Another one of these... Williams vs. Cornell!

<p>Hey guys,</p>

<p>I was recently accepted to both Cornell and Williams. I was deferred ED by Cornell, but I've always considered Williams my dream school. I love both schools, yet I think I would like to matriculate at Williams (I mean, how can I resist WILLIAMS?)</p>

<p>HOWEVER.
Yes, there is a however, unfortunately.
Cornell is tough to pass up.
Williams might not give me enough money so that I can go.
And the whole "prestige dilemma". I'm not a "prestige-whore" myself, but I can't help but ask, "Which is more prestigious? Which is better? Which offers better opportunities for a pre-med student? Which has better research/volunteer opportunities?"
Foreign languages, geography, and pre-med are my top interests, and I know Williams will be a better option for the first two (since I was accepted to Cornell's Human Ecology, which doesn't allow double majoring/minoring in Cornell's other colleges).</p>

<p>So I ask you, Williams board: Cornell or Williams?
Thanks for helping me with this tough decision.</p>

<p>Unless FA is an issue, this is an extremely personal decision. My S would choose Williams (and did) and would again and again and again.</p>

<p>Then I know others who feel claustrophobic in Billsville.</p>

<p>If money does not become an issue, do an overnight at each.</p>

<p>The folks I know of at Cornell only became really happy after they joined Greek groups. After that, they were very happy.</p>

<p>My S was happy with Williams from the day he set foot on campus to do his Woolf trip.</p>

<p>Good luck with your decision.</p>

<p>Congratulations in narrowing your decision.</p>

<p>To Myth Mom’s post, I would add that it might help you to hang out in the Biology & Chemistry departments at both places. </p>

<p>If I’m not mistaken, that program at Cornell might have a more pre-professional focus than Williams. But, I don’t really know. If that’s important to you, then you should look into that at both schools.</p>

<p>My son thinks that his entry mates, who are pre-med, feel they’re in a supportive environment, which suggests to me that “weeding” might not be as prevalent at Williams as at other places. (N.B. I’m not suggesting this happens at Cornell, but it’s something to look into.)</p>

<p>@ mythmom: I’m not interested in Greek life, it seems a bit oppressive/excessive to me. Cornell social life is tough if you don’t join a frat, and that’s definitely a minus. I love the fact that Williams doesn’t have frats.</p>

<p>@ Tuppence: Weeding… it definitely happens at Cornell. Are his pre-med entry mates happy with the pre-med program? Is there a good network of pre-med advising at Williams as well as a good system of getting Williams candidates to med school into med school?</p>

<p>@ both of you, thank you for your input. As you can probably see from my original post, Williams is my top choice. I have yet to get aid packages from either school, but I do have a question for you. Since HumEc at Cornell gives reduced tuition for in-state admits (I live in NY), the cost of attending Cornell will most likely be cheaper than the cost of attending Williams. However, do you think asking Williams to match Cornell’s offer is a feasible option? Or is Cornell not a good enough school to be persuasive?</p>

<p>Well, Cornell’s offer is not really an offer. Those are state supported schools for NY residents and the discount does not come from the school’s endowment but from NYS taxes. Therefore I don’t think you could make a very persuasive argument to Williams.</p>

<p>Need based financial aid at schools like Williams is mostly a formula. I say mostly because I have heard of aid being upped if a school really wants a student but mostly the formula is followed.</p>

<p>Our FA was upped at Williams only when we pointed out that the FA Office had neglected to factor in another child in college. She will be graduating this year, so our FA will decrease.</p>

<p>Cornell’s social life is not difficult if you don’t pledge. I didn’t pledge, and I love it here - and I know tons of other people in my position as well.</p>

<p>Cornell social life is not tough at all if you don’t join a frat… 2/3 of the student body does not. I’ve only been here for about 3 months, but have had no trouble making many friends and fitting right in, and it should be much easier as a freshman than midyear transfer. I love the size of Cornell. There is such a diverse group of people, whereas Williams is about 2/3 the size my HS was, which would just feel downright weird to me in college. Unless you get a lot of aid at Williams, I can’t see it being worth paying more than Cornell. Cornell offers many more courses and programs than Williams which will allow you to try something outside of just liberal arts classes. </p>

<p>Obviously my view is somewhat biased, but considering is a Williams board, I figured I’d give the perspective of a current Cornell student who is thrilled to be here. Transferring here was definitely the right choice despite my disdain for the Ithaca winter (but I am from Florida whereas you are already from NY), but I imagine Williamstown is as bad or worse.</p>

<p>@ myth mom: I see. That’s… disappointing to hear. But if I say that I will definitely 100% matriculate at Williams if they at least give me a little more money, will that be an effective plea? (I can show them Cornell’s “offer” as well)</p>

<p>Fin Aid- If both schools find that your family has need in relation to the cost of attending, and the EFC is calculated to be the same, then logically they would offer you enough money to meet the difference. For example, to simplify, if EFC is $2000 & COA at one place is $5000 & the other is $7000, then the more expensive place theoretically would offer $2000 more aid. This assumes both places meet full need.</p>

<p>Wiliams & Pre-Med- I suggest you search on the website about Pre-Med advising. My son’s friends are currently taking the Bio & Chem that are pre-reqs for med school. Williams doesn’t have a Pre-Med major. If you plan on visiting the campus, contact admissions so they can put you in touch with someone who can answer your questions.</p>

<p>Here is a link to Health Professions advising at Williams. Hope this helps. </p>

<p>[Health</a> Professions | Career Exploration | Office of Career Counseling](<a href=“http://www.williams.edu/resources/careers/health.php]Health”>http://www.williams.edu/resources/careers/health.php)</p>

<p>Further at [Williams</a> College | Admission | Explore | After Williams](<a href=“http://www.williams.edu/admission/after.php]Williams”>http://www.williams.edu/admission/after.php) </p>

<p>“Williams students applying to medical schools have a better-than-90 percent acceptance rate.”</p>

<p>MidwesternDad: Those are AMAZING sources. I’ve read some of it, and it seems like not only is Williams good at pre-med, it is astoundingly so. Its premed advising system is extremely well thought out, and the advice the “Pre-Health Guide” gives is invaluable. This is making me want to seriously commit to attending Williams, because, along with the other factors that make Williams special, it’s pre-med “program” seems to be extremely strong.</p>

<p>I have one lingering question about the academics at Williams, however. How is their foreign language department (namely Spanish and Chinese)?</p>

<p>Oh, one more actually, are the Williams pre-med requirement classes considered “weeder” courses, or is the general attitude at Williams one of “We will help students through the class as much as we can if the students puts forth effort” rather than “Eh, if he does bad, he’ll drop his pre-med ambitions”.</p>

<p>Thank you again!</p>

<p>Do you think it’s mere happenstance that Matthew Perry, the actor who portrays Chandler Bing in Friends, was born in Williamstown, MA?
There’s only one explanation: it is your destiny, Chandler Bing, to attend Williams College. How else could you explain such a portent?</p>

<p>That’s actually so ironic… wow!
Maybe, maybe not!
We shall see come May 1st… I have an insane decision to make!</p>