Berkeley v. Cornell for bio (premed) with some concerns about fine art classes

Parents Forum
1

<p>I am deciding between Berkeley and Cornell. I want to major in molecular bio and follow a pre-med track. Which college provide better research opportunities and better counseling/support or environment for pre-med students? It seems like Cornell has better acceptance rate into med school but how's the real situation? Is there any pre screening Cornell uses??</p>

<p>I am also really interested in art and want to take studio art classes in college. I know Cornell has a very famous architecture school so probably it also has pretty decent art program? However, I called Cornell but they told me first year student almost never have the chance to get into studio art classes due to the class size limit. I know nothing about how strong the fine art program at Berkeley is and I don't know anyone who major in art there personally. </p>

<p>I haven't received my financial aid packet from Cornell but a friend of mine who has slightly higher family income than me get $5,000/year loan + $2,500 work study and I expect my aid to be in similar range. I got the regent scholarship from Berkeley and have a full aid (around $25,000/year) there. btw, my friend who will need to take $5,000/year loan at Cornell also got regent in Cal but needs to pay $1,000/year there =>does it mean that my loan at Cornell should be less than $5,000/year?</p>

<p>Anyways, can you guys give me some advices in the point of view of a parent? Where should I go??
/___\
I am going to study my butt off in college so my first priority is the prestige the college has.</p>

2

<p>well if money is such a important factor for you, I guess you have to sacrifice sometimes to go where you can afford. FYI, 5,000...or 10,000 for that matter, is not that much money in the grand scheme of things.</p>

3

<p>I can't speak to the studio art, but can re: pre-med at Berkeley. You cannot go wrong with pre-med there. It is an excellent university in every way. The size differnence is obviously a huge factor and you know best if you would like a school as large as Berkeley. If you rec'd the Regent's Scholarship, save your money for med school and go to the UC. Unless you really want to live a) in the east b)want a small school c) want a private school style education.....................Go to Berkeley.</p>

4

<p>I think something to strongly consider coming from San Diego is whether you would rather live in Ithaca or Berkeley. I had a friend who was a professor in Ithaca (at Cornell) and despised it. I myself find the city isolated from the rest of NY, but it does have its charms. The weather, though, and its relative isolation could make it really unenjoyable. But that is only something you can answer. Have you visited both places?</p>