Oops – Missed the Tour at Cornell

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Braving an ice storm, we raced through most of the country roads in Upstate New York. Arrived at Cornell with just minutes to spare before our 3:00 tour.  But it turned out that there was no 3:00 tour.

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Planning this trip had been so time-consuming that I had contemplated quitting my job, and now the unthinkable had occurred: our first major scheduling glitch. The date was March 31st and the 3:00 PM Cornell tours do not begin until April 1st.

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I was disappointed, CJ was relieved. March 31, it turns out, is baseball’s Opening Day and this meant that instead of traipsing through yet another campus, he could stay in the hotel room and watch several three-hour games. 

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We ended up taking a self-guided/cousin-guided tour instead, but never did get a chance to find out how many a cappella groups there are at Cornell.

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Next: Northwestern

Oops – Jeopardized My Son’s Chances at Colgate

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Toured idyllic Colgate University during a torrential downpour.  The admissions people were very hospitable and gave us giant, sturdy umbrellas, as well as fruit and Chipwiches – the only snacks we’ve been offered at any of our college visits.  After the tour, the admissions officer recommended that everyone explore the town of Hamilton, all two blocks of it, before heading onward. 

Forgot to turn on my cell phone after the tour.  When I finally did, at 12:30 PM, there were three voicemails plus one on my home phone from the Colgate Inn letting me know that their strictly-enforced check out time was 11:00 AM.  I know it’s a weak defense, but at this point in the trip it was difficult to remember whether I had indeed arranged a late check out, or was still counting on the one from the day before. 

We raced back to the hotel and packed up the piles of college brochures that were scattered all over the room.  (Didn’t have time to unpack anything else.)  The people at the front desk seemed to forgive us, but when we got in the car, CJ reminded me that our tour guide had said that the Inn was owned by the University.  Certainly, in today’s competitive environment, colleges probably consider not just GPAs, SATs and ECs, but also respect for check out policies.  If anyone from the Colgate Inn happens to be reading this, please give us another chance – We’ll be out by 10:59 next time – I promise.

Pre-Boarding Announcement at the Syracuse Airport

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Gate Attendant:  Ladies and Gentlemen, We will begin our boarding process in approximately five minutes.  At this point in time, we need six passengers who are willing to change their seats to the back of the plane for weight and balance purposes. 

CJ (who would have to use this airport often if he attended Colgate, Cornell or Syracuse): How small of a plane is this?

Questions from Readers

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Q: How do you like the Subaru Outback?  We’re thinking of getting one.

A: Thrilled with it.  Just spent the day driving through an ice storm (unlikely in LA, but with the climate change, you never know), and it performed brilliantly.  Not sure if I can recommend our Garmin (handheld GPS) though.  It speaks with an Australian accent and says "mmmst" for "M Street".

Q: What’s your favorite college so far?

A: I cannot divulge CJ’s fave because there is so much competition out there and word has it that many juniors are reading this blog.  But my favorite would have to be Amherst.  Remember, I’m the type who likes to sit under a tree reading poetry.  CJ likes to tailgate, paint his face blue and jump in the fountain.

   
Q: Are you still going to Wesleyan? If not, we are mad at you.

A:  Sorry, we had to cut out Wesleyan so we could get to Amherst in time to meet the soccer players.  But to alleviate stress, we are starting the college process earlier with our 14 year old, probably the first week of ninth grade.  As soon as he finishes his Common App essay, we will visit you at Wesleyan.

Q: When are you coming home? My mom says you have been gone for too long.

A: If the Chicago airports reopen tomorrow, we will be home on Wednesday.  If not, we are planning to drive home in our Outback, stopping at seventeen more colleges on the way.

Why Hotel Bedspreads are Ugly

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We are at the Statler Hotel at Cornell University, reputed to be the finest accomodations in the Finger Lakes Region.  As part of the famed Ivy League hospitality management program, one would expect the rooms to be state of the art, with cutting edge design, Italian lighting and natural fabrics. Instead the bedspreads are quilted polyester with a '90's floral pattern and the lamps are straight out of the Levitz warehouse sale.

Yes, I have uncovered the reason why the carpets, light fixtures and bedskirts of America's inns are so hideous: This renowned teaching establishment has been setting a standard of mediocrity for the entire industry since it was founded in the late 1800's (not certain that's when it was founded, but that's when everything we hear about on these tours seems to have originated). 

Spent the evening with our cousin who is a "hotelie", a freshman Restaurant Management major at the Hotel School.  He agreed that the bedspreads are tacky, but said the beds are heavenly and the food everywhere at Cornell is exceptional – the best on any campus.  And nothing can beat the view of the Arts Quad, with its classic stone buildings and towers and a glimpse of the gorgeous gorges in the distances.  If you can stand the seven-to-eight month winters, Cornell could be the place.  As a student here, you can grow up to truly make a difference in the world – in agriculture, human ecology (?), labor relations or veterinarian studies….and I hope that at least some of tomorrow's leaders here will think about dedicating their lives to improving the aesthetics of hotel bedspreads.