General Questions
Do I need any experience to join CUSail?
There is no experience required! We look for people who are passionate and eager to learn. We teach all new
members everything they need to know to succeed on our team and we want people who will be enthusiastic and
open to learning.
What is the time commitment to be on CUSail?
Most team members take CUSail for 3 credits. Freshmen or members in their first semester on the team
usually take CUSail for 1 credit. If you are taking CUSail for 3 credits, we expect members to put in about
9 hours of work per week. If you are taking CUSail for 1 credit, we expect members to put in about 3 hours
of work per week. However, most team members find themselves putting in more work because they care and are
passionate about their projects! The classes that team members enroll in to receive credit for their work on
CUSail are MAE 4900, ENGRG 1401, and ENGRG 3400.
How much programming experience is needed to join the Navigation team?
No programming experience is required.
Is there a training process for new members?
Yes. When new members join the team, we give everyone an overview of everything our boat does. New members
are paired with an experienced member who will be there as their mentor to answer any questions they have
while they work on onboarding projects. We also have a large amount of documentation from past years, so
there are plenty of resources for our new members to learn from.
What coding languages and software programs does the team use?
The Navigation team uses C++, Python, Arduino, and MATLAB. They also use EAGLE to design our custom PCBs.
The Mechanical team uses SolidWorks, Autodesk Fusion 360, ANSYS, and MATLAB. The Business team uses the
Adobe Suite and iMovie.
What is the team atmosphere of CUSail like?
CUSail has a very fun atmosphere! Everyone on the team is very friendly, and whenever we are doing work
everyone is having fun and enjoying themselves. Everyone is very supportive of each other and always willing
to help out another team member.
Application Questions
When do you recruit new members?
We recruit new members at the beginning of every fall semester, and sometimes at the beginning of the
spring semester depending on need. Our next recruitment period will be Spring 2022.
What is the application process like?
The first step is to submit your application. We will review your application and then reach out for an
interview if we think you are a good fit for the team.
What do you look for in an application?
We look for students who show enthusiasm in their applications. We want members who are passionate and will
contribute to our team. We look for applications that clearly show effort. If you have any questions about
your application please be sure to email cusail@cornell.edu and we will be happy to answer any questions you
have!
