The idea of college loomed in my mind all throughout high school, but like most things in life, expectations hardly describe reality. As a new freshman from Chicago, I have the pleasures of both living away from home and being out of state. Fortunately, I am also the youngest of three in my family, which has helped during this transition period. Now at Cornell, I’ve come face to face with the daunting reality of college. And adjusting to both the social and academic environment of college can be both challenging and liberating. There are my impressions of both the social and academic conditions at Cornell.

The social experiences in college are often the most anticipated scenarios imagined as pre-college students. Although Cornell is an Ivy League school, due to its large size, it is comparable in both feeling and social life to many state schools. The wild parties, the vast size and diversity of students and astounding array of clubs and activities can be overwhelming to a freshman, especially when you don’t know anyone. And being social then becomes a top priority as these activities become important in making new friends.

Initially, I thought going to parties was the best way to make new friends. But while parties in Collegetown are fun, they are not the only way to meet new people and certainly not the defining social experience of college. I have spent time with people from classes and my dorm as well as Cornell sponsored activities and clubs. As a conservative, I’ve joined the Cornell Review and Cornell Republicans, where I am able to meet more people like myself and find temporary refuge from the intense liberal establishment on Cornell’s campus. But establishing good friendships is a slow process. Even after orientation week, I’ve noticed many of the friends I’ve met seem to have disappeared into ambiguity. However, people I better connect with replace the ones I lost, and more long-lasting friendships are made. As I’ve come to realize, Cornell’s vast social environment is what you want to make of it, and it can be fulfilling for all types of students.

However, the difficult part of college is balance. Cornell is notorious for being one of the most challenging academic institutions of the Ivy League. Within the first two weeks, I’ve already spent countless hours completing homework and keeping up in my classes. Procrastination is easy to fall into, because unlike the rigid schedule of high school, college allows students to do the work on their own time.

In addition, there is no separation between academic and home life, because Cornell encompasses both. Both social opportunities and school responsibility surround us at every moment of the day. This makes adjusting to the workload even more difficult as it becomes tough to know how much work should be completed each day. But this situation, unlike high school, also allows for a freer way of life. When I’m hungry, I can go get something to eat; when I want to work out, I can go to the gym; and when I want to go out, I don’t have to be back before curfew. While this freedom has responsibilities that can be tremendous, I have the freedom to live my own life and be the person I want to be.

Cornell can be overwhelming at times, but the freedom and opportunities it provides will be substantial experiences for our young adulthoods and a great time to create lifelong friendships.

Bill Snyder is a freshman in the College of Arts & Sciences. He can be reached at wjs254@cornell.edu.