The information presented below pertains to the 2008 Summer College program. We're currently putting the finishing touches on our 2009 program and we'll update the Web site with this information by mid-December. If you would like to be notified when the site is updated, please join the Summer College e-mail announcement list.

at Summer College

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 blankets. 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
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, 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 in a local waterfall
rain gear (it's Ithaca)
comfy shoes, for running to class and hiking the beautiful Cornell campus
1 nice outfit, for one of the Summer College dances or other special events
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 1 and 1 blanket, but is 1 ever enough?) and favorite comforter
extra lamp (Cornell provides 1 in each room)
radio, MP3 player or iPod
loud alarm clock (consider bringing two if you're a real sleepyhead)
extension cords
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 around the corner)

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, if you like, you can rent a fan from the local rental agency. You may also want to 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. Also, pets of all kinds are banned from the residence halls. You are not permitted to bring automobiles, motorcycles, scooters, or motorbikes to the program, 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- or four-week programs 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 is not a great idea. We suggest that you use the bank machines located in Willard Straight Hall, the Campus Store, or Robert Purcell Community Center. 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.