Griffin Smuts
Los Angeles, California
From exploring research opportunities with Professor Campanella during office hours to chowing down on pad thai with Professor Booth, the interactions that I've enjoyed with faculty thus far have been numerous, informative, and just plain fun.
Why did you choose Cornell and AAP?
AAP is one of the foremost reasons for why I chose Cornell. I was daunted by the sheer scale of the university (and the seemingly endless list of different colleges and majors) yet this quality also intrigued me. While I wanted access to the manifold resources offered by an academic community with the size and scope of Cornell, I felt more suited for a smaller, more intimate setting (it's no mystery that I ended up deciding between Cornell and a relatively tiny liberal arts college). After visiting AAP during Cornell Days and getting a sense of the tight-knit, cozy atmosphere (Maureen [Carroll] greeted me with a huge smile and addressed me by name before I even had the chance to introduce myself), I realized very quickly that my next four years would be best spent in Ithaca.
What experiences have contributed to your sense of belonging at AAP?
Not even two months into my first semester, I am stunned by the amount that I have been able to interact with faculty members. From exploring research opportunities with Professor Campanella during office hours to chowing down on pad thai with Professor Booth, the interactions that I've enjoyed with faculty thus far have been numerous, informative, and just plain fun.
What are your extracurricular interests and how have you incorporated them into your college life?
My most meaningful pursuits as a high school student consisted of engaging with my school's LGBT community as a leader of the Gender and Sexuality Alliance (GSA) and working as a summer intern for an urban design firm.
