diversity outreach - undergraduate admissions · cbo/high school 3. spotlight ... joining a student...
TRANSCRIPT
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
[email protected]. 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
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.