Campus & Beyond Welcoming the Class of ’29, with Big Red Words of Wisdom Stories You May Like ‘Dump & Run’ Prep: Four Months, 3,000 Hours, and 10,000 Items The Swim Test: A (Wet) Rite of Passage for Undergrads Remember Arriving on Campus? Now, Move-In Is a Major Event Your alma mater asked for advice for new students—and on topics from studying to social life to slogging up the Slope, you delivered By Cornellians Staff “The more you keep your mind open, the more you engage with different ideas and different people, the better you’ll be able to understand the world and all its complexities,” President Mike Kotlikoff advised the Schoellkopf crowd in August 2025, “and the more capable and mature your mind will be when you leave here.” The occasion was New Student Convocation, when Kotlikoff welcomed matriculating first-years, transfer students, and their families and friends to the Big Red community. President Kotlikoff leads New Student Convocation. And that Cornellian community is growing fast: at 3,861 members, the Class of 2029 is the largest in University history, with 18% of the students being the first in their families to attend college. Together with the 640 transfer students who arrived for the fall 2025 semester, these future alumni represent all 50 states, plus Washington, DC; the U.S. territories of Puerto Rico and the Mariana Islands; and 97 countries. At 3,861 members, the Class of 2029 is the largest in University history, with 18% of the students being the first in their families to attend college. “The most important point I want to emphasize for you today is that this is your journey,” Ryan Lombardi, vice president for student and campus life, said in his own Convocation remarks. “The coming transition begins the shift from other people—your parents, family members, or others—shaping your learning in life, to you doing so.” The words of wisdom from Lombardi and Kotlikoff were just some of the advice on offer for the new Cornellians: in advance of Move-In, the University put out a call on social media for tips on how new students can get the most out of their years on the Hill. Rite of passage: Moving into a dorm room. And happily, you delivered—with dozens of alums (among other respondents) offering insights on everything from balancing studies and social life to navigating an Ithaca winter. (Comfortable, weather-appropriate shoes were mentioned … frequently.) The following is a sampling of advice from alumni—illustrated with images from fall 2025’s Move-In, Orientation, the first day of classes, and more. (Responses have been edited and condensed.) “Do clubs; take cool gym classes.” — Andrea Schiralli ’10 “You’re probably used to being the smartest one in the room. Get over it. Nobody asks your GPA after you graduate, just your degree. Learn to not take yourself too seriously—and take some time to thank your family, who got you there.” — Rebecca Richardson ’77 “Take advantage of the rare opportunity to get to know others with backgrounds and interests different from your own.” — David Hahn ’80 Enjoy it. It’s fleeting and beautiful. Work hard, learn, make friends, and socialize—because this is the last time in your life that you will be that free. Guste Urbonaite ’15 “You don’t have to take all your textbooks to every class.” — Julie Weston James ’92 “The best view is from the top floor of the Johnson Museum. Visit the Asian art collection while you’re there.” — Nina Hien, MA ’99, PhD ’07 “Keep an open mind. Make friends. Get to know your professors. Don’t forget to eat.” — Simon Krieger ’76, MBA ’77 Room Keys & Student IDs: Check-In at the Ithaca Mall “Do all the things: gorges, waterfalls, lakes, Botanic Gardens, etc. And take Intro to Wines your senior year.” — Matt Dougall ’91 “Attend to growing as a whole person—mentally, physically, emotionally, and spiritually.” — Wendy Hill Sanchez ’84 “When times get hard, connect with nature. We are blessed to have that on and around campus.” — Gahsenide Hubbell ’27 Bring a sweater—I saw my breath on my first morning. Ethan Fogg ’02, BS ’03 “Go to Lynah every chance you get.” — Darren Rumack ’04 “High school didn’t prepare me for