at Summer College

• A supportive environment
• Activities
• Dining
• Health and safety
• Housing
  • Community
  • What to bring
  • Staying in touch
  • Laundry
  • End-of-program checkout dates and procedures
  • Residence hall rules
• Community policies

see also

• at Cornell University
• in Ithaca and the Finger Lakes

What to bring

Your room: What it has and what you may want to bring

Our rooms are cozy, so don't over pack. In each room you'll find one telephone and lamp and, for each resident, a bed, desk, bookcase, chair, bureau, and pillow, as well as bed linens and one blanket. Towels are not included in weekly linen service, so be sure to bring them with you. If you want to change your bed linens more often than once a week, you might want to consider bringing an extra set of long twin sheets (also known as dorm-size sheets) and a bed pad.

Here's a list of items recommended by some of our Summer College alums. Watch out, though—you'll need a big suitcase to fit in everything on this list:

• computer (optional)
• school supplies (pens, pencils, high lighters, notebooks, paper, etc.)
• back pack
• cell phone or prepaid phone card and your address book
• ATM card (This is the easiest way to get money. Unfortunately, the banks on the Cornell campus do not cash money orders, traveler's checks, or personal checks.)
• $$$, we can't tell you how much to bring, but enough for books, laundry, late-night take-out, to play pool or Ping-Pong, and to get a sweatshirt or Cornell souvenir to take home
• towels—a must
• clothes hangers
• swimsuit, for cooling off at a local state park (Note: swimming in the gorges is not allowed)
• rain gear and umbrella (it's Ithaca)
• comfy shoes, for running to class and hiking the beautiful Cornell campus
• one "business casual" outfit, for one of the Summer College special events and class presentations
• sweater or sweatshirt
• laundry soap and $ to set up your laundry account
• shampoo, soap, shower shoes, tissues, and other personal supplies
• your favorite pillow (Cornell provides one, but is one ever enough?) and favorite comforter
• extra lamp (Cornell provides one in each room. Bulbs for halogen lamps must be no more than 150 watts. Spider lamps are prohibited.)
• radio, MP3 player or iPod
• loud alarm clock (consider bringing two if you're a real sleepyhead)
• power strips
• musical instrument
• bike (Ithaca has been voted a top place to ride bikes, especially if you love hills), a strong bike lock, and bike helmet
• tennis racket and other athletic equipment
• camera
• some things to give your room a personal touch, such as posters
• snack foods (you won't need too many, though, as there's a convenience store next to your residence hall and a hot truck nearby)

Summers in Ithaca are generally temperate and balmy, so our residence halls are not air conditioned. But, we do have a few scorcher days. We provide each room with a fan. You may want to

• bring an additional desk or window fan or rent one from the local rental agency; call Lewis at 607.539.6673, and/or
• rent a refrigerator.

The rental agency will be on campus when you arrive. Here's the fine print on equipment rentals: Campus Life tries to ensure that the rental agency provides quality equipment and reliable service, but the university cannot be held responsible for contracts made by students. You are responsible for returning all rental equipment before checkout.

What not to bring

Don't bring everything you own. Definitely don't bring

• a television or an air conditioner, because you won't be able to use them;
• pets of any kind; or
• an automobile, motorcycle, scooter, or motorbike, none of which you are permitted to have on campus—nor may you ride in other people's cars or motorized conveyances on or off campus. (Written permission to ride in a private automobile may be granted for certain restricted occasions. Public transportation can take you to most places.)

Money, money

Students frequently ask us how much spending money they should bring. This is really an individual decision. All your meals and most of your other activities are included in the cost of the program. Students attending the three-week program will probably need about $100 to $150 for books and supplies. Six-week students will need about $150 to $200—unless you're taking an art or architecture course, in which case supplies will be more expensive (you'll need an additional $100-$200 for art class and $350 for architecture in addition to the Supply Kit).

There are a few other things students typically spend money on:

• movies;
• a restaurant meal (this area has one of the highest per capita restaurant counts in the country);
• laundry;
• pool and Ping-Pong games;
• snacks;
• printer services;
• funds to replace lost ID cards and keys;
• a Cornell sweatshirt—one for you as well as the one you promised your kid sister; and, of course,
• the inevitable late-night pizza.

Neither the university nor anyone on the residence staff can hold money for you, and leaving it in your room or carrying a large amount of cash with you is not a great idea. We suggest that you use the bank machines located in Appel Commons, Robert Purcell Community Center, Willard Straight Hall, or the Campus Store. These ATMs have global access hookups. Or, you may want to talk with your home bank to get some suggestions for how to keep money on campus. Six-week students may choose to open a savings account in an on-campus bank branch (more information to follow in May). Campus banks do not cash traveler's checks, money orders, or personal checks. You can, however, bring traveler's checks to purchase items or use a bank debit card.