Hello! I am a junior in Mathematics at Cornell. AMA.

5:00PM

Hi my name is Chrysoula and I'm a freshman government major!

5:00PM

Hey guys I'm Andrew and I'm a sophomore in CS and philosophy!

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The above forgetful math major's name is Vivek.

5:01PM

Ask away!

5:01PM

If anyone is premed, can you talk about what Cornell offers in that respect, especially in comparison with other top schools?

5:03PM

Hi, I'm Varun, and I'm interested in studying math in college. How large have your classes been and what outside opportunities have you taken advantage of?

5:03PM

Hi guys! My name is Angela and my first question is more for my mom's peace of mind haha. Are the new selected scholars the top ~40 applicants for the entire applicant pool? How many scholarship offers are made to each A&S freshman class?

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What is your favorite part about being a Dean's Scholar? How is your experience different than another Cornell student's?

5:04PM Yuanning William Ma has joined the chatroom5:05PM

To Andrew or anyone else who's a double major, how practical is it really to double major in two disparate subjects?

5:06PM

@Angela: There are roughly 200 dean's scholars over all four years, so roughly 50 per year.

5:06PM

@Andrew: how does your experience in CAS CS differ from that of a CS student in the engineering school?

5:07PM

@Angela, @Claire: I'll be using the Dean's scholar summer funding this year, which is extremely useful! I also enjoy the more cultural activities -- plays, concerts, etc -- that we've been to.

5:07PM

If anyone did research, could you say more about the work you did? Did you get to have an active role in the lab?

5:08PM

@Vivek: Cool! What will you be researching?

5:08PM

Is it possible to do research during the school year?

5:10PM

How would you describe the TD community? Is it tight knit?

5:11PM

Premed folks: 1. The departments that tend to be popular with premeds (such as, but certainly not limited to, chemistry and biology) are very strong at Cornell, without being excessively cuthroat. AFIK there are few, if any, courses that are "weed-outs". Classes like Organic Chem that are reputed to be very difficult are offered at different levels of intensity. Overall there's a good safety net. 2. If, like many many many many premed folks, you change your mind and pick a different career path, you'll still have excellent options for your undergraduate career and for you post-graduation plans.

5:11PM

What are some tips you guys have for incoming freshmen to Cornell?

5:12PM

@Vivek thanks! @all the scholars: How have you benefited from being a dean's scholar on a day to day basis? Are the students close and are the faculty advisers accessible?

5:13PM

@Claire Dean's scholars in a nutshell: for a lot of Dean's scholars, it's a great way to find a small community of similarly minded peers in a big school. We have events like weekly dinners and special tours to places on campus (ornithology lab is a fun one!) It's a great intellectual family and you might meet some of your best friends (who share the same weird combination of intellectual passions as you) at the Dean's scholars orientation. You also get

$5000 for a research project you design -- past projects have included archaeological study in Mexico, research projects with professors at other universities and I think someone even used their summer to create an avant garde iPhone game!

5:13PM

@Hartek, @Claire: 0. I worked with an astronomy lab at Cornell. 1. Summer after freshman year, I did an NSF Research Experiences for Undergraduates program in Astronomy at Boston University. 2. Summer after sophomore year, I did mathematics research at Cornell with the Summer Program for Undergraduates. 3. This summer, I'll use Tanner Dean's funding to do study more mathematics this summer. tl;dr Cornell has helped me find funding for every summer.

5:15PM

Does being a TD scholar help you get closer to professors?

5:16PM

@Jonathan the arts college curriculum is designed for exploration -- you'll find that a lot of the humanities majors have less strict requirements so that if you want to combine a STEM major with a humanities major, or two humanities majors, you'll have plenty of room for exploration

5:16PM

I would say for incoming freshman it is important to keep an open mind because freshman year is a really exciting time where you get to meet tons of new people and get acclimated to a new environment. At first it can be a little challenging to get used to how college classes work, but soon enough you figure out how to handle the work and the best way to go about things.

5:18PM

has Cornell's relative isolation been a negative factor in any way? How's the transportation if I want to volunteer/research off-campus at, for example, Cayuga Medical Center?

