Brown vs. Cornell

<p>My brother planed to attend Cornell CAS. However, he just got off the waiting list at Brown. We are having this family debate about which school he should attend. I told him that Cornell would be a better school (more access to professors, smaller classes, more courses offered, better food, nicer campus, etc.). However, my parents told him to stick with Brown. He's not sure what he wants to major in yet. Which school should he attend?</p>

<p>Brown has the stronger student body. I didn't apply to Cornell so don't know it well, but it would shock me if it has smaller class size than Brown.</p>

<p>It depends on your brother's personality, really. I personally would go for Brown--but again, that's just me. One positive about being in Providence is that you're just an hour away from Boston, and just a few hours from NYC. Ithaca is a bit more isolated.</p>

<p>He is in Cornell's CAS, so the students he will be around at Cornell are very similar (in terms of numbers and statistics) as those at Brown. Don't tell him to go to Brown because, as newyorka says, the students are stronger.</p>

<p>Data Coolman?</p>

<p>Cornell CAS SATs 1310-1520
Brown 1350-1530</p>

<p>^If those stats are right, the lower end would be a difference of about 2 questions on the entire SAT. There's virtually no difference in the quality of Brown students and Cornell CAS students.</p>

<p>What percentage of Cornell students are CAS?</p>

<p>Can Cornell students take any class they want at any school?</p>

<p>Can you post numbers for the rest of Cornell?</p>

<p>okay ive visited cornell and brown, and i think brown is way better. i mean they are both amazing colleges, but i guess it depends on what ur brother wants. cornell is kind of in the middle of nowhere. the campus is beautiful. but i think there is a lot more to do at brown. thats just my opinion. but i think whichever he chooses, he will have an awesome time.</p>

<p>Cornell: larger classes, way more course offerings, more involved campus experience, great food, beautiful campus, not that much to do in Ithaca</p>

<p>Brown: more flexible, smaller classes, Rhode Island (:(), fewer course offerings</p>

<p>The endowed colleges at Cornell comprise about two-thirds of the student body. Their SATs overall are the same as CAS 1310-1520.
The highest SATs at Cornell are in engineering.</p>

<p>So a third of the student body is admitted with considerably lower standards?</p>

<p>Different standards.</p>

<p>
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So a third of the student body is admitted with considerably lower standards?

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</p>

<p>If you can easily quantify the value of growing up on a farm and having a keen interest in corn pathology, be my guest.</p>

<p>
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but i think there is a lot more to do at brown.

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</p>

<p>Like what? ... A capella groups? Student-led research? Attending concerts, lectures, athletic events? Intramurals? Writing for a daily paper? Please tell me what you can do at Brown but you can't do at Cornell. I'm interested, because the only thing that Providence offers that Ithaca doesn't offer is deep sea fishing.</p>

<p>
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It depends on your brother's personality, really.

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</p>

<p>I think this is the crux of the issue. </p>

<p>Academically, it's a wash, with a slight edge to Cornell in the physical and natural sciences. And if the open curriculum at Brown is your cup of team, Cornell has that too. It's called the College Scholar program, and dissolves you of all requirements to graduate.</p>

<p>But Brown and Cornell are pretty dissimilar in terms of student culture and experience. Brown has always struck me as very liberal and more elitist, whereas Cornell is more socioeconomically diverse, egalitarian and unpretentious.</p>

<p>So your brother should pick the school where he feels more suited.</p>

<p>Cornell funds about 900 student organizations.</p>

<p>brown is the better school, more prestigious, much more selective</p>

<p>
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Different standards.

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</p>

<p>This is verbatim PC bullocks from Hernandez's book =P</p>

<p>My vote goes toward Brown.</p>

<p>You kids who think that Brown is much more prestigious or more selective are all smoking something.</p>

<p>
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brown is the better school, more prestigious, much more selective

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The prestige difference is negligible, and Cornell has considerably greater name recognition. Admissions for A&S is similar at both schools.</p>

<p>I wouldn't have been very sold on Brown after reading this thread. Brown promoters have only claimed it's more selective and that Cornell is isolated. Not very helpful. </p>

<p>
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but it would shock me if it has smaller class size than Brown.

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Depends on the department. As I posted on another thread, Cornell CAS is actually quite a bit smaller than Brown.</p>

<p>I think it comes down to geographic location. Your brother should attend Brown if he likes a suburban/urban campus. He should attend Cornell is he likes a rural campus.</p>