First-Year Advising

Welcome to Cornell and to the Biological Sciences major!

All official communication with new first-year students will begin during the last week of June. In the meantime, we encourage you to engage with the contents of our First-Year Planning Guide, watch our Welcome Video, and explore our website. 

Self-Enroll in our First-Year Planning Guide through Canvas 

Here you will take the required pre-assessment and interest survey (Due July 5), find information about the major, including suggested fall classes and sample first-year schedules, learn more about how your AP/IB/GCE credit can be applied, and discover how the advising process at Cornell works for you. 

Watch our Welcome Video here!

This page provides a list of frequently asked questions (FAQs) for incoming first-year students to help provide on-boarding guidance for the major. 

Who are Student Advisors and why should I connect with them? 

You will be assigned a student advisor around July 8. You should reach out to talk to them about planning classes for the fall prior to pre-enroll which begins July 20. They will:

• Help you identify which classes are important to take/plan, suggesting a good balance of structure, information about the class content, and how to actually enroll in classes using Student Center.
• Support with major-related classes when you want to hear from a student perspective about classes they have probably taken.
• Serve as your Learning Assistant (like a TA!) for the first-year seminar (BIOG 1111, more on this below), taking attendance during class, answering questions, and providing feedback on your assignments every week.
• Help you navigate Cornell in general with clubs, organizations, getting around on campus, and how to transition to college life. 

Who will be my Faculty Advisor and when will I meet them?

You will be assigned a faculty advisor around July 8, but many of our faculty are doing research, off campus, or not teaching during the summer so you will meet your faculty advisor during Orientation on August 20. They: 

• Help students translate their academic interests into courses of study.
• Offer general guidance related to academics, internships, graduate study, and career planning.
• Provide support about time management, study skills, and connecting with faculty on campus.

What is the role of OUB Staff Advisors and why would I contact them? 

Reach out to OUB staff advisors at any point during the summer and the academic year. Professional staff advisors provide guidance about:

• Major requirements, including long-range planning.
• Concentration requirements.
• Scheduling classes.
• Honors/research.
• Academic resources.

Why do I have a college advisor and what is their role?

College advisors provide guidance and answer questions regarding a variety of college-specific topics, including:

• Distribution requirements.
• Graduation requirements.
• Credit questions/approvals (including AP/IB/GCE).
• Study abroad inquires.

What about special affinity groups and support?

Often, students are aligned with other advising offices outside of their major and college. These offices might also be helpful for answering your questions:

• Health Professions Advising Center (HPAC) - staff advisors and peer leaders provide guidance and answer pre-health related questions.
• Office of Academic Discovery and Impact (OADI) - advisors work with students from all undergraduate colleges and schools, with a special focus on supporting the academic, professional, and community needs of students who are first-generation college goers and/or from lower-income backgrounds.
• Learning Strategies Center (LSC) - staff advisors and peer leaders support students through tutoring, supplemental classes, tips for time management, study skills and more.
• Student Disability Services (SDS) - staff work in partnership with Cornell faculty, staff, and students to ensure that all aspects of student life are accessible, equitable, and inclusive of individuals with disabilities.

What is BIOG 1111: Paths to Success in the Biological Sciences Seminar and how do I get enrolled in this mandatory class?

BIOG 1111 is a first semester, 10-week requirement of all incoming first-year students. This is the ONLY class that you will be automatically enrolled in and you should plan accordingly when selecting your classes for pre-enroll. 

The seminar will take place on Thursdays from 8:40 - 9:55 am from August 27 - October 29 and is required.

The seminar is taught by OUB staff advisors and the Faculty Director, in collaboration with campus resources, alumni, and bio sci faculty. Your Student Advisor will serve as the Learning Assistant for this class. It is a one-credit, S/U course (which meets once a week) that provides an opportunity for first-year students to get to know their Student Advisor and a small group of biological sciences majors on a more personal and significant level. 

Additionally, it provides an orientation to biological sciences activities, faculty, and the university. 

The seminar seeks to help students make the transition from high school to college-level expectations and competencies by conveying information about the curriculum, student services, advising, career resources, active research and biological sciences in general, ethics, workshops on study and exam skills useful to bio sci students, and health and well-being.

The seminar also functions as an ice-breaker, affording time for socializing, exploring campus, and attending workshops geared toward varying interests.

What happens if students start to struggle in a class (many absences, missed assignments, low grades)?

Course instructors are highly encouraged to submit an Academic Concern for students who are of concern in their classes.

College offices are automatically notified of any Academic Concerns submitted for bio sci students.

Students are then often contacted by an OUB staff advisor and are highly encouraged to meet with us to discuss the situation and available options.

How can I get more information about my Advanced Placement Credits?

To find out more about how your Advanced Placement Credits, including IB and GCE credits are specific to the biological sciences major, visit this section of our website. For more information about advanced placement credit and a comprehensive list of advanced placement sources and credit awarded by the university, please refer to the Courses of Study.

What is the Cornell Advanced Standing Exam (CASE) and how might this impact my pre-enrollment?

During Orientation in August, optional Cornell Advanced Standing Exams (CASE) are offered in areas such as math, physics, chemistry, and computer science. Your performance on these exams may result in advanced placement credit if you demonstrate proficiency in the subject area. These exams occur before the start of the Add/Drop period and the first day of classes.

CASEs are another way for students to earn credits for required courses and advance in the curriculum at Cornell. To prepare for a CASE, students can brush up on information included in that course’s syllabus.

CASEs are offered during orientation and the results of them can inform students’ decisions during the Add/Drop period as they finalize their fall schedule. The full CASE schedule will be released later this summer, as will CASE registration information. Information will also be posted on department pages (i.e. Chemistry CASE information will be on the Chemistry department website).

How do students pre-enroll this July if they are planning on taking a CASE in August?

Students should pre-enroll based on their confidence and comfort level.

• If they feel confident that they will get an acceptable score, they can choose to enroll in the next course in the sequence or advance themselves in the curriculum. If they then wind up not earning the expected credit, they can make changes to their schedule once the system opens back up during the Add/Drop period in August.
• If they don’t feel confident that they will get an acceptable score, they can choose to enroll in the first course in a sequence. If they do score high enough for credit, they can make changes to their schedule once the system opens back up during the Add/Drop period in August.

What courses should I choose for Fall pre-enroll?

The major is FLEXIBLE and there is no “one way” to complete the course requirements. Peers in the major might have a schedule that looks completely different than yours and that is okay!  

When planning your first semester of courses, it is important for you to decide what courses you want to take, what your learning style is, and what feels manageable as you transition to Cornell.

Recommendations from the OUB:

• Take15-16 academic credits during the fall semester. 
• Enroll in no more than 2 to 2 1/2 STEM classes (with the 1/2 being the Investigative Lab).
• Complete 8-9 credits of the Introductory Biology courses before sophomore year. 

The foundational courses are taken throughout your time in the major. These are classes most students focus on completing during their first four semesters (freshman and sophomore year): 

1 year Introductory Biology
1-2 semesters General Chemistry
1 semester Evolutionary Biology
1 semester Investigative Biology Lab
1 semester Calculus 1 + additional math course from selected list of courses

How and when will I enroll in classes?

Incoming first-year students will pre-enroll online for fall courses Monday, July 20 (9:00 am EST) through Thursday, July 23 (4:00 pm EST) via Student Center.

There will be several Student Advisors and rising sophomores holding office hours via zoom in the weeks leading up to pre-enroll. They can talk to you about which classes you should consider adding to your schedule and how to use Student Center to enroll in classes.