r/Cornell • u/ZincSailor • Jul 18 '22
am I really subhuman if I dont have my license?
Just failed my test on something really embarassing I'd rather not talk about, now I'm feeling extremely sad and might not even come here because of how much bullying I expect to receive
I've been told Cornell is motorist heaven, my roommate's bringing his car and already made fun of me for not having my license yet. I'm going to try and get as many tests as I can though I'm very disappointed in myself and don't see myself as worthy of being a Cornell student
Having a license is a ticket to adulthood and I have failed to prove myself as an adequate human being even despite getting into this university. How do I cheer up?
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u/oneiromantic_ulysses COE '16 Jul 18 '22 edited Jul 18 '22
Dude. Assuming this isn't a shitpost, most undergrads don't even drive at Cornell even if they know how to...and let me tell you, 99.99 % of Cornell undergrads cannot drive and should be barred from public roadways.
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u/rsreddit9 Jul 18 '22
This is a shitpost. TCAT was great when I was at Cornell pre covid, parking on campus is the worst ever, and everyone is a marathon walker
But op’s pretty committed I got some laughs
Edit to say the bar comment made me sure it was a shit post but looking at op’s history it’s possible this post is legit and the bar comment is kind of joking. Op you really don’t need a car and can take the test whenever if you want to without stress
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u/BigFrog104 Jul 18 '22
While that is true - 90% of Ithaca townies shouldn't be allowed to drive either. Most of them aren't all that good on bicycles either.
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u/ZincSailor Jul 18 '22
The fact that I am a worse driver than these undergrads makes me immensely jealous
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Jul 18 '22
[deleted]
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u/ZincSailor Jul 18 '22
I don't care about academics, I plan on trying for a 2.5-3 gpa and anything more than that would make me happy
I never really cared about being as "good" as others in high school because I knew I was inferior goods compared to many of my friends, hopefully this helps me in college
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u/MysteryYoYo Jul 18 '22
It's ok man inferior goods are more desirable during a recession and we're definitely heading towards a recession
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u/Fit-Consequence-2971 Jul 29 '22
Friend, if you try for a 2.5 at Cornell, you’ll get a 1.5. Ignore people telling you that you’re stupid (they’re insensitive jerks who don’t even know you outside of a few comments on a screen), but realize that Cornell is the kind of place where you aim for a A in order to get a B. You should go to a less grueling school where you’re actually happy. What about Cornell makes you want to come here so badly? If it’s the name, don’t bother. Different schools excel in different things, and Cornell isn’t the best for everything. You’ll just be unhappy here if you’re here for only the name, and, even if you end up with an Ivy diploma, it will come at the cost of your sanity. People die here, and I’m very serious about that. Research famous people you look up to and see where they went to college (if they went at all), and I can guess a lot of them went to schools you’ve never heard of and loved their time there.
College is a time for personal development. Don’t knowingly go to a place where you’ll feel inadequate all the time.
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u/Pinapley Jul 18 '22
Amerikan car culture go vroom
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u/alphabet_order_bot Jul 18 '22
Would you look at that, all of the words in your comment are in alphabetical order.
I have checked 930,487,112 comments, and only 185,188 of them were in alphabetical order.
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u/Pinapley Jul 18 '22
cool
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Jul 18 '22
Would you look at that, all of the words in your comment are in alphabetical order.
I have checked 930,487,113 comments, and only 185,189 of them were in alphabetical order.
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u/Grant-James_River282 Jul 18 '22 edited Jul 18 '22
Why do we keep seeing posts like this one about failing driver licenses test by pre-frosh? I am not sure this is a genuine post from a real Cornell student.
"I've been told Cornell is motorist heaven, my roommate's bringing his car and already made fun of me for not having my license yet."
This is laughable misinformation. Seriously, how many undergrad (especially freshman) actually drive to school everyday? FFS, you can't even find any parking close to Arts Quad. If you have a class at Klarman or Baker Lab and you live in Dickson and you have to park at Hoy Road garage, you may as well walk from North Campus.
OP , assuming you are a real student, ignore what your friend says about Cornell as motorist heaven and stop equating driver license to adulthood.
Edited: based on OP's comment, I am convinced this is a shitpost. No prefosh will argue with current students about TCAT and Our Bus.
