives (HEOP/EOP):

607.255.3841 I OADI(a)cornell.edu | oadi.cornell.edu

COME VISIT US ON CAMPUS!

Our team hosts day and over­night visits (Sun. -Thurs.). We will tailor your student/group visit to their college readiness level and interests. We would be delighted to have you and/or your student(s) on campus for a visit!

To plan your visit, please email

us at: diversity(5)cornell.edu.

Available Dates for 2017 -2018: Fall 2017: Day & Overnight

(Present— Nov. 22)

Spring 2018: Day & Overnight (Feb. 1- Mar. 20)

May-Sept.: Day Visits Only

Unavailable Dates:November 22 - January 18 : Winter BreakFebruary 16 - February 21: February BreakApril 2018: Admitted Student Month (there are no visits offered)May 9: Last Day of ClassesMay 27-28: Commencement and Memorial Day Weekend

_________________________I________________________Follow us on Twitter: @CUDiversity

• Set up a time for you or your student (s) to connect withus via Skype or Google Hangout

• Here’s a link to one of our favorite videoCornell University: Glorious to view

Our Diversity Outreach team is here to help you, your

students, and their parents/guardians navigate

Cornell’s application process. You can reach us at:

Undergraduate Admissions Phone: 607.255.7233

Diversity Outreach Fax: 607.255.8977

410 Thurston Avenue Email:

Ithaca, NY 14850

diversitv@cornell.edu

Cornell is a private, Ivy League university and the land-grant university for New York State. Cornell's mission is to discover, preserve, and disseminate knowledge; produce creative work; and promote a culture of broad inquiry throughout and beyond the Cornell com­munity. Cornell also aims, through public service, to enhance the lives and livelihoods of our students, the people of New York, and others around the world. Our faculty, students, alumni, and staff strive toward these objectives in a context of freedom with responsi­bility. We foster initiative, integrity, and excellence, in an environment of collegiality, civility, and responsible stewardship. As the land- grant university for the state of New York, we apply the results of our endeavors in service to our alumni, the community, the state, the nation, and the world.