Hello to all
I recently finished up with the college admissions process, gaining admission to all of my colleges with the exception of a waitlist at Dickinson. However, what I really care about is my top two, Bates and Cornell. Up until recently, I dreamed of going to Cornell, but after leaning about Bates, my gut instinct is to matriculate there. Is this crazy? Thinking about choosing a small LAC like Bates over an Ivy like Cornell? Truthfully, my biggest concern is post-graduate employability. It seems like the average Cornell applicant is more likely to be admitted to a great graduate school or get a lucrative job, but I really didn’t feel “at home” with Cornell with its huge campus and giant student body. I liked the intimate feel of Bates and the students vibe, as well as the undergraduate focus, but I don’t want to sacrifice four great years for decreased ability to get into grad school in the future. I’m very outdoorsy, so Bates appeals to me on that front as well, and I’ve also heard horror stories/ urban legends about the infamous suicides at Cornell… Is the average Cornell student so focused on grades they can’t participate in ECs, or play an intramural/club sport comfortably? And does a Bates degree really handicap me when applying to vet school down the road? If somebody could weigh in on any of these I would be extremely appreciative. Also, any general talk about their experience from alumns of either school would be phenomenal. Also, I’m not sure if this makes a difference, but I would be at CALS at Cornell.
Thanks to all
Please, any Cornell or Bates alums I would really appreciate it if you could just share your respective experiences
I transferred from Bates to Cornell after 2 years as a Chemistry major. I loved Cornell, but it sounds like Bates is the right place for you. For me Bates, was too small and I got frozen out of a lot of clubs that had too few spots. For instance, the merimanders a capella group had only a few spots, but there were a lot of choruses at Cornell for anyone to find their niche singing. I was premed. If you are prevet, Bates will have smaller classes and smaller classes at a LAC may be advantageous to doing well. Sounds like your heart is at Bates, but you feel like you need to chase prestige. You can be successful anywhere. Follow your heart, and the rest will fall into place. I did and I have to say it was a good choice for me.
Grad schools will absolutely not favor Cornell grads over Bates grads; where did you get this idea?
Some places just appeal to you. Just like you like some people more than others. Don’t over-think it. You want to go to Bates? Go ahead. It’s an excellent school.
@snarlatron
I contacted the Cornell vet school to find out how they determine the caliber of the school their applicants applied from ( this does play a role in admissions decisions, see https://www2.vet.cornell.edu/education/doctor-veterinary-medicine/prospective-students ) to which they said they used the Petersons guide to Four Year Colleges, and according to that, Cornell is the the “most selective” category while Bates is only in “very selective” . Additionally, the average salary six years after graduation is 70 200 while Bates sits at 53 000. If it wasn’t for that, if love to go to Bates.
@realperson2990, Peterson Guide doesn’t make any sense as Gettysburg is listed as most selective, but neither Bates nor Hamilton are.
It represents only 5% of the formula. And Peterson’s has five selectivity categories, so there won’t be much difference between “most selective” and “very selective”.
Cornell produces large numbers of “professional” bachelor’s degrees, in fields like accounting, computer science, business, and engineering. Those people are immediately employable upon graduation. Six years after graduation, they will have six years of professional experience, will be well settled in their professional careers, and will be skewing Cornell’s numbers upwards.
Bates is a liberal arts college; they don’t have “professional” bachelor’s programs. Plenty of Bates grads will go on to have great careers and earn high salaries, but they will typically do so after earning a graduate degree (e.g. PhD, MD, JD, MBA, or DVM). At 6 years after graduation, they won’t be nearly as far along in their professional careers, because they went to grad school first. Some of them may still be in school.
So I wouldn’t be too concerned about those two factors. But what would concern me, from the pre-vet standpoint, is that all vet schools (including Cornell, where it counts for 20%) value experience working with animals. Cornell has an agricultural school with barns and dairies and livestock. Bates has nothing like this. https://ansci.cals.cornell.edu/about-us/facilities
So there are probably far more opportunities to get experience handling and working with animals (particularly large animals) at Cornell. The best opportunities for animal experience at Bates would probably be with a small-animal vet practice in the Lewiston area. However, note that most vet schools (including Cornell) are state-subsidized land-grant schools, with a mission to support the agricultural industry – which means livestock and poultry, not dogs and cats. So they may prefer to see large-animal experience.