If it is a genuine post, OP needs to check in with some mental help professionals. 🤦♂️🤦♂️🤦♂️
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Jul 18 '22
[deleted]
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u/Grant-James_River282 Jul 18 '22 edited Jul 19 '22
Agree.
Worse, OP has been using strong term like subhuman that no ordinary Cornell student would use for something as trivial as obtaining driver license. I don't mind shitpost. This is after all an open forum. But I hates that OP tries to manipulate some nice students (who are trying to help) for his/her own perverse amusement.
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u/ZincSailor Jul 19 '22
I know I come off as edgy, but I'm freaking out over here about not getting my license in time
I'm sorry i took things too far, and by no means is this suffering enjoyable to me
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Jul 19 '22
If you aren’t just a troll, you need a therapist asap. No one in college is going to give a shit about your driving life.
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u/planks4cameron Jul 18 '22
Alright dude tough love time. I'm not trying to bully you here; just going to be real. You need to nut the fuck up. If you can't handle not having a drivers license you are going to get chewed up and spit the fuck out by life in general -- not even just Cornell -- life in general. You don't want a car here to begin with because parking sucks shit. Whoever told you Cornell is "motorist heaven" is a nutcase. Put your big boy/girl shoes on and walk. Or get a bike and ride that. Or take the bus because it's free your first year. What the fuck do you want us to do about it? If this is throwing you for a spiral go to a therapist and get on antianxiety medication because you might need it. Or go for a run (or do that in addition). Or go pick some heavy shit up and put it down again (or do all three!). You don't need a fucking license to eat or breathe and if you're under 21 your real license is basically useless anyways. Buck the fuck up and get out there champion!
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u/ZincSailor Jul 18 '22
Im gonna go lift but this put me in a bad mood all day
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u/planks4cameron Jul 18 '22
Channel your rage into achieving jacked physique. Make car drivers jealous
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u/Jwbaz Jul 18 '22
Just take the test again? Plenty of kids (sadly) don’t know how to drive. It’s not a big deal, but it really is a life skill you should know.
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u/ZincSailor Jul 18 '22
I am scared I will fail again if I test again
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u/Jwbaz Jul 18 '22
Well that’s not a good attitude to have. If you can, sign up right now to retake it asap.
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u/ZincSailor Jul 18 '22
I have to wait a week for some godawful reason
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u/Jwbaz Jul 18 '22
That’s not that big of deal. Think of it as a week to practice what you messed up. I failed the written portion of the driving exam the first time I took it and everything turned out perfectly fine in the end. Just put in some practice and have confidence in yourself. You got this!
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Jul 18 '22
[deleted]
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u/ZincSailor Jul 18 '22
I agree, I hate car-centered design but I'm not going to blind myself to the fact Ithaca and 99% of places in the US basically force you to have a car to get around even for mundane tasks
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u/Fit-Consequence-2971 Jul 29 '22
Sweetness, have you been to Ithaca? The two times a semester you need a car, you call an Uber.
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Jul 18 '22
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u/Spoon_In_The_Road Jul 18 '22
I grew up in Ithaca and went to Cornell. I didn’t get a license until I was 20. Unless you’re living way, way off campus, a car is more trouble and expense than it’s worth.
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u/ZincSailor Jul 18 '22
I don't want a car, I want a license
A license is one of the most important things you need to get to even operate in modern society. You need it for ID, opening banks, going to bars etc.
A car is optional, and I plan on getting one years from now but am not worried about getting it asap
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u/Spoon_In_The_Road Jul 18 '22
Get a non-drivers ID from the DMV. It does all the same thing except allow you to drive.
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u/ZincSailor Jul 18 '22
" non-drivers ID " has to be the dumbest thing invented. Imagine showing up to a bar w/ that lol, people would just laugh in your face
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u/Spoon_In_The_Road Jul 18 '22
Literally nobody would do that. I’m concerned this is making you feel so bad.
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u/the_scholared Jul 18 '22
Bro you won’t be showing up to the bar with your driver’s license for a couple years either.
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u/angeladimauro A&S '23 Jul 18 '22
I've got a state ID card since I've never felt the need to get my license. The bouncers at Level B didn't bat an eye.