5:18PM

@Alicia CS in arts vs engineering: the CS program itself is exactly the same. It comes down to a few college requirements, off the top of my head, whether you want a physics/chem/engineering distribution requirement or a language requirement. I've found that the Arts requirements are mostly more flexible, which is an advantage if you have more humanities interests for example

5:18PM

@Varun:

I'm not sure what exactly your math background is, so I can't make much in the way of specific recommendations, but I can speak generally about the department. I came in as a double math/physics major, leaning heavily towards physics, but ended up switching to just math. The Mathematics department is absolutely wonderful. Many excellent faculty, but very little pressure on undergraduates. For students who are interested in actually learning about the field this is an excellent place to be. It is quite easy to join in research projects w faculty or to speak with them about any concerns you might have. Most students here who are moving on to Math graduate school do take graduate courses, which is not discouraged here (unlike at some places). It's possible to move quite quickly through the curriculum, and there's an excellent undergraduate community.

5:19PM

@Andrew Thank you! I heard that BS degree holds more weight than a BA (for compsci) outside of the United States. Is that true? Would that affect international opportunities?

5:20PM Hi Angela! I'm Kurt - an administrative assistant here in the Office of Admissions and Academic Advising! There are many ways to get down to the larger city of Ithaca; we have a nationally-praised public transport system, known as the TCAT; bus passes are made free for all freshmen, during weekdays and weekends. Additionally, there is a lively local area known as The Commons just a short walk from the campus, with amazing opportunities for dining, music, and shopping! Additionally, there are many opportunities for research of a medical nature across the campus, and we'd be happy to help you start there before you look farther away!

5:21PM

@Hartek If you're interested in experimentation per se (unlike the work I was doing) there are *so many* options!

5:21PM @andrew Thanks for asking! A B.S. v.s. a B.A. makes no difference; different degrees are simply awarded across the colleges within Cornell.

5:22PM

@Angela I also think the isolation can really be a positive because it really fosters a tight knit school atmosphere, which creates a really special experience as a college student.

5:22PM @Angela Chrysoula is absolutely right. And there is also an excellent Campus-To-Campus bus service which runs from and to New York City on a daily basis! I've gone on a few trips there, and it was great fun.

5:24PM

@Alicia I can't speak for perception outside of the US, but employers in the US generally know the BA/BS makes no difference. I think if you make this clear if it comes up in interviews etc., and make use of the flexible arts curriculum to take relevant STEM classes, you should have no problem

5:25PM

@Alicia I have also been concerned about this, but (1) there won't be much of an issue in the US where Cornell has strong name recognition, (2) you can simply explain that Arts and Sciences doesn't grant BS degrees, and (3) you can avoid the issue almost entirely through clever wording.

For example, just say "bachelor's degree." My resume simply says "Mathematics, Cornell University, 2014-2018"

5:25PM

What are the best places to eat?

5:25PM

@Lucas Numerous!! Don

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Don't get me started!

5:25PM

Do you find that participation in Dean's Scholars decreases after freshman year? Thanks for the great info!

5:26PM

Hawi ethiopian is super good!

5:26PM

Where should I make sure to eat at when I visit during April 19-20?

5:26PM

Thanks for the helpful info, Chrysoula and Kurt!

5:27PM

Ithaca has a higher cost of living that many areas, and meal plans can be pricy. That said, there is no shortage of restaurants in the area. The dining halls are also excellent.

5:27PM

@Claire Not substantially in my opinion.

5:27PM

@Lucas We have a really diverse array of food options on campus from numerous dining hall to cafes. I think the food overall is really good. I personally like to eat in this one cafe on campus called Temple of Zeus!

5:27PM

Also collegetown bagels is one of my favorite places to eat!

5:28PM

Can students do research during the school year?

5:28PM

Thank you!

5:28PM

Thanks for everything so far! I'm unable to attend the TD Scholars event on the 20th-21st but I plan to visit campus this Friday for Cornell days. What things should I make sure to see while i

5:28PM

I'm there?

5:28PM

I have the same question as Jonathan

5:29PM

@Varun More on math: Classes after calc I /II are actually quite small. I have not taken a single "large lecture" course since arriving. The largest lectures I've take were maybe 40-50 people (in intro physics), and even then the professors and teaching assistants were very helpful.

