Ask our Ambassadors: What's the College Scholar Program?

As a freshman I was not set on a major, but I knew that the breadth in the College of Arts & Sciences would be a great environment to explore and develop my academic interests. Professors are excited to share their knowledge and I have had many positive experiences from syllabi being adapted to engage with material that students find intriguing!

 The College Scholar Program is a great example of unique opportunities at Cornell. The program encourages students to engage in coursework that transcends traditional academic boundaries alongside a diverse cohort. I am studying the ethics of nonresponse in social media in relation to social phenomena surrounding popularized sounds. Within the College Scholars, there is a wide range of project topics, from food and culture to recreating consciousness, but what ties us together is our inherently interdisciplinary curiosity.

In our core seminar, Professor Michael Goldstein promotes teamwork, integrating new perspectives and bouncing ideas off of each other. It’s a rigorous environment where students take initiative and learn to embrace unexpected connections. We are learning to be creative and flexible, while also being able to articulate our thoughts. Our ideas continue to grow in weekly writing room sessions and the genuine connections I have formed both in and outside of class exemplify how passionate my fellow College Scholars are about learning!

Balancing academic and social life are important and the College Scholar community is ingrained in both. We have bonded through activities like an acting workshop, which took us outside of our comfort zones to make a “machine” and taught us to be quick on our feet. Beyond student cohorts, our pursuits are supported by professors who are experts in their respective fields who provide individualized feedback and advice. I appreciate the freedom in course selection and resources that allows me to design a major surrounding an evolving research topic that is meaningful to me.