<p>My S got into Brandeis with a merit scholarship. He also got into a “reach” university with no merit money. This isn’t so much a money issue as a doing well in college so you get into a good grad or professional school.</p>
<p>Brandeis is a target school for my S. That’s reinforced by his merit money. The reach school is one where he just made it in. Other schools on that level he didn’t get into. So my thinking is that he can probably get a better GPA in a target school where he’s maybe in the top 25% of the entering class than at a reach school where he may be in the bottom 10% of the entering class.</p>
<p>Grad and professional schools are really hard to get into. A 3.5 GPA from a good school like Brandeis will go a long way. A 3.2 GPA from a reach school may not make it. </p>
<p>bjjacohen, My D is in a similar situation, having been accepted to Duke, Northwestern and some other fine schools. She will be going to Brandeis on a full tuition merit scholarship. A student who is in the top 75 percentile or higher at Brandeis, would not be even in the bottom 25% (no less 10%) at any elite university in the country (this would include Harvard, MIT)-- and at many of them, would fall well into the mid-50% range.</p>
<p>Sorry if I appeared vague. The reach school is Cornell. The Arts & Sciences School, not one of the state land grant and so subsidized schools. It's reputed to be , "the easiest Ivy to get into but one of the hardest to get out of." The other reaches that he didn't get into are Johns Hopkins and Georgetown.</p>
<p>If you recognize that it's easier to earn a high GPA at some schools than it is others, don't you think that the admissions committees at graduate and professional schools do and that they factor it in to their decisions? And while some undergraduate schools don't weigh standardized tests very highly, the same cannot be said for the next level. So if anyone thinks that Brandeis provides an easier path, think again.</p>
<p>I think that the OP's concerns are unwarranted with respect to GPAs at different universities in the eyes of graduate schools. Both Brandeis & Cornell are outstanding schools academically and will be well known by graduate school admissions committees. Perhaps the worries espoused in the original post were brought about by the admissions requirements at undergraduate schools as many require high GPAs for honors programs and/or scholarship consideration. Graduate schools vary, but probably focus on grades earned in the student's major.For medical schools, however, there may be merit to the GPA concerns as many medical schools want a high GPA & high MCATs. Law schools will recognize major universities that have grade deflation & the LSAT is somewhat of an equalizer.</p>
<p>Agreed with icy. You really can't go wrong with either school and just because Brandeis might be ranked lower does not mean it is that much easier to get a good GPA in!</p>
<p>Really, Cornell and Brandeis are very different schools with different populations. You and your son need to figure out which will work better with his personality and your finances. Don't focus so much on the GPA factors.. you'll stress yourself into an ulcer! :P</p>
<p>I agree with ^. Both are excellent schools but quite different. Brandeis is a fraction of the size of Cornell. Cornell tends to have very large classes in the early years. For example, I think the entire first year class at Brandeis is smaller than the size of the lecture for Intro Psych at Cornell( I saw that lecture hall once---its huge!!!). In that respect, Deis is closer to a LAC than research university. But it is a research university with all of its advantages. </p>
<p>Cornell is known for trying to minimize grade inflation (good for them!) and the average GPA there is less than most Ivies for that reason. My sense is that the OP may be correct that the average GPA at Deis is more inflated than Cornell. I don't think the classes are any easier though. I also don't think you would notice much difference between the average student or faculty member. Both schools are known for their "work hard" ethic. In terms of facilities--Cornell has a definite edge. On the other hand, you have to take a bus to get from one place to the other. The campus is enormous.</p>
<p>I think it comes down to valuing the cache of an "Ivy" verses the real advantage of small size and closer community. Also, boston is infinitely more fun than Ithaca.</p>
<p>bjjacohen, I would definitely recommend your son go to Brandeis over Cornell. I applied ED to Brandeis after deciding not to apply to the ILR program at Cornell. I don't regret my decision at all because I've found student life here to be superior to student life at Cornell. A lot also depends on your son's interests in terms of academic major and extra-curricular involvement. </p>
<p>(I'm a junior at Brandeis from Long Island. Feel free to PM me if you have any more questions.)</p>
<p>My D chose Brandeis over Cornell 4 years ago and never regretted it. Same situation, merit scholarship. Brandeis has an early adminission program with Tufts Medical School (i don't know if it's of interest to you). My D took advantage of it and skipped the headache of applying to 20 med schools. She did a study abroad instead in her senior year.<br>
In addition, she was glad that she stayed in Boston, 30 minutes from home.</p>