5:29PM

@Jessica Absolutely!

5:29PM

How viable is double majoring if the two fields of study don't share a lot of overlap?

5:29PM

@Jessica yes! I'm taking research as a class. Make sure to email or talk to professors the semester before. Engaging with your professors in/after class about extra material is also a great way to get your foot in the door

5:29PM

Thanks for the response earlier Vivek! I was considering doing research in math, but I was a little worried - would it be hard for a freshman to get started on that kind of work right away? Would it be possible to publish anything after working long enough?

5:30PM

@Jonathan Cornell honestly has an amazing selection of libraries so I think going through the rooms in them could be interesting. There are also some amazing hikes around campus that I would recommend doing!

5:31PM

As a prospective math major, will Tanner Dean increase my chances for research within the department and with math professors?

5:31PM

@Vivek @Andrew Thanks! Can research count as a class credit, an internship (paid/no), or volunteer work?

5:31PM

How do students usually travel around campus? Is it tough to get around when it's snowing?

5:31PM

@Jonathan Depends on what you want to see! You can call the advising/admissions office for recommendations as well. You should definitely check out the departments you're interested in. When I visited, I found a nice small class in my major (Math 2240 -- I recommend that incoming math and physics majors drop by!) and talked to the students afterwards. On the more fun side: climb the clocktower when they play the evening song (6PM); visit The Commons; take a hike north along fall creek; walk down to the gorges; visit Cayuga lake; walk through one of surprisingly numerous and rather scenic cemeteries.

5:32PM @Aaron Having funding for summer research is definitely seen as a plus by faculty, so being a Tanner Dean's Scholar is certainly advantageous!

5:33PM

@Darren I have several friends double majoring in very different things so it is definitely doable, I think it just takes a lot of planning to make sure you can fit in all of the required courses.

5:33PM @Jonathan There are no shortage of neat things to see on and off campus. For example, Cornell has it's very own movie theatre - the Cornell Cinema! They feature everything from Pixar films to sci-fi movies, on a full-size movie screen!

5:33PM

@Jessica You can definitely get class credit for unpaid research. Paid research is definitely a possibility in many labs, especially over the summer.

5:33PM

Thanks Chrysoula!

5:33PM

Thanks Vivek!

5:34PM

Thanks Kurt!

5:34PM

@Darren re double majoring: in terms of fitting it all in, you shouldn't have much problem, especially if you come in with a lot of AP credit or have some knowledge in at least one of your majors. In terms of coming up with a coherent program, Cornell gives you a LOT of freedom which is also a lot of responsibility -- you'll make the most of studying disparate things if you pursue some common theme, otherwise you might find you've only touched the surface of a bunch of random topics. Look into the college scholars program if you have a bunch of different interests, they can help you plan a curriculum that ties it all together!

5:34PM

Also in case anyone doesn't believe my claim that the math department is awesome, here's a gif of my advisor juggling his son: http://www.math.cornel...n.gif

5:34PM

Gotcha; thanks Andrew!

5:35PM

Thanks for the recommendations, all! Speaking of cinema, I'm interested in studying film at Cornell through the Department of Performing and Media Arts. Do any of you have experience with the program; if so, what's something I should know about it?

5:36PM

Re visiting: we all agree that uris library is super cool! Look for the cocktail lounge and the ad white library (aka harry potter room)!

5:36PM

@Andrew: Were you able to use a lot of AP/IB credit?

5:36PM @Jonathan - That's fantastic! A very good friend of mine is actually a PMA major; he's had hands-on experience with professional camera rigs, lighting, and more. This semester, he's taking a course in which students are tasked with designing the next Batman film: https://classes.cornel.../3641

5:37PM

@Claire: yes, mostly indirectly -- they count for elective credits (http://as.cornell.edu/...ments), and can let you skip some intro classes (you might still have to take a placement test.) AP English will also get you out of one first-year writing seminar

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http://10079.cometondemand.net/plugins/filetransfer/download.php?file=031c7fdc94ee46a726c662ede3bda711.jpg&unencryptedfilename=17309612102118811569601754426161268002494300n.jpg

5:40PM

@Lucas That is a picture of students skiing to class.

