By Angelina Lei
“Where are you living this year?” is a question that often comes up in conversation.
I brace myself before answering with a smile. “I’m in Schuyler.”
I get one of two reactions. Most of the time, people hit me with a grimace or a cringe. Other times, they give me a puzzled look. “Where is that?”
“It’s on South,” I say.
“Oh, like in Collegetown!”
I wish.
Schuyler House has a notoriously bad reputation, mainly due to its inconvenient location. It is so far off campus that it’s in the middle of a residential neighborhood. From Collegetown, it’s actually another five minute walk further downtown before I reach my dormitory — a tall, white building with black windows, located on the corner of E. Seneca St. and Schuyler Pl. Leaving from Schuyler on foot, it takes me fifteen minutes to get to West Campus and thirty to get to the Ag Quad. Unfortunately, this trek is completely uphill: a few gradual inclines to get to West, and then the daunting Slope if I want to go any further than that.
Schuyler House’s location is undeniably hard to deal with, especially when it comes to early morning classes, socializing with friends or even going back to grab something that was forgotten. However, I have discovered a few tricks that have made living in Schuyler relatively seamless.
Become familiar with the TCAT. All Schuyler residents receive a free bus pass for the year, and the bus provides an alternative option to walking. I find riding the bus especially helpful for days when I have class at 8:40am near Martha van Rensselaer Hall, sparing me from having to make an almost thirty-five minute walk twice a week. I have found it most convenient to use Apple Maps or Google Maps over apps like MyStop or Transit to figure out when a bus is coming and what route I should take. The time estimates are typically pretty accurate, give or take two minutes, allowing me to plan what time I should be at the bus stop. Luckily, the bus stop for the TCAT 30 line, which I have found to be the fastest way to get to Central Campus, is less than a two minute walk from Schuyler.
Have ready-to-go breakfast options in your room or in the fridge. The closest meal plan supported dining options are the West Campus dining halls or Jansen’s Market, and it is hard to budget enough time every morning to walk to West and eat breakfast before class. Of course, there is Collegetown, which is closer, but walking up E. Seneca St. or Buffalo St. to get there is like hiking up a mountain. Naturally, doing so becomes unfeasible very quickly.
There are also a couple communal kitchens in Schuyler, but I have found that only a few people consistently cook there and it is a big hassle to clean up. This makes cooking an unrealistic option for hurried mornings. For students that are breakfast people, I would recommend keeping fruit, re-heatable breakfast wraps, yogurt or granola bars in the kitchen fridge for a grab-and-go option. Thankfully, I have never had an issue with anyone taking my things.
Bring what you need to stay on campus through the day. Most of the time, there is not enough time to go back to Schuyler in between my classes. When I leave in the morning, I make sure to bring everything I need for the classes or activities that I have that day. For convenience, I typically do not go back to Schuyler until the evening, once all my classes, meetings or activities are finished.
Of course, having Schuyler House as a residence hall assignment is not all doom and gloom. Schuyler is very close to Ithaca Commons, a lively area that is home to restaurants and shops like Bank Coffee and a Cornell Store. Being close to Ithaca Commons can be advantageous — My trip to Apple Fest, for example, was only a short downhill walk. Living in Schuyler also provides ample opportunity to explore downtown Ithaca, where Ithaca Commons is located. I have discovered attractions like Alley Cat Cafe, Cinemapolis and Ithaca murals, the rich stretch of street art scattered throughout downtown.
Schuyler is also located in a quiet area, which is beneficial for studying or quality sleep. On weekdays, almost no cars or people pass by. It does pick up a little on the weekends, but the environment still remains relatively noiseless. This gives me the best of both worlds: lively student hustle and bustle on campus, but a retreat whenever I need it.
Living in Schuyler House becomes even easier if students have a car on campus. There is a parking lot right outside Schuyler, and with a parking permit, students can have their car right outside the door. Further, by the upperclassman years, many students live off-campus near Collegetown. This makes meeting with friends much easier. A short five minute bus ride gets me to Collegetown Bagels, a popular student hangout spot that buzzes with life.
Overall, living in Schuyler House can be challenging, but with the right planning and a few helpful strategies, it quickly becomes manageable. The dreaded location is also not completely a downside, allowing students to get their steps in and explore the rich culture of downtown Ithaca.
So — free bus pass, anyone?
Angelina Lei is a sophomore in the College of Human Ecology. She can be reached at al2733@cornell.edu.