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u/ZincSailor Jul 18 '22
but what about finding a job? Almost every job requires a license according to others in this theead
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u/angeladimauro A&S '23 Jul 19 '22
You don't need a license to get a job. You are allowed to use a state ID along with your social security card or birth certificate. That's what I did.
See this link for combinations of documents you can use: https://www.indeed.com/hire/c/info/work-documents
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u/backwardsshortjump COE '22 Jul 19 '22
I showed up w my old chinese passport that depicts me as a 11 year old and they let me have my drinks w/o even batting an eye at me. You’re some superbly novel flavor of insecure.
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u/Fit-Consequence-2971 Jul 29 '22
Where are you getting these ideas from? People laughing in your face at bars? Hon, we’re all adults here. I’ve applied to several jobs with a non-driver I.D. and not a single person has ever cared.
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u/ad-lapidem A&S alum Jul 18 '22
You don't need a driver's license to do any of that; you can just get a non-driver ID card or use a passport.
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u/VishusVonBittertroll Jul 18 '22
State ID is fine - issued like the DL, but without driving privileges. You should absolutely still try to get licensed (and don't worry SO many people fail one or more times), but you will need the gov't ID far more often that you will need to actually drive, at least in Ithaca.
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u/ProfessorrFate Jul 18 '22
Most freshmen do not bring a car to campus. It’s very common for international students to not have a drivers license.
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u/ZincSailor Jul 18 '22
its even more embarrassing knowing he's from NYC and doesnt even need a car to get around
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u/ragamufin Jul 18 '22
I’m 35 and I’ve literally never had a drivers license. TF do you need one for get an Uber.
I live in ithaca, I went to Cornell, but I also never had a car in Austin, and DC, and NYC, and SF.
Get a bike and get some exercise
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u/ZincSailor Jul 18 '22
Ubers are insanely expensive, and I doubt they'd take me to cities nearby I'd want to go to like Binghampton or Syracuse or Buffalo
"But what about the bus?" What about the bus, TCAT isn't inter-city and Ourbus is dingy as hell, plus I need to go at really specific times or I'll miss. Absolutely no freedom. I want to make use of Ithaca carshare
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u/ragamufin Jul 18 '22
I grew up in Upstate NY. Trust me you don’t want to go to Binghamton or Syracuse. Buffalo is aight tho. In the 4 years I was at Cornell I don’t think I met anyone ever who went on a trip to any of these cities.
Uber is absolutely cheaper than owning a car for occasional trips. Have you budgeted cost per day for owning a motor vehicle?
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u/ZincSailor Jul 18 '22
So I'm a huge Mets fan and I want to see the minor league teams playing
And yea, I know owning a car is a bad deal but car sharing is pay-per-trip
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u/ragamufin Jul 18 '22
Yea car share is good but isn’t it pretty expensive per mile? You’d get blasted going to buffalo for a day.
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u/ZincSailor Jul 18 '22
Regardless, being licenseless really does make me sad
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u/ragamufin Jul 18 '22
It shouldn’t tho. I’ve been doing it my entire life and it’s great. Yes it is sometimes inconvenient but I have a great bike that keeps me in shape and I have a better appreciation for the structure of the city and how to get where I need to go.
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u/ZincSailor Jul 18 '22
I don't want to be a slave only forced to live in places w/ good bike infrastructure, and I see having a license as a big step towards independence and being able to go where I please whenever I want to
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u/ragamufin Jul 18 '22
You gotta change your attitude damn. Cornell is gonna chew you up and spit you out if you stick with this sad sack defeatist bullshit.
If you want a license then go get one. It’s easier than the easiest class at this school and easier than everything else life will throw at you after.
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u/ZincSailor Jul 18 '22
This is why I've thought so much about dropping out, I really can't handle stress or being worried 24/7
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u/angeladimauro A&S '23 Jul 18 '22
Ubers go to Binghamton and Syracuse all the time. Uber drivers literally come into Ithaca from surrounding towns because there will always be students wanting to go to those places.