5:40PM

Hahahah thats so awesome

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@Lucas That's the worst it's ever been, and students are still approaching it with good humor!

5:40PM

That was during the snowpocalypse this year. In practice, the walkways are cleared promptly and buses run on time.

5:41PM

They are really good about clearing the roads and sidewalks so getting around in the snow has never been an issue for me also.

5:41PM

Okay that seems awesome, do students have their own cars or is that just unnecessary?

5:41PM

The campus is highly walkable. Related fields are often grouped together, and some buildings are even connected.

5:42PM

Okay great thank you so much!

5:42PM

Having a car certainly gives one flexibility when traveling around the broader ithaca area, but it's not very useful on campus itself.

5:42PM

It also really easy to use the bus system to get to anywhere beyond walking distance.

5:43PM

For students with accessibility concerns: cornell university has a program called CULift which you may want to look into.

5:43PM

They'll drop you off -- and transport you between -- your classes if you are unable to travel between them yourself.

5:43PM

That sounds amazing! Thank you guys for answering

5:44PM

How is biking around the area?

5:44PM

@Kurt That sounds great! I recently heard that it is becoming more difficult for non-majors to take computer science courses because of class size. Is there truth to this, and, more broadly, how easy is it to get the classes you want?

5:44PM

I heard Cornell is planning on bringing back bike sharing.

5:44PM @Jonathan There are plenty of dedicated spaces in the intro classes for freshmen and pre-majors.

5:45PM

Regarding general weather worries: I'm a southerner who didn't much like the idea of air temperatures that can literally kill. I was actually quite worried! Turns out that if you approach it with a good attitude Cornell weather is actually no problem whatsoever.

5:45PM

The area is beautiful year round! I think much of the community is interested in outdoor activities; in winter many students go skiing (downhill and cross country), camping, backpacking, etc. The winter is actually quite fun!

5:47PM

@Alicia I know several people who bike around campus and to class frequently so it is definitely doable, but it is a little more difficult in the winter.

5:48PM

@Alicia I know many folks who bike to/fro campus daily. I also know some folks who bike long distances for exercise and/or fun. They all seem to find the area suitable for it.

5:48PM

@Alicia If you're interested in biking recreationally, I hear that there are excellent trails and scenic routes around here.

5:49PM

How does premed advising work?

5:49PM

Any advice on housing/roommates/picking a residence hall? Are there perks to living in a certain hall or style (townhouse, quads, etc)?

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@Jonathan I've not had much issues with getting into CS classes. If a class turns out to be full, talking to the professor directly can help. A few upper-level classes like machine learning are definitely very popular/fill up fast for non-majors, so you should look into those early if you're planning on taking them

5:51PM

@Jessica Your academic adviser is based on your major. You'll also have a advising dean who can help you along. There are plenty of premed folks here -- across multiple colleges, too -- so you'll have quite a bit of company and plenty of folks who know how to direct you.

5:51PM @Jessica All of the Advising Deans are familiar with the pre-med curriculum. In addition, there is a pre-health careers advisor in our Office of Career Development, who works with freshmen and sophomores. There's also a university-wide health careers office that guides students as they're taking the MCAT and preparing their applications!

5:51PM

Thanks!

5:51PM

How does choosing classes actually work? I know some colleges have a "shopping week" where students attend classes of their choice at the beginning of the term and formally register at the end of the week; is this system or something similar in place at Cornell?

5:51PM

@Angela I think the housing you get is random, but in terms of roommates I found mine on the roommate search Facebook group and she is now one of my best friends so I would say using the Facebook group is a good option. Additionally, I live in Donlon, which is pretty much what you would picture as the traditional American college dorm and I really like it. Regardless, I think each housing style has its own positives and offers its own unique experience.

5:53PM

Can someone please talk about neuroscience at cornell? Also, since I am planning on pursuing medicine, how does the school make up for not having the med school nearby (clinical experience, volunteering, research, etc.?

5:56PM

@Chrysoula: ah I see, so you don't get to pick which hall? And did you and your roommate request each other when applying for rooms then?

