Freshman Credits Online Cornell Precollege Program with Mentorship

by Shelley Preston,
SCE News , October 31, 2024

Before starting her freshman year at Cornell University, Xinyi He participated in the university’s Precollege Studies summer program. As a precollege student, Xinyi took HD 2810 Introduction to Social Psychology, a three-credit online course taught by Dr. Minghui Ni, a fifth-year graduate student in Cornell’s Department of Psychology.

The two recently met with Cornell’s School of Continuing Education (SCE) and talked about the academic connection they forged during the three-week program.

Dr. Ni reflected on her experiences teaching and mentoring Xinyi, then a high school student based in China, while Xinyi shared her passion for psychology and how Dr. Ni’s course influenced her decision to apply to Cornell.

Xinyi, why did you enroll in Cornell Precollege? 

Xinyi: I’ve loved psychology since high school, especially social psychology. Cornell offered the courses I wanted, unlike other summer sessions I investigated. Dr. Ni’s course laid the foundation for my academic interests, and I decided to apply to the College of Human Ecology and major in human development, which combines psychology, sociology, and anthropology.

Dr. Ni, how was your experience teaching the summer session course? 

Dr. Ni: Although it was my first time teaching independently, I had TA’d for this course several times. I learned a lot from Professor Tom Gilovich, who usually teaches this course. He emphasized being enthusiastic and giving students the chance to participate, which I tried to implement in my classes. Xinyi was a high school student in my class. I was impressed by her interest and dedication to the coursework. After the course ended, we stayed in touch since she planned on applying to Cornell.

What was your experience like, Xinyi?

Xinyi: One of the major reasons I applied to Cornell was because of the Precollege online summer course. The people I met, including Dr. Ni and the undergraduate Cornell students, inspired me. I’m grateful for the opportunity and the support I received.

Did you work together through the college application process?

Dr. Ni: Yes, I talked to Xinyi about the application process and what she could expect if she came to study at Cornell. 

Xinyi:  Cornell was initially my Early Decision choice, but I thought it might be too hard, so with Dr. Ni’s guidance, I applied Regular Decision. Dr. Ni also gave me tips about life at Cornell and wrote a recommendation letter for my application. It was great to have that connection and support beyond the course. It really helped me with my application process.

Now that you’re at Cornell, Xinyi, what are some of your goals?

Xinyi: I would love to participate in a lab, but I plan to explore different labs and clubs first.

Dr., Ni, now that Xinyi is here, do you plan to continue your academic mentorship?

Dr. Ni: I would love to meet Xinyi both in the classroom and in research settings. I’m happy to continue to share my experiences at Cornell and help her navigate both academic and personal aspects of college life. I believe Xinyi will flourish here.

To learn more about Precollege, which is open to high school juniors and seniors, visit the website.