Perspectives on Second Semester Seniorship
Email: 
Share: 
Eclipse talks to graduating seniors to see how they're finishing up
April 3, 2008 - 11:00pmWith 42 days left until summer vacation, Cornell is preparing to say good-bye to second semester seniors, 5th year architects, and a few who fall into categories of their own. In the varied group of graduating students, future plans range from pro-athletics to law careers, and everything in between.
In the case of Brian Kuritzky ’08, a few years in the international soccer arena may be what is in store for him. As a senior in the ILR school, he is considering his options.
“At this point I have a job offer but I’m looking to play soccer,” Kuritzky said.
Until then, he plans to continue training with the soccer team to ensure he stays healthy and in top shape.
“I still go all he time to practices, lifts, and indoor sessions with the soccer team. Usually, seniors don’t do that once they’re done, but I’m trying to catch on with a pro team, so I have to stay in shape,” Kuritzky said. “I would still go even if I wasn’t trying to get a contract.”
In terms of schoolwork, Kuritzky is ready to be done, but as a few more weeks to get through.
“The workload has stayed the same, but my effort towards it has declined as the semester goes on,” Kuritzky joked.
While academics may be winding down for some, dedications to clubs and groups may still be in the picture for some, like Karin Katz ’08, an human biology, health and society major who is also pre-med.
“I’m still on the board for the Human Ecology Research Association,” Katz said. “ So I’m still involved in that but I feel like this course load is lighter than other semesters.”
Katz has received a acceptances to multiple med schools, including the Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York City, but has not decided where she will attend. Until then, her living situation for next year is up in the air.
“I don’t know where I’ll be living next year because it depends where I go, but most likely a dorm because med school costs enough money as it is,” Katz said.
While Katz’s workload is winding down, for some these last few weeks mean finalizing an honors thesis. Bendi Barett ’08 is an English major tackling an honors thesis and a full course load.
“I know a lot of people just want to drink and chill, but there were a lot of classes I wanted to take, like film 274, which bumped up my course load,” Barett said.
While the next few weeks may be stressful, Barett’s approach to life after graduation is much more laid back.
“I don’t have any work plans for next year as of now, but I’m thinking of going to Boston or New York City,” Barett said. ”I’m looking att publishing, but I don’t have any real experience, but I’m hoping I can get a entry level job.”
To Barett, it is a strange sensation to be near the end of his college career. The future may not be certain, but he is happy to be close to completing his degree.
“It’s weird to be almost done … I feel like in a way I’ve had enough. This semester has been busy and all my really close friends are busy as well, so it’s hard to get to see them,” Barett said. “Everyone is transitioning out of the undergraduate mentality … I feel like there’s nothing left, so there’s no reason to stay. I’m sure I’m going to get nostalgic and weepy though, and it’s going to hit me,” Barett joked.
Though this is the end of undergraduate studies for Kuritzky, Katz, and Barett, for others this May will mark the completion of an advanced degree program. Philippe Pradal grad will receive his Master of Laws degree this spring, commonly abbreviated as LL.M. The intensive program means a full course load for Pradal, and the semester is not over just yet.
“My workload has been quite heavy the whole year, and now finals are coming up, but it hasn’t varied too much,” Pradal said.
However, the completion of the degree and the end of the year won’t mean saying good-bye to Ithaca for Pradal.
“I will stay in Ithaca for two months to prepare for the New York Bar Exam,” Pradal said. “I’ll start working in New York City in September in a firm called Jones Day.”
While Pradal is staying in Ithaca out of necessity, Heather Carlsen ’08 is looking into career options in downtown. A 5th year architect, Carlsen isn’t sure where she’ll end up after graduation.
“I don’t really know if I’m leaving. Whether or not I’m going to end up working in Ithaca or somewhere else, I have no idea. I can work towards my license with a couple of the firms downtown, but I’m not attached to staying here,” Carlsen said. “I’m kind of down for whichever way the wind takes me, whether it’s across the world or back home.”
After five years of rigorous course work, Carlsen is glad to be able to take this semester easy so she can focus on her thesis.
”I just have my thesis - which takes as much time as I give it, and I’ve given it all the time I have - and one other class I have to pass to graduate. I have friends who have to take a full 18 credit course load to graduate,” Carlsen said.
She accredited her lighter course load to careful schedule planning throughout her time at Cornell.
”I have required classes in AAP, but theres enough flexibility in electives that I have to take that I was able to work it out to go abroad for a year. Your last semester doesn’t have to be hell,” Carlsen said.
When she returned from her study abroad program in Rome, she found that Cornell was a slightly different evironment.
“After having come back from a year away it was strange because there was so many new people, and half the people I had known had graduated, but a lot of my friends stayed for grad school, were working in town, or had stayed on for an extra semester,” Carlsen said.
Even though Carlsen could have stuck with just her thesis and required course, she decided to take another class as a stress reliever.
”I ended up auditing Italian for something fun, it gives me a little of a break and makes sure I don’t go crazy,” Carlsen said.
Whatever future is in store for these students, the remaning few weeks will mark the end of a chapter in their lives. With senior week and graduation to look forward to, they’re not done yet.
“I’m sad to leave but I feel like I have to do everything in Ithaca that I haven’t yet, like go white water rafting during senior week and do the ropes course,” Katz said.
“I’ve really enjoyed my time here,” Kuritzky said. “You don’t enjoy it until you’re almost done, and that seems like a shame.”