5:56PM

@Angela It's hard to predict whether a roommate pairing will work or fail, but you can consult the various facebook groups that are bound to pop up around now if you want to pick a roommate yourself. All of the standard housing options for freshman are pretty comparable. You may also want to consider one of the "program houses," which are themed housing for students with similar interests. For example, Risley "is" the theater and arts dorm and has multiple art spaces in the basement (a clay shop with a kiln and several wheels; a painting area; a stained glass workshop; etc.). Risley also attracts a wonderful range of people with, shall we say, far-left interests.

5:56PM

Could someone speak about the government major in Cornell i.e. what I should expect in terms of workload and classroom experience?

5:57PM

@Jonathan re choosing classes: there's a "pre-enroll" period halfway into each semester (or over the summer for you guys) in which you register for classes. There's a long (several weeks) add-drop period at the start of each semester for you to swap sections, or change classes if something's not working out. This can often get you into classes that were initially full

5:57PM

Also, how is social life at Cornell? Is joining a frat necessary to be socially active?

5:58PM

@Vivek, what kind of research topics are popular for undergrads in math? Are there any particularly interesting projects you've seen?

5:58PM

@Lucas No no no! Not necessary at all.

5:58PM

What are your favorite and least favorite things about Cornell?

5:58PM @Matthew There are extensive research possibilities in Neuroscience through our Biology and Psychology departments, as well as other units in the other colleges, such as Human Ecology (which has its own MRI machine), Engineering, and the Vet School. Many of our students find many kinds of medical experiences being in upstate New York; there are many other kinds of experiences students can gain.

5:59PM

@Angela Yeah so you don't get to pick which hall unless you request a program house (a residence hall centered around a specific theme) and yep then me and my roommate requested each other in the housing form

5:59PM

Hi everyone! Brief introduction on myself: My name is Saumya and I live in socal. Despite being born in the state of Maine, I literally have zero experience with the cold (unless you count the 11 months that I spent in Maine before moving to CA). I am pretty terrified, but I love Cornell! At the moment, I am really really undecided about which major I want to pursue and the eventual career that I want to have. How flexible is Cornell for switching majors? What about switching colleges altogether? And what about switching into impacted majors like CS?

6:00PM

Re housing, you choose between the housing lottery, a program house (risley for theater, jam for music, eco house, etc., geared toward specific interests) or a townhouse. I live in Risley (the theater/arts program house) and can speak to that if there's interest! Program houses can be a great way to find community

6:01PM

Thanks Kurt!

6:01PM @Saumya Hello! Switching majors isn't a problem, as long as you plan well, and can finish the new major on time. Switching colleges is called Internal Transfer, and if you pursue it early enough, and you're doing well enough in appropriate courses, it generally works out.

6:02PM @Matthew You're welcome!

6:02PM

When do students declare majors?

6:02PM

Thanks Kurt!

6:02PM

Thanks, Andrew!

6:02PM

Re neuroscience, my friend is doing a college scholar program centered around the neural correlates of consciousness. She works in two neuroscience labs, I think studying olfaction and vision and then something more general (neural network models??), I can link her contact if you have more specific questions/research interests!

6:03PM

How do y'all recommend I gear up for the weather in Ithaca?? As someone who wears flip flops and shorts daily, I

would appreciate any tips for bracing the upstate NY weather

6:04PM

@Lucas: There are plenty of social spaces that aren't devoted to reproducing the (stereo)typical college party environment. My apartment-mate, for example, frequents Swing and Contra dancing events; these happen once a

week or so and are free to Cornell students. Although, like at most universities, alcohol is present and largely unregulated at some social events (read: most frat parties), it is also absolutely possible to have fun at Cornell without drinking, including if you want to completely avoid environments where alcohol is present. I know many students who don't drink, including ones who wish to completely avoid places that will have alcohol, and they too have fun social lives.

6:05PM

Thanks, that would be great! Please let me know how I could get in touch

6:05PM

@Lucas I think since Cornell is a pretty big school there is a social scene for everyone and while Greek life has a good sized role on campus, you definitely don't need to be part of it to have a social life.

6:05PM

Does transferring out of CALS mean that you're no longer a Dean's Scholar?