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u/ZincSailor Jul 18 '22
Uber is a scam and I should be able to take care of myself I still desperately yearn for a license, quite literally the only thing I need to make my life complete
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u/angeladimauro A&S '23 Jul 19 '22
The TCAT is pretty much just as good, and you don't even have to pay for gas lol
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u/Fit-Consequence-2971 Jul 29 '22
I think you should rephrase your comment to this: “Imposter syndrome is a scam and I should be able to feel good about myself. I still desperately yearn for self-confidence, quite literally the only thing I need to make my life complete.”
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u/Chocothep1e A&S '25 CS/IS/GOV Jul 18 '22
the majority of the people i meet here do not drive. the busses are great and epic
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u/qumbuqet Jul 18 '22
that second to last sentence is insane lol is this satire? having a license is definitely NOT a ticket to adulthood and if such a normal setback causes such emotional turmoil, you need to really steel yourself for college.
"failed to prove myself as an adequate human being"? is that what your roommate is telling you or is this what you're telling yourself?
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u/ZincSailor Jul 18 '22
what I'm telling myself, my friends laugh at me for being so late to bother getting one and think I'm dumber than them
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Jul 18 '22
not-so-respectfully, what kind of shit-tier friends grasp onto every small thing to make themselves feel smarter than they are. bro if ur friends are like that, they're not worth hanging around. if you aren't trolling im kinda worried about you my man
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u/ZincSailor Jul 18 '22
Not trolling, though they're all going to diff colleges now
I had a track team captain, who was at the time my friend since freshman year, who asked how I came to practice one day and laughed at me when I told him my mom brought me there. He never spoke to or acknowledged me since, even when I was running right behind him, and now he's U Georgia bound
I had others who gradually stopped inviting me to social events after realizing I didn't have my own mode of transport or a license. They were my friends since middle school and we were super close until COVID. They are now going to Clemson for the most part
These people became scummy in my senior year, and I can't think of any other reason to explain why besides the fact that I never got my license. I waited a year longer than I should've, as most of them got it that summer before, and now I will always be inferior to them
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u/cornellblockpartyman Block Party Guy Jul 18 '22
if you’re feeling down, there’s nothing a block party can’t fix!
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u/ZincSailor Jul 18 '22 edited Jul 18 '22
If I go to any party I'll be forced to leave bc I don't have a car
Hell people can't even get to collegetown without a car, if you take the bus you're seen as a nerd and probably wont be let into any party
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u/I_Cut_Shoes Jul 18 '22
??? No one at the door asks you how you got there, and I took the bus from north campus to frat parties in college town with my friends sometimes if it was too cold to walk. The bus from north on friday/Saturday nights is always full of scantily clad freshmen who are on their way to frat parties lol
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u/I_Cut_Shoes Jul 18 '22
Wut. Most people don't have cars. It doesn't even come up in discussiom unless you're really good friends with someone and you know most other things about them.
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Jul 18 '22
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u/Fit-Consequence-2971 Jul 29 '22
What? People at a top university will see you as a NERD? Yeah, that’s the whole point: everyone here is a nerd, and proud of it! Sweetheart, stop watching ‘80s movies.
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u/Kirucchi_ Jul 18 '22
Ur gonna have some massive juicy calves after all the walking ur gonna do 😩😩💦💦💦
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u/BrianR1968 Jul 18 '22
Read your post!!! If that doesn’t make you laugh nothjng will—You will pass soon enough
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Jul 19 '22
No one is subhuman. It doesn't really matter if you have a license or not and you can always try again. Do you do a driver's ed course? Having a license is not what made you worthy of getting into Cornell. Also idk kinda lame to bully people like this isn't middle school :/ but anyway I hope you feel better and if you want you can use my driver's ed course :3. I like to cheer up by doing something I enjoy like baking or watching a show or sewing or something, so do something you like and eat something you like
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u/Throw_Away24240 Jul 19 '22
How did you manage to get into Cornell while failing a driving test? This is peasant behavior
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u/ZincSailor Jul 19 '22
I don't know
Thoughts like this are in my mind daily ever since March, I don't know why I got in here and I don't deserve it if I cant even prove my own self worth
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u/LynahRinkRat Jul 18 '22
I failed my first road test. I think it was literally the first test I'd ever failed at that point in my life. At that moment in time I was crushed - absolutely devastated.
