Meet Tour Guides in Humanities and Sciences Majors

Abby Costa, Ithaca College Chemistry and Art double major

Abby Costa
Hometown: Foxboro, Massachusetts
Majors: Chemistry, Art
Clubs: Guiding Eyes for the Blind, Club Equestrian, Ithaca Catholic Community, Club Tennis, Chemistry Club

Why I Chose Ithaca College
I was deciding between an art school and IC. I ultimately chose IC because there are so many more opportunities here. There are so many clubs to join. There is also a wide verity of majors if you want to switch, I ended up adding a chemistry major!
Advice
Join a lot of clubs. You might not like them all. Some of the clubs I tried out weren’t for me, but then you can just keep trying different ones until you find your group of people.

Let’s Connect!

Email me anytime at acosta2@ithaca.edu.

Ava Remoll, Ithaca College student

Ava Remoll
Hometown: Winter Park, Florida
Major: Biology
Involvement: Genetics Lab, Biology TA

Why I Chose Ithaca College
I wanted to go to a school that felt like a community, and I knew Ithaca College would become that community.

Advice
Listen to your gut! You will see a lot of schools, and it’s hard to figure out what will be the best fit. If you get a gut feeling that you will truly be happy somewhere, do what you can to follow that feeling!

Let’s Connect!
Email me anytime at aremoll@ithaca.edu.

Maria Lesser, Ithaca College Environmental Studies and Psychology double major

Maria Lesser
Hometown: Buffalo, New York
Majors: Environmental Studies; Psychology 
Clubs: Kweezy (Ultimate Frisbee Club), Ithaca Outing Club, Leadership Scholar Program, Student Psychology Association, Campus Band

Why I Chose Ithaca College
I was drawn to the small class size: I wanted to have the ability to not just be a number to my professors but a name and face. I also sought a region that had opportunities for outdoor recreation and involvement: I wanted to be able to hike, get out in nature, and be an active member of the community, and Ithaca has definitely provided that.

Advice
I would love to encourage involvement and to try new things. Being in a new area around new people can make trying something new seem overwhelming, but getting involved has honestly introduced me to so many amazing people and I have started new hobbies, many that I will take with me for life.

Let’s Connect!
Email me anytime at mlesser@ithaca.edu.

Reilly Shingler, Ithaca College Politics major

Reilly Shingler
Hometown: Northeastern Pennsylvania
Major: Politics
Minor: Education Studies
Clubs: Planned Parenthood: Generation Action (president); Office of New Student and Transition Programs (Orientation Leader, Mentor, and Coordinator)

Why I Chose Ithaca College
I visited IC on a whim in October of my senior year of high school, and as soon as I stepped foot on campus I knew this was the place I needed to be. Growing up in a rural, rather homogeneous setting made me realize at a young age that I wanted to go somewhere with a greater variety of people to meet and opportunities to get involved in. I knew that Ithaca College would offer me everything I wanted in that regard (and so many others), and I haven’t looked back since!
Advice
What matters more than anything else in terms of figuring out where you want to go to college is how you feel when you step foot on the campus. Being able to picture yourself at an institution for your college experience is absolutely crucial, and it’s something you can always tell. Come visit IC, and see what you feel when you get here!

Let’s Connect!

Email me anytime at rshingler@ithaca.edu.

Ryan Martin, Ithaca College student

Ryan Martin
Hometown: Wellesley, MA
Major: Biology
Minor: Education Studies
Clubs: Ithacappella (Vice President); IC Bio Club

Why I Chose Ithaca College
I chose IC because it was the school where I was able to both pursue my career passions in biology while also doing all of the music extracurricular activities that IC could offer. Also, the views in Ithaca are hard to beat.

Research
Student-faculty research in the Bio Department!

Advice
Get as involved as much as your school work will let you, and lean on your professors as much as possible. Go to office hours: Your professors will be so much more likely to help you if they know you as an individual.

Let’s Connect!
Email me anytime at rmartin9@ithaca.edu.

Allie Richter, Ithaca College Psychology major

Allie Richter
Hometown: Chester, New Jersey
Major: Psychology
Minor: Counseling, English
Clubs: Guiding Eyes for the Blind (puppy sitter); Buzzsaw magazine (writer); 
New Voices Literary Festival (student guide)

Why I Chose Ithaca College
I choose IC because of the community. I really felt like I had a place both on the IC campus and in the Ithaca community. There are so many people here who want to get to know you and support you and I felt that immediately when stepping on campus. 
Advice
My main two pieces of advice are: (1) Join a club! Find a club that really speaks to you and your interests. They are such an amazing way to make friends and meet people outside of the people you have classes with. (2) Don't be afraid to reach out to professors and make those connections. Professors want to get to know you and help you, and these connections you make now can really benefit you in the future! I know it’s scary, but it’s so beneficial!

Let’s Connect!

Email me anytime at arichter@ithaca.edu.

Sam Funk, Ithaca College student

Sam Funk
Hometown: Rochester, New York
Major: Environmental Science 
Clubs: Field hockey

Why I Chose Ithaca College
I decided to attend Ithaca College because of the Exploratory Program. I graduated from high school feeling aimless and with no idea of what I wanted to pursue, and I really liked IC's Exploratory Program’s approach to being undecided. The focus was placed on exploring the options available to me, and the program offered crucial time to try out a wide range of interest areas! During this time I gathered a great sense of what each of IC's five schools had to offer, and from there was able to make the best decision for me!

Advice
Trust the process! I know it sounds cliché, but trust your gut in these kinds of decisions. If it feels right, just go for it. I looked at a lot of other schools that I wanted to work out, but when I stepped onto Ithaca’s campus, it carried a different feel. I immediately knew that it was the place for me! Also, keep in mind that selecting a college doesn’t mean you are committed to staying there for your entire college journey. Reflecting and changing your mind throughout the process is totally okay too! :)

Let’s Connect!
Email me anytime at sfunk1@ithaca.edu.

Vasilisa Ragulina, Ithaca College student

Vasilisa Ragulina
Hometown: Moscow, Russia
Major: Architectural Studies
Minor: Entrepreneurship and Innovation
Clubs: Ithaca Ski Race Team; American Advertising Federation; American Marketing Federation

Why I Chose Ithaca College
I could not visit campus in person, but Ithaca seemed like a very creative school, where I can get involved in film, music, and theater without actually majoring in those subjects! I was also intrigued by the nature and sports opportunity that I could get at Ithaca College, like windsurfing at Cayuga Lake and skiing at Greek Peak.

Advice
Visit our Instagram page! We do weekly takeovers where you can see insights into students’ lives. Also, reach out! Contact faculty members and get to know them to help you make your decision. And you can also contact us admission hosts and ask about the specific fields that you are interested in. And come to an open house! They are super fun!!

Let’s Connect!
Email me anytime at vragulina@ithaca.edu.