I’m considering applying to these three schools ED. I am not set on what I want to major in in college, so I want a school where I can switch majors if I need. Right now, I’m thinking about environmental science or computer science (possibly a social science too though). Which schools are the best in these departments? Which will allow me to explore other areas of interest? I also don’t want to go to grad school directly after graduating (if at all), so which have the best job placement?
I like that at Duke you can double major and they seem to have good funding for travel / opportunities. I’m somewhat worried that the social scene won’t be right for me given that there seems to be a emphasis on Greek life. I don’t really like to drink.
Cornell has really good programs and I liked the size of the arts and sciences school. I think that they would have a strong department in whatever I wanted to study. However, it felt a bit institutional. I’m worried I might get lost there and I have the impression that the other two are more focused on undergraduate teaching. I liked Ithaca when I visited, but still feel it’s pretty isolated and I’m worried about the stereotype that Cornell students are unhappy/ depressed with the workload.
Brown is more of a long shot for me than the other schools. I liked that the student body was more chill and I really liked the location and felt comfortable on the campus. I worry that the open curriculum might drag me off track because I don’t know exactly what I want to do. I also don’t love the super liberal / stoner vibe and am not sure how strong its STEM is.
Can’t comment on most of your post, but Brown has an excellent computer science department.
Oh honey.
Why are these your top 3 for ED? Why are you choosing between 3 schools whose environments you don’t like? Is this a ‘what’s the fanciest name I think that I can get into?’ thing? It makes zero sense to apply ED to schools you don’t see as a great fit for you: if you get in you have to go some place you aren’t excited about, and it’s more likely to be a waste of your ED card b/c the AdComms are likely to be able to tell that even you don’t see yourself as a great fit.
Is there a school that you have visited that you do you like? You have posted so little info about the things that matter in choosing a college that it’s hard to even ask about alternatives. But for something not too Greek, not too institutional and not too stoner, something not too liberal with a generally happy student body, that offers a good all-round range of academic choices, and is academically competitive/rigorous, what about Northwestern? Amherst? Pomona? Tufts? William & Mary?
You have only a little time and so much to do.
Finally, the info you have posted includes a mix of misinformation and irrelevancies.
Irrelevant:
- job placement post graduation- there is no meaningful difference
- double major- you can effectively double major at all of them
Misinformation:
*“Brown is more of a long shot” than Cornell or Duke: they are all reaches for you, and that’s w/o knowing anything about your profile. The difference in % acceptance is not statistically meaningful.
*Switching majors: except for direct entry CS programs, if you enter as a general undergrad you don’t declare a major/concentration until end of first / second year (depending on the school). For you it sounds as if a school where you choose in year 2 is going to be better.
There’s arguably nowhere better than Cornell for a combination of environmental science and computer science. Duke and Brown are more or less equally strong in CS, but Duke has broader and deeper offerings in environmental science and policy.
I majored in earth & ocean sciences at Duke. It’s a fantastic place for people interested in biology and environmental science, and undergraduates get more attention, resources, and research/internship opportunities than they can take advantage of, especially if you spend time at the marine lab in Beaufort.
I was a pretty quiet, nerdy kid in high school who reluctantly chose Duke over my top choice (Chicago) for financial reasons, but it wound up a great fit, and Duke forced me out of my comfort zone and made me grow in ways I didn’t expect. Greek life at Duke is alive and well for those who want it, but not everyone participates (~1/3 of male undergrads are in a frat). It’s worth noting that there’s a lot of variety among fraternities; some drink heavily, whereas others have more laidback social scenes. I lived downstairs from a pretty chill frat with brothers who spent far more time playing video games and ultimate frisbee than drinking and partying.
I agree with Collegemom that liberal arts colleges such as Pomona, Swarthmore, Haverford, etc. are well worth a look. For your academic interests, I’d take a look at Wesleyan in particular, though some of your concerns about Brown may apply.
Take a look at Wash U as well. It has a more laidback social scene than Duke, has very good offerings in environmental science, and benefits from being close to the Saint Louis Zoo and Missouri Botanical Garden. The social sciences are very strong there as well, especially anthropology and political science.