Name
Andrew

Major
Communication

Hometown
Albertson, NY

Describe your experience at CALS

One word: incredible! The classes are exciting, the professors really care about their students, and you learn how to apply the information in class to solving real-world problems. CALS also has the kind of environment that has allowed me to explore all my interests and figure out what it is that really excites me. First, it was going pre-vet. Then, it was environmental management. Next, it was developing communication campaigns to improve behavior towards health. Now, I am pretty confident that I want to go onto graduate school to continue doing research and eventually become a professor, but I want to work in public service for a few years. At CALS, you have an advisor, sometimes two, dependable Career Services staff, and professors and peers who help you to figure out what it is that you are passionate about and where you want to go after graduation.

Advice to a prospective student looking at CALS

With 22 majors, each of which has its own flare, make sure to research and get to know what each kind of CALS program has to offer. There really are so many exciting programs in the college, but take some time to look at their websites, view course descriptions, contact professors and current students, and come visit during CALS Open House. Visiting is especially important because not only will you get to see how beautiful Cornell is, but you will also get to taste some fresh-made ice cream at the Dairy Bar!

Activities

CALS Ambassadors, Phi Kappa Tau Fraternity, AIDS WORK Ride for Life, Cornell Presidential Research Scholars Student Advisory Board

Hands-on Experience

As a Cornell Presidential Research Scholar, I have been given the opportunity to conduct undergraduate social science research since freshmen year. As a junior, I completed a project that assessed the effects of visuals on the communication of health risks, such as West Nile Virus, enabling more efficient public understanding of low-probability health risks. With help from my mentor, Dr. Cliff Scherer, I was even selected to present my research at a major professional conference. Now, I am beginning my senior thesis, in which I will study the influence of visuals on college students' psychological biases towards health risks in their lives.

During this past summer, I also completed an internship in healthcare communications for Fleishman Hillard in New York City. During this experience, I learned how to apply the knowledge from my communication theory courses in a professional setting, working on media campaigns for various healthcare organizations. The best part about having this internship was learning more about my own strengths and weaknesses and having a better idea of the direction in which I want to head after graduation.

In addition, my interest in volunteer work and public service have only been strengthened during my time at Cornell. As the philanthropy chairman of Phi Kappa Tau, I coordinate community service projects and plan fundraisers for The Hole in the Wall Gang Camps, a series of camps for children with terminal illnesses. In addition, I was a student liaison on the AIDS WORK Ride for Life 2004 Steering committee, where I directed cyclist recruitment at Cornell for a 100-mile bike around Cayuga Lake, benefiting local HIV/AIDS services.

Awards and Recognitions

Chester H. Freeman Communication Leadership Award, Dean's List, Order or Omega Greek Honorary Society, Lambda Pi Eta Communication Honorary Society, Ho-Nun-De-Kah CALS Honorary Society.