<p>Hi, I'm a newbie here and I have been accepted to Cornell and Amherst. I was wondering which school is better. I know they can't really be compared, but I need help! I've visited both schools. Cornell has the better campus, A LOT more people, and better food, but Amherst I heard is "the better school" and has a more laid-back environment. I personally clicked more with Cornell, but I felt maybe I was basing my decision on just the campus. Please help me... facts that I may not know about each school could help. I would like to hear your opinion! thanx :)</p>
<p>I would choose Amherst, but that is because personally I would prefer a smaller environment where I would really get to know the students. I wouldnt worry about choosing Cornell over Amherst for prestige issues though if you feel it fits better. In the long run it wont matter.</p>
<p>I wouldn't choose Cornell automatically because of the prestige. If you think you clicked more with Cornell, it's a better reason to attend than simply the Ivy prestige/name-recognition. Amherst is a good LAC also, so you need to consider things like price, proximity to home, research opportunities, next steps etc.</p>
<p>It's true that very few people know of amherst outside the northeast, but if you're planning on living there forever, then it's a non-issue -- I wouldn't even worry about that.</p>
<p>I would pick amherst just to get away from the grade deflation of cornell</p>
<p>Your comparing the worlds best LAC with the worst Ivy.
Unless you have major problems with an LAC, go to amherst.
With these two, lots of things are equal... for example, normally i would say, dont go to cornell, its miserably cold and lonely in ithaca.. but its also miserably cold and lonely in amherst, MA. </p>
<p>On second thought, def go to amherst, its a better school, and has all the opportunites of a big school b/c Umass is right there.</p>
<p>Congratulations, Amherst is one of the most selective colleges in the nation. If given the opportunity, I would definitely choose to attend there. The academics can't really be beat. Amherst, in my opinion, to me offers the 'classical' new england college experience.</p>
<p>Hey now....Amherst is not THE world's best LAC. Because as we all know, Williams is the world's best LAC ; ). We not only have rankings to back it up, but we also covertly run Amherst. I mean just count all of those Williams alums serving as Amherst admission officers.... Afterall, Williams founded Amherst---the library collection, the students, and the president---those defectors ;P.</p>
<p>btw if I had to choose between Amherst or Cornell...I'd choose Williams. haha jk. </p>
<p>On a more serious note, I'd seriously consider Amherst. Amherst is a much smalller, more intimate school in a quintessential college town. I would feel lost at a big school like Cornell.</p>
<p>Good luck with your decision!</p>
<p>TheCity, Cornell is not the "worst" Ivy. There is not such thing. You have Harvard, Princeton and Yale and then you have the rest of the Ivies. All 8 are awesome and none can be labled the worst. </p>
<p>And I think Swarthmore and Williams would question your statement about Amherst being the best LAC. </p>
<p>In terms of academics, Amherst and Cornell are equal, although completely different. Reputationally, both are highly respected. I would go for the school that you feel more comfortable with.</p>
<p>Between Amherst or Cornell, I would probably go with Cornell in the end. This is because I see myself more at Cornell than I do at Amherst. As to what a previous poster stated, Amherst is not the best LAC. It's very good, don't get me wrong, but Williams is just as good, and so are a few other LACs. Also, Cornell is not the "worst" ivy. There is HYP, and then there are the 5 other ivies. In the end, when choosing between Amherst and Cornell, choose the one that best suits you.</p>
<p>The education level is about the same. You simply have to choose with intuition, not logic. In other words, your heart not your brain.</p>
<p>Ok, you posted on May 8. Weren't you supposed to make your decision by then?</p>
<p>that's what I was thinking...hmmm</p>
<p>maybe he sent in reply to cornell but just got accepted off of waitlist ot amherst.. or vice versa..
i was wondering teh same thing, thats the only explanation i could think of</p>
<p>Go to Amherst...better/smaller environment and overall nicer community. You will have a more individualized education.</p>
<p>i went to cornell and i was ready to sign my SIR form that minute. then i walked on campus and HATED it. no reason just couldn't stand it. so visit and go with your gut</p>
<p>i think you already told us your decision when you said "I personally clicked more with Cornell"</p>
<p>I probably couldn't stand the environment of Amherst for four years, or most LACs. Go for whatever setting you like best.</p>
<p>amherst isnt like most LACs because Umass is right there... theres all the cultural activities and partying adn whatnot right there, if you cant stand the amherst environment.</p>
<p>If you clicked with Cornell, go with it. Of course I am biased because I love Cornell and do not like Amherst at all. For me, Amherst is too small, too out there (too liberal), and I'm interested in business which isn't offered at Amherst. Cornell is great!</p>