Xuetong Li
Ellington, Connecticut
The academics at Cornell, which allow students to dig deeply into their majors and spread across different domains, is what I aim for.
Why did you choose Cornell and AAP?
I attended Cornell's 2017 architecture summer program and fell in love. I think if life is like a game and you can customize everything, Cornell would be exactly like the university I would customize for myself including its doctrine, academics, resources, and setting. AAP would be the place that helps me achieve my dream by learning about the world from an architectural perspective and finding the identity of Chinese pop culture.
What experiences have contributed to your sense of belonging at AAP?
I like challenging myself, and my challenges never ended during the summer program. I know this is the place and lifestyle for me — being a crazy lover of what I do and Cornell allows me to do that. The academics at Cornell, which allow students to dig deeply into their majors and spread wide across different domains, is what I aim for. Also, the faculty at Cornell are quite friendly and down to earth — even more than I expected — and that made me feel like I don't have to be afraid of asking for help.
What are your extracurricular interests and how have you incorporated them into your college life?
I have been playing the piano since I was four, and I tried to compose and play the violin during high school. I will be looking into joining student organizations or somehow develop these interests.
What do you hope to accomplish during your time at AAP and after graduation?
I hope to have a good understanding of architecture, not only how to design it, but also how it works in the real world. I hope to get into the habits of learning architecture on my own, even after I graduate and start working. I hope to know what I can do with architecture and how I can play a role in contributing to finding the modern cultural identity of China.