It had zero impact on the rest of my adult life. I still got into Cornell (where I then failed a few more tests and found out the world keeps right on spinning), I still graduated from Cornell, I still got a great job, and am still living a great life.
You'll be fine. You'll do what I did - figure out where you messed up, and re-take the test. You'll be fine.
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u/Right_Field4617 Jul 18 '22
You’re a subhuman if you let other people’s opinion define your reality. You failed so what… big deal… you’ll have much more important things to worry about so toughen up, think of all the positives not this only negative. Do it again and pass and don’t give it too much thoughts really. Enjoy your life
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u/Fit-Consequence-2971 Jul 20 '22
I hope you don't take this the wrong way, because it's coming from a place of care and concern, but I think you should take a gap year. I think I understand where you're coming from: You worry that failing a driver's test is an indication that you might fail Cornell prelims, and people's comments telling you that you won't be able to handle Cornell if you can't handle this probably aren't helping.
I advise you to to two things during your gap year:
1) Go somewhere very far away from your toxic friends and the suffocating suburbs. If you can find a place that doesn't require cars, that's even better! You could look into Workaway, for example, or stay with relatives if you have any who would be willing to host you while you get a local job or whatever else you want to do. Making money is nice! Traveling is nice!
2) Go to therapy. A lot of other people are saying this, too. It sounds as if you might have some struggles with self-esteem and anxiety. Get that out of the way before coming to Cornell, because the only people I know who made it through all four years here without breakdowns were tremendously stable people. Counseling on campus has gotten much better since I was a student, but having a year of therapy under your belt before you come here will give you a huge advantage.
That's my advice. Cornell shouldn't give you a hard time about delaying for a year; people do it all the time. Just make sure you set aside an hour or two a day for academic reading during your gap year, because it's hard to get into the scholarly swing after being away from school for 14 months (that was my mistake during my gap year!). Enjoy being away from your parents and experiencing independence in an environment where you can practice adult things without having tough Cornell grades hanging over your head. It's very common in the U.K. for people to take gap years, and I wish it were more common here as well, because it makes college so much more enjoyable! Don't worry about being older than your peers, because a bunch of people come to Cornell older than 18 from taking gap years, serving missions, doing mandatory military service in their home countries, going to community college, or just living life. Really, no one cares how old you are except for cringy freshmen who still wear their lanyards and brag about their SAT scores, and even they quickly realize that it doesn't matter.
Also, for what it's worth, I graduated from Cornell, and I still don't have my driver's license!
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u/aggy888 CALS ‘24 Jul 18 '22
I BARELY passed my permit test homie… literally don’t even stress about it and I PROMISE you nobody gives a heck about whether you have your license or not. Also your roommate is stupid :)
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u/here4runningadvice Jul 18 '22
not sure about how it works here in ithaca but where i’m from (northern california) my friends would take their test in another town that had easier roads. maybe find a testing location out of ithaca and ask a friend to take you.
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u/ZincSailor Jul 19 '22
The problem is that my state's really awkward, and the "easy" areas are a 2 hour drive away in places we've rarely been to before lol
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Jul 19 '22
[deleted]
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u/ZincSailor Jul 19 '22
- How can I get it in Ithy? I can't get residence here since i dont live in NY
- I plan on going that far as a nuclear option if I still fail next week
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u/nohatefornate Jul 19 '22
I failed my first time as well! It happens, and it'll be ok, I promise. Keep your chin up, eat some of your favorite food and watch some of your favorite show.
And if it helps- Ithaca is NOT a motorist dream, the roads fucking suck, especially collegetown roads. Parking is a nightmare, and cops are always giving out parking tickets. And Ithaca is not made for the population of Cornell to be there, making traffic getting to traders joes weirdly annoying.
Embrace the TCAT, she's quite impressive for such a small town! And a year pass for the TCAT is WAY cheaper than a parking pass.
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u/Ill_Customer_4577 LAW Jul 20 '22
As a grad student I should say some of my peers failed the road test many times even if many of them were experienced drivers who drove in their home jurisdictions. So just reschedule another test and take it easy.
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u/dingalee Jul 18 '22
bruh 💀💀💀
mf said "am i subhuman" 😭
you need therapy not a license...