6:05PM @Saumya Flip-flops and shorts are fine from about now until December, ha ha. I came to Cornell from Memphis, Tennessee (appreciate the "ya'll" you threw in there), and while I'd lived in the North before, it was definitely a transition back! You'll want to have thick coats & pants as well as a good pair of boots for the wintertime.

6:05PM

@Alicia You should contact your advising dean regarding this. They'll be able to help you out with that!

6:06PM

@Alicia: Erm, I meant you should contact the advising office!

6:06PM

When you are traveling to Ithaca from your hometown, what transportation do you use? I plan on flying into either Buffalo Airport or the Syracuse Airport, and I was wondering if there is a bus or train from BUF or SYR to Cornell.

6:06PM

@Chrysoula @Vivek, awesome thanks so much, those were exactly what I wanted to hear

6:07PM

@Saumya re declaring/switching majors: you actually don't have to declare a major until maybe sophomore or even junior year. So plenty of time to find your interests. Switching into CS shouldn't be any harder than switching into any other major

6:07PM

@Saumya I think most people fly in to Syracuse and then there is a bus that can take you to Cornell

6:07PM

@Alicia If you transfer out of Arts & Sciences to another college (which is what I think you were asking), you will no longer be a Dean's Scholar, as it is an A&S program.

6:08PM

@Kurt I see, thank you!

6:08PM

Is it possible for me to double major in another school or college?

6:08PM

@Saumya re getting to ithaca: syracuse tends to work well. Cornell Bus Services offers bus service to/from the airport. There's also ithaca/tompkins airport

6:09PM

Thanks for your answers! How do students get around on campus? Do people bike, walk, drive etc? What about during the snow season?

6:09PM @Angela Thanks for asking! Your major(s) have to be in Arts & Sciences, unless you are pursuing the concurrent degree program, which would allow you to earn two different degrees - A&S and Engineering, or A&S and Art, Architecture, and Planning. However, virtually all minors across the university are open to A&S students, including biomedical engineering, communications, global health, urban studies, and more!

6:10PM

@Saumya There's a daily bus to Syracuse for $15 which can drop you at the airport or the rail station. There are also regular (multiple times per day) and (in my experience) highly reliable buses from Ithaca to NYC. I usually travel to one of these places and then fly. If you're from a populated area in the Northeast, you can probably find chartered a bus going your way for spring break, thanksgiving, and winter break.

6:10PM

@Saumya I usually walk around campus and occasionally use the bus system that runs through campus and the Ithaca area

6:12PM @Vivek, @Andrew, and @Chrysoula - would you like to talk about some of the classes you're currently enrolled in at Cornell?

6:13PM

Last semester I took Intro to International Relations with Professor Katzenstein, which was an amazing experience. He is a leading expert in the field so we read a lot of his writings during the class. It also completely changed the way I viewed critical thinking, which has helped me a lot in many of my other classes.

6:15PM

@Kurt Must you remind us of our pending homework! Actually though, that is a very good suggestion. I am currently enrolled in Algebra II, which might sound like a course you took in high school but (probably) isn't. It's the second half of the graduate algebra sequence in the mathematics department. There are quite a number of undergraduates taking it. I quite like this course! The professor is the aforementioned (afore-pictured? afore-gif-ed?) baby-juggler. The course proceeds at considerable speed, but never tries to alienate or intimidate the students. Although the material is challenging, the professor is always helpful.

6:17PM

Sorry to ask the stereotypical, "end of walking tour" question, but what other colleges were you considering and why did you pick Cornell?

6:19PM

@Vivek, I think you might have missed my question from earlier; what research topics, specifically, would I be likely to study as a math undergrad at Cornell?

6:19PM

I also began taking French for the first time this year, and the daily discussion sections have really not only allowed me to learn French quickly, but have created a small community to go back to everyday, which I really enjoy

6:19PM

One more note about this course: most of the undergraduates in this course took Math 2230-2240 (with me, during my freshman year) with the same professor. Most of us are taking this course at least in part because we remember that the quality of his teaching is excellent.

