You've seen the ads on TV; now it's your chance to contribute to creating a snapshot of America. Getting an accurate picture is crucial for receiving funding, from services to highways, and can even influence political elections.

The 2010 U.S. Census will count everyone living in the United States -- including international students and other non-U.S. citizens -- as of April 1.

Census forms will soon arrive at Tompkins County residential addresses, including to students living on and off campus.

If you live off campus, your household will receive a census form in mid-March. Individuals living in the same apartment are considered to belong to the same household, so only one form should be completed to include all those living in the domicile, April 1.

If you live in on-campus housing or in a sorority or fraternity, you will receive an individual form in mid-April; completed forms can be returned to the designated person in the dorm or house.

All responses will be kept confidential.

Filling out the form's 10 questions is a simple process, but with profound implications. Information from forms help:

• Ensure that Tompkins County receives its fair share of federal and state dollars -- funds for human services, highways and transportation systems such as TCAT;
• Officials set boundaries for federal, state and local legislative districts, affecting how races for political office are run; and
• Determine locations for retail stores, schools, hospitals, new housing developments and other community facilities.

Since students make up 50 percent of the city of Ithaca's population, it is important that they participate in the census, according to area officials.

"The census establishes the area's eligibility for many federal programs, including some of special interest to students," said John Gutenberger, director of community relations at Cornell. "Census data affect college tuition grant and loan programs, and inform and support important research done by college faculty, students, librarians and community leaders."