Student Life

Experience a community that values critical thinking, encourages self-discovery and embraces all walks of life — all surrounded by natural majesty that will inspire your creativity and deepen your focus.

Academics

Cornell serves all students — undergraduate, graduate and professional — and strives to promote an educational environment where you can thrive in pursuit of your academic and personal goals. Learn more about these important resources.

Students attend physics class in Rockefeller Hall.

Get Involved

Our organizations, clubs, groups and activities are as diverse as our student body. Life at Cornell offers abundant opportunities for you to find connections with others and grow as a leader.

Families of Students

Whether you are looking for ways to help your student transition to college life or just want to stay up-to-date on the latest news and athletics scores, there are a variety of resources to help parents and guardians navigate Cornell. Parents and guardians of current undergraduate students are encouraged to subscribe to the monthly newsletter.

Cornell Traditions

Dragon Day

Each year in late March, first-year students from the College of Architecture, Art, and Planning (AAP) create and parade an enormous dragon across campus. Accompanied by AAP students in costume and heckled by rivals from the College of Engineering, the dragon lumbers to the Arts Quad to be consumed by a symbolic bonfire. Formalized by AAP students in the 1950s, Dragon Day's roots are actually traced back to the antics of the architecture Class of 1901.

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Chimes Concerts

The heartbeat of campus life, the Cornell Chimes have been marking the hours and chiming concerts for more than a century. The original set of bells first rang out at the university's opening ceremonies October 7, 1868. The chimes continue to ring daily concerts, making it one of the largest and most frequently played set of chimes in the world.

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Homecoming

Meet current students, alumni, faculty, and staff as you cheer on Cornell in the traditional homecoming football game. Recent homecoming events have included the Big Red Band, a firework and laser show, and a carnival.

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Slope Day

The ultimate celebration of the last day of classes, Slope Day continues a century-long tradition as a year-end gathering. Live musical performances are the main feature of this Cornell community fete.

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Cornell Ice Hockey

Big Red ice hockey at Lynah Rink is one of Cornell's most treasured spectator sports. Join the "Lynah Faithful," as they are known, and celebrate with the Cowbell cheer.