Meet William Kim, a Cornell Precollege alum and incoming Cornell freshman

by Shelley Preston,
SCE News, July 31, 2024

As a junior at Hunter College High School in New York City, William Kim learned about Cornell’s Precollege Studies program through his school counselor. “I wanted to experience what a college-level course was like,” says William, “and I also wanted to learn more about Cornell.”

Bolstered by his taking an online precollege course, William applied to and was accepted at Cornell’s School of Industrial and Labor Relations, where he will start in Fall 2024. “My precollege experience definitely played a factor in my decision to apply to Cornell,” says William. “The rigorous yet stimulating academic environment I was able to experience by participating in a college-level course at an Ivy League institution like Cornell made clear to me that it was the environment I wanted to be in.”

What Precollege course did you take? What was it like taking it online?

I took the three-credit, three-week course "Introduction to the Economics of Development," where I studied and researched the economics of low-income countries. I thought taking it online was very beneficial. It introduced and prepared me for the academic challenges and responsibilities faced when taking a course in college without the added stress of dorming and living away from home for the first time.

What was your professor like? What did you enjoy about their instruction?

My professor [Joanna Upton from Cornell’s Dyson School of Applied Economics and Management] was incredibly knowledgeable about the topics we explored in class while also making classes and discussions very interesting by having us actively be a part of her lessons. I most enjoyed how her teaching style fostered and created opportunities for further exploration of ideas outside of class.

Did you get to know any of the students in your class? Have you kept in touch?

I was able to meet and get to know a plethora of my fellow classmates from all around the world. Although I haven’t kept in touch with the friends I made throughout the course, I hope to see some of them this fall on the Cornell campus!

What advice would you give to students interested in taking an online course with Cornell’s Precollege Studies program?

My advice to students would be to take a class that they are truly interested in and want to thoroughly explore. Taking a precollege course at a university like Cornell allows students to access resources that can exemplify their interests and can help answer questions they may have about a particular area of study.

Any other thoughts you’d like to share?

I can't wait to further extend my Cornell career as an undergraduate student this upcoming fall! Go Big Red!

Learn more about Cornell University’s online Precollege Studies Program