A Cold, Snowy, Party

Introduction
I chose IC (as we call Ithaca College) for its Cinema and Photography program, and because the school offered me an amazing financial aid package. The one thing I will say right off that bat is that it's unbelievably cold in Ithaca in the winter...if you've never been to Upstate New York, you have no idea what you're in for...

Campus Life and Social Life
The social life here rocks. We party as hard as we work and that's pretty hard. On the off chance that you can't find something to do on IC's campus one night, there's always the social scene at Cornell just down the road. Ithaca is a college town, and between the two schools there's always something going on.

In terms of more organized/club type activities, IC has a lot to offer. We have everything from academic groups - language clubs, etc.- to activist organizations like Students for a Just Peace and Habitat for Humanity.

I don't know much about IC's competitive sports because I'm not involved, but Intramurals are huge here. If you love athletics but aren't a Varsity athlete-type, you'll have a lot of fun and meet great people here.

One word of advice: IC has different housing options that enable kids to meet peers easily and make friends. Dorms specifically for international students or grouped by grade level facilitate socializing, so use that resource! Advertisement
Academics
Our academics are great: the Park School of Communications is nationally renowned. As for my department, the Cinema and Photography program at IC is unique and amazing because they encourage you to use resources and materials and actually start creating the moment you step foot on campus...as opposed to other schools that don't allow students access to materials until Junior or Senior year.

Student Body
We have large international, Jewish, and gay and lesbian populations. Many of the students are from New York State, but we represent all parts of the country. The diversity of the student body makes for a generally socially/politically liberal atmosphere, so be prepared to expand your mind and get rid of preconceptions.

In Closing...
I'll say it one more time: it's freaking COLD in the winter. Check the weather reports for Ithaca this winter when you're applying to IC. Can you handle it?