<p>Uptil a week ago, I was almost certain that I wanted to go to Cornell, but one of my professors said that Cornell’s academics are extremely hard.
GPA is very important for me since I’m a transfer and need to get into Medical School.
I’ve heard that the Cornell campus is gorgeous, and the dorms are great.
But I’ve heard that the students at Brown are friendlier and that Brown gives you more academic freedom.</p>
<p>Please Help, I’m looking for a good balance between academics and campus life! Any advice is welcome!</p>
<p>Um yeah, academics are gonna be hard at either. Brown has a far better location. Cornell is in the middle of nowhere, freezing, and up and down hills for twenty mins between buildings. Brown has one of hte top acceptance rates into med schools of an undergrad in hte nation. Brown's campus is just as nice as Cornell, IMO, but far less spread out and easier to walk etc.</p>
<p>Brown is the stronger school academically as well.</p>
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<p>Brown in a nanosecond over cornell, especially for a pre-med. Better grades, smaller student body, more friendly.</p>
<p>OR Dartmouth, (I chose between Brown and Dart - hardest choice ever) which I think is the perfect balance between both. An added benefit of Dartmouth is Sophomore summer, where your entire class is on campus and you literally meet everyone. Most transfers assimilate into Dartmouth very easily, moreso than almost any other school out there, simply because of the way the school is so community oriented and because of the efforts they put into incorporating transfers into the community. You go on orientation trips, get the best housing, get your own special events + other benefits like being able to do study abroad due to the quarter system and sophomore summer as I mentioned. </p>
<p>It has an awesome community that isnt cutthroat, a great campus life that is very friendly, and a very cool student body. At Cornell you will feel like a number compared to the attention you will get at Dartmouth. Its the kind of place you really feel at home.</p>
<p>Anyway between Brown or Dartmouth I dont think you can go wrong. I would pretty much rule out Cornell personally.</p>
<p>But you make me wish that I did. I live in New Hampshire, and Dartmouth is an hour away from my home, and I didn't want to go home every weekend, EEK! But thanks for the advice, I'll need every bit I can get. :)</p>
<p>Modestmelody, what do you mean by "stronger academically"? I've heard that term tons of times, but really quite understood what people meant by it.
But cold is no problem, I lived up in Montreal for five years, but I can't imagine walking 20 minutes to class in snow!</p>
<p>Too bad! Brown and Cornell are pretty much on par in terms of ad committees but I think you will find greater attention + a better GPA at Brown.</p>
<p>Thanks again. DO you know the average GPA at brown?</p>
<p>Better academics-- well to me, I felt looking at Brown that as a school, there were far more strong departments, and though sooo many people are premed and study biology, that outside of that, there is an excellent mix of students.</p>
<p>I think the atmosphere at Brown is more inviting as well. I dont know, I just went to visit Cornell while searching and hated it. See both schools before you decide,you'll get a feel for it and know right away. Also, don't worry about GPA, check out what the stats are for students who want to go to med school. Far more telling considering... gets to the point.</p>
<p>Thanks modestmelody, </p>
<p>I know both Brown and Cornell are held in good regard by Med schools, one of the reasons I picked them over UPenn and Harvard. I want to go to an IVY where I can get a good education and have fun, and the people I know at both schools have great, genuine personalities.</p>
<p>wait u got into Harvard, and you are not going. Personally, forget them all, go to HARVARD.</p>
<p>if ur talking about stronger departments, the edge goes to cornell without a doubt.</p>
<p>Name the departments that Brown has that are stronger than Cornell.</p>
<p>For ever 5 you can name, I can name 10 departments that are stronger at Cornell. However, at this point, that stuff doesn't really matter that much. Both are strong schools, go wherever you think is a better fit. I wouldn't choose a school based on the opinions of these boards.</p>
<p>lol, sure Harvard has the name, but I know I'd only be going there for the money. Plus Harvard only accepted a year's worth of my credits, I don't want to waste a year. :(
Plus, from what I know, I think I'll have much more fun at Brown/Cornell.</p>
<p>Departmental rankings are irrelevant, I pity those who choose college for that reason. It only matters for a few select fields, like film. </p>
<p>Anyway Brown or Harvard.</p>
<p>harvard>brown>>>>>upenn>cornell</p>
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<p>it is more like Harvard>>>>>>Brown</p>
<p>I have a friend who is totally miserable at Harvard.</p>
<p>I, on the other hand, am very happy at Brown.</p>
<p>Thus, in my small case study, Brown>Harvard</p>
<p>Yes, I know Harvard looks more impressive on a resume, but I'm not prepared to waste a year. Plus, if I apply to a top medical School, I don't think it'll matter which IVY I went to, at least I hope it won't. I've heard that a 3.5 GPA at Brown or Cornell is tougher than one at Harvard, and is worth more...is this right?</p>
<p>3.5 at Cornell is tougher than a 3.5 at Brown, but I'm not sure med schools take this all that much into consideration. Also just for the record, I think that Cornell definitely has stronger academic departments because they're a more research oriented instiutution, but the students there are more cutthroat than Brown's. Why did you rule out UPenn? They have a lot of great opportunities for pre-med, especially in conjunction with their medical school and facilities, and lots of outlets to have fun and an active social life. I would reccomend Brown or UPenn.</p>
<p>UPenn is a great school, but I didn't like Philadelphia too much. It's very easy to stray into a bad area.</p>
<p>Anyone who uses greater than/less than signs when discussing schools is, frankly, an idiot. You can't objectively rate schools like that. I'd ignore advice from anyone who says you can. My advice would be to visit both and see where you think you'll be happier.</p>
<p>For the record, my use of the greater than sign was in jest.</p>