college. Cornell is hard; you have to be tough and stick with it. After the first week, I felt like I was already six weeks behind. It was overwhelming, but somehow I adapted.” — Charlie Montagna ’68, BS ’70, DVM ’71 “Don’t be afraid to ask for help from your profs, classmates, librarians, TAs, etc. And absolutely look both ways before crossing any street.” — Jenn Thomas-Murphy ’09 Moving In! “I feel like my advice would be a little outdated: pay for the ethernet, because modems are slow.” — Beth Hill Tulanowski ’99, MS ’02 “Savor every moment. Make friends. And study!” — Susan Cooper Potters ’81 “Bring your walking shoes—and your snowshoes.” — Diane Campion ’80 Take electives, even if they have nothing to do with your major. Don’t get too comfortable or complacent with one friend group. Expand your horizons, in every sense of the phrase. Ellen Raynor ’79 “Try all the things! Audition for something you’ve never tried before. Show up at events you’ve never heard of before. Swim in your possibilities.” — Karen Pearse Apgar ’92 “Put all your assignments in your calendar at the beginning of the semester, then work backward to figure out when you need to start them.” — Mary Jane Curry ’83 “Comfortable shoes.” — Mary Warner Webster ’81 Greetings from President Kotlikoff “Never compare yourself with others. Make friends. Join fun clubs. Please, never miss your meals and sleep.” — Hassan Ukasha ’26, BS ’24, MPH ’25 “Enjoy the Slope, especially while the weather’s still good. It won’t be good again until probably May.” — Jesse Fowler, MPS ’23 Say ‘yes’—and stay out of your room as much as possible. Ben Raile ’00 “Stretch—because those hills are no joke!” — Robert Harrell, current law student “Study in a library different from your major. Get out of your comfort zone. Go to concerts of music you’ve never heard before. Talk to people in line.” — Cindy Fuller ’78, PhD ’92 “Stay one summer, so you get to enjoy Cornell and Ithaca in all seasons.” — Lisa Prestigiacomo Williams ’88 Convocation & Other Festivities Stories You May Like ‘Dump & Run’ Prep: Four Months, 3,000 Hours, and 10,000 Items The Swim Test: A (Wet) Rite of Passage for Undergrads “Make sure your first year includes at least one Big Red home football, basketball, hockey, and baseball game, and a visit to Collegetown, downtown Ithaca, the Ithaca Farmers Market, and Ithaca College. Walk across the Suspension Bridge at least once each season. Walk through all floors of Willard Straight, Uris Library, Anabel Taylor, and the Johnson Museum.” — Al Schwartz ’62, JD ’67 “Good, waterproof boots or shoes make all the difference!” — Marie Turock ’96 “Taste every flavor of Purity ice cream. Try a unique gym class. Get ready to study longer than you sleep.” — Carla Walsh ’85, DVM ’88 Don’t sign up for any classes earlier than 10 a.m. Nicole Neroulias Gupte ’01 “There are three semesters: fall, spring, and construction.” — Howard Reifer ’94 “Find a group you can study with, a group you can have fun with, and a group you can worship with.” — Andy Henderson ’78, MEng ’79 “Reach out to as many people as you can. Some of them will be your wedding party, your children’s godparents or guardians, and your lifelong friends.” — Jennifer Grosner-Mentzer ’96 Campus Commutes “Don’t blink. It’s over in no time—but it leaves great memories.” — Brooks Kuykendall, PhD ’05 “Join WVBR, the nation’s only student-owned, commercial radio station.” — John Henrehan ’71, BS ’76 “Allow time to study, sleep, socialize, and join activities; find balance between these.” — Barbara Redden Leamer ’57 Don’t sweat your grades. In four years, everyone’s diploma will say ‘Cornell University.’ Jessica Thomas ’00 “Get used to walking uphill both ways in snow—from October to April. But it’s beautiful.” — Danielle Guarracino ’02 “Learn what you can—from professors and each other.” — Russell Price ’77 “Introduce yourself to your professors and familiarize yourself with their research. Find a mentor. Be curious about, and generous toward, your peers; it’s not a competition. It can take a semester, a year, or more to find your people, but it will happen.” — Eli Newell ’24 “Enjoy it—you have no idea how lucky you are.” — Doug Finch ’90 First Day of Classes “Laugh a lot. Study hard. And never lose your honor.” — Dan Zaccardo ’81 “Get out of your dorm room into the outdoors, meet lots of people, and don’t try to solve every problem by yourself.” — Christina Bentanzos Pint ’94, MArch ’00 “Make friends you’ll know for the rest of your life. Think outside the classroom. Enjoy every minute, because it goes by really fast.” — Brad Will ’84 “Be an independent thinker.” — Kerry Litvin, PhD ’94 It’s all about balance. You can get great grades and have fun—just be organized. Matt Adler ’80 “Engage other cultures.” — W. Virgil Cotton ’79 “I’ll give the advice I heard [science fiction author] David Brin give to a group of freshmen once: every so often, pick a random building on campus, and then a random room within it. Knock on the door, and politely ask, ‘What do you do here?’” — Tim Lynch ’90 “Enjoy every minute.” — Jean Tien ’99 “Pull up one of those ‘161 Things to Do at Cornell’ lists and see how many you can check off. There will be some you can’t or don’t want to do, and that’s OK. Look outside your major for related interests in different departments. Try all the cafés and dining halls.” — Becca Lublin ’19, MEng ’19 Enjoying the Beauty of the Hill “Learn to ice skate. Go to a hockey game. Hike in the Arboretum. Shop on the Commons. Visit the Johnson Museum. Eat at the Big Red Barn. Climb McGraw Tower and watch the chimesmasters play. Dress warmly. Play in the snow. Go sailing or boating on Cayuga Lake. Watch the sunset from Libe Slope.” — Suzanne Hagedorn, PhD ’95 “Solid footwear.” — Tina Jordan ’90 “Work hard, but get involved and enjoy the experience. I look back on those days fondly, including joining the Sherwoods and working in the Lab of Plasma Studies. One fond memory was taking my last fall semester final and walking over the gorge in a light snow heading to Collegetown. What a beautiful sight!” — Jim Blumling ’75 “Participate in outside activities: clubs, hikes, etc.” — Jennifer Green Wenacur ’94 Do more than study—whether it’s clubs, sports or just hanging out with friends from other parts of the U.S. or the world. I did recruiting for a Fortune 20 company; I didn’t hire students who only studied. Wade Amos, MEng ’95 “Study hard—and be mindful, curious, bold, and grateful.” — Robbin Warner Goulet ’78 “Get ready to walk, have patience, meet new friends, and explore.” — Betsy Silverfine ’81 “Enjoy the moment—it goes way too fast! — Linda Francis Scherruble ’73 (Top: A new student checks in at the Ithaca mall. All images in this story by Cornell University photographers Alexandra Bayer, Devin Flores, Sreang Hok, Jason Koski, and Ryan Young.) Published August 27, 2025 What advice do you have for new students? Comments Kathleen N. White, Class of 1989 29 Aug, 2025 First semester, determine YOUR most effective way to study & learn (not needed back in HS). Then not only will the balance of your time at CU open-up to everything else, but it’ll be an invaluable tool/skill for you once out in the “real world”! Good luck and GO BIG RED! Reply Ron Pies, Class of 1974 2 Sep, 2025 Explore philosophy as much as you can–a long and noble tradition at Cornell! And begin to develop your own philosophy of life. You will be surprised, many years from now, how well you were served by your studies. Reply Gina Gerhardt, Class of 1997 4 Sep, 2025 Winter months can be brutal, don’t hibernate, sign up for a class that has a physical element to it. I learned how to cross country ski! Reply Diane Nichols, Class of 1968 7 Sep, 2025 After a brief discussion of the requirements of my major at CU, a neighbor’s daughter asked me “Did you have time for fun?” Sadly, my answer was “No.” Don’t be me! Reply Leave a Comment Cancel replyOnce your comment is approved, your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *Comment * Name * Class Year Email * Save my name, email, and class year in this browser for the next time I comment. Δ Other stories You may like Quizzes & Puzzles Cornellian Crossword: ‘Winter Break(s)’ Chime In Remember Applying to College? 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