6:19PM

I'm in CS 4820 algorithms right now. It has a "reputation" (we call it algostorm) but it's opened my eyes a ton to problem solving in general. The textbook is the "new leading approach" and was written by professors here! (Check out Jon Kleinberg: https://www.cs.cornell...nber/ super interesting research, theory here is particularly strong) There's a famous problem called P/NP that we're learning about that goes to the heart of what thinking/intelligence is -- is creativity "fundamental" or can it be automated in an efficient way? Other algorithms we've learned about include Gale-Shapley which attempts to arrange marriages between n men and n women, so many practical applications as well

6:21PM

@Chrysoula, can you talk more about the government major, such as how the work load is and the general classroom environments?

6:21PM

I chose Cornell because of the excellent Government department and since I really wanted the close knit environment of a college town. Now that I am more than halfway through my second semester I can honestly say that I love it and couldn't imagine being at any other school!

6:23PM

@Aaron: Thanks for sending the question again, I missed it! Learning mathematics at the undergrad level is a lot like learning a language: there's an extraordinary amount of vocabulary and (if you'll permit me to extend the metaphor) grammar to pick up. This and problem solving is the main focus of the undergraduate curriculum. So, to tackle many of the problems of modern mathematics you probably need much more time (that is, much more vocab and grammar) than an undergrad education can provide. Fortunately, there are some fields where the barriers to entry are less excessive, and these can be quite fun. In particular, we have excellent faculty in combinatorics, discrete geometry, and geometric group theory.

6:24PM

@Andrew Could you please put me in contact with your classmate who is involved with neuroscience?

6:26PM

@Andrew, I have the same request as Matthew since I'm thinking about neuroscience as well

6:28PM

@Vivek sorry, I forgot to mention my background. I'm pretty comfortable with a good portion of abstract algebra and category theory already and am reading Hatcher's AT right now. I think I would want to study something with some higher prerequisites.

6:29PM

@Lucas So far I have found the government department to be really great between the faculty and the general course content. Since I am a freshman I have only taken two intro classes so I can't really speak about upper level courses at this point, but the workload is very manageable as is completing the major. I know many other gov majors who are double majoring because of this. Additionally, the discussion sections for gov/history classes are definitely my favorite part of my schedule.

6:29PM

@Aaron: The Summer Program for Undergraduate Research (SPUR) led by the math department provides research opportunities for cornellians interested in math. If you search for them and look what's been done in recent years you can get a sense of some of the possible areas you can work in as an undergraduate. Certainly there are more areas you can work in than you'll see there, though. That said, the old(ish) adage that "in mathematics homework is undergraduate research" has some truth to it! Challenging problems in your coursework will provide a good glimpse at what research mathematics is like. If you are interested in working in mathematics long-term, you should start reading as much material as you can get your hands on (or at least after you finish calculus and linear algebra). Just start reading whatever seems interesting, and be prepared to misunderstand or fail to understand, and then talk to professors. They'll guide you to other readings, and then This is a highly successful...

6:29PM

... strategy in mathematics.

6:29PM @Matthew & @Angela You should attend the Dean's Scholar Reception on Thursday, April 20th! There shall be many current Dean's Scholars in attendance, as well as faculty from a wide variety of departments. It's an excellent opportunity to meet like-minded folks!

6:30PM

What other options would be available to me?

6:30PM

@aaron Oh hey! I just saw your reply! Give me a sec.

6:30PM

@Kurt, I definitely will be attending! A huge thank you to everyone today for answering my questions and giving great insight to life at Cornell!

6:33PM This has been absolutely fantastic, everyone! You have all asked really great questions, and we're looking forward to speaking with you again this Thursday, April 13th - same time, same channel!

6:34PM

So if you enjoy algebraic topology, there are great faculty here. I don't know if you're interested in the more, shall we say, geometric or visualizable ends of things, or the formal theory. If you enjoy algebraic topology as it was presented in Hatcher's first two chapters, then you should contact Professor Tim Riley. If you're interested in the formal aspects of the theory, contact Inna Zakharevich. If you're interested in Algebraic geometry, I suggest you contact Mike Stillman and/or Allen Knutson.

6:34PM Additionally, if you'd like a transcript of this webchat, e-mail me at kf322@cornell.edu to request one!

6:34PM

Thank you to all - your answers have been very informative!

6:35PM

@Chrysoula thank you, it sounds very exciting! Thank you everyone for all your help!

6:35PM

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