Cornell University is made up of 7 colleges. Which college(s) is the average salary derived?
A significant number of Bates students are altruistic and therefore don’t pursue careers for the sake of $$
Where is it mentioned that the selective ranking of the undergrad college is part of the admission formula?
@CrewDad
When I asked them what was entailed in the “Qualty of Academic Program”
But true, it is only a small percentage
Wow, thanks @Corbett, that’s really comprehensive. I already have a couple of internships in my area, which would help for summer experience, but the lack of animal experience in Lewiston is totally something I hadn’t thought of… Thanks. I am sort of leaning towards the large animal track, which is part of what makes Cornell so appealing
Bates is a member of the NESCAC, which is essentially the Ivy League of LACs. Since prestige is being considered, I thought i’d mention that.
(prestige should not be considered here, IMO. Consider fit and cost instead.)
Thank you all so much. At this point, I’m leaning more towards Bates then Cornell, but I’m sure that this will change many more times after I revisit both campuses. I’ve only ever heard good things from Bates grads, but not so much with Cornellians about their experience… That’s gotta mean something as well.
My S found that re-visiting his top choices made the decision clear in his own mind. Hope that will be the same for you. Don’t discount gut feel as part of the process. Congrats on your wonderful options.
@realperson2990, my twin DD’s were both accepted to Bates, as well as several other NESCAC schools, and will be attending one of the Bates Accepted Students Days. Agree about what you hear; we not only know a Bates sophomore who loves it there, but we have yet to hear from a Bates student or parent that didn’t feel the same way.
“I’ve also heard horror stories/ urban legends about the infamous suicides at Cornell… Is the average Cornell student so focused on grades they can’t participate in ECs, or play an intramural/club sport comfortably?”
Cornel alum chiming in here - Cornell’s suicide rate is no different than at most schools, so don’t even make that a factor in your decision. Cornellians are very involved outside of classes - the opportunities for extracurriculars are staggering. I played a varsity sport, was in a sorority, volunteered at the Admissions office, and was a peer tutor all while doing a tough major (Chemistry), and I had a lot of time to socialize as well. Yes, the academics are tough, but I didn’t find the students particularly cut-throat - we were all in it together. I graduated a long time ago, but I don’t think things have changed that much regarding the student body. Cornell isn’t for everyone - it is really big and you really have to make your own way there, but it’s an amazing place to spend 4 years. Also , regarding your quote above - I don’t think there even is “the average Cornell student” - the student body is so large and diverse that it is impossible to give the students a common personality trait. I agree with the posts above - visit both schools again and then decide.
Have you visited both, @realperson2990 ? I have to say that reading over a few of your posts, I sense that are trying love Cornell, but aren’t “in love” with Cornell. You can’t make yourself fall in love. It has to be the personality you fall in love with, not the name. As far as prestige, people who need to know, will know that Bates is also a prestigious school. Its grads go on to do great things. And once a NESCAC grad, always a NESCAC grad.
If you want smaller classes and profs who will say hello by name, rigorous but not cut-throat academics, and a talented student body of smart, friendly people, in a gorgeous part of Maine, that is less than an hour to a really cool small city and just two hours to Boston, then choose Bates. No doubt you will make friends at Cornell, but it is unlikely you will get the rest of it.
Remember the tour guide at Bates that I mentioned? Be like him. Make a decision based on where you see yourself being happy for four years.
Btw,not sure if you have visited yet, but finals week is next week, followed by a week of break. So your best bet is to visit at the end of April. Best of luck, keep us posted.
Yup, visited Bates on the 7th. Everybody was so friendly and welcoming! Really liked the campus, I just wish they would’ve talked more about post-graduate outcomes. However, just reading over what they’ve published online, it seems Bates grads are well prepared for the workplace/grad school. In fact, according to the data published, 74% of Bates students were accepted to med school compared with 69% at Cornell… At this point I’m somewhat leaning towards Bates but will know for sure after I go to Cornells accepted students day program.