<p>I'm a pre-med student student in WA planning to transfer to either of those.</p>
<p>GPA: 3.98
EC: Tutor for the college English & Maths dept, Rotaract (humanitarian club) member
Honors: Phi Theta Kappa
Volunteer work: hospital, mentor for less fortunate children</p>
<p>I have not had any physician shadowing experience here. I've looked at sources from the internet and I never fine any surgeon from WA willing to be shadowed. I'm also an international student so I don't have a family doctor who can give me his/her connections. I know UW has those SMDEP programs but since I do not even have a permanent residence visa D': I'm not eligible.</p>
<p>I feel both Columbia and Cornell will really up my chances to getting accepted into an excellent medical school, especially considering how I am an international student. New York also seems to have so much more opportunities and exposure than I have now.</p>
<p>I just can't decide which :/</p>
<p>You could apply to both and see where you get in, then make a decision if you get into both, or go to the one that accepts you if you get into one.</p>
<p><a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/1062547335-post340.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/1062547335-post340.html</a></p>
<p>Find posts of cc poster slipper1234 who transferred from columbia to a campus-centered school; theme is similar. In my family we have a transfer to cornell from a city school; same story. Very happy at, and well integrated into, Cornell.</p>
<p>I saw on another subforum someone alleged that Cornell social life was completely frat-dependent, this is simply untrue, most people there are not in frats, people I know there right now are not in frats and are having a great (better than in city) time.</p>
<p>One of the biggest differences reportedly is that, in NYC dorms were run like protected fortresses, no dorm parties, no house parties. Everyone just dispersed into NYC, going to clubs downtown which were $$$ and got old very fast; or they attended very lame Columbia frat parties. Student life was much diluted, vs. a campus-centered experience at Cornell. Much in the spirit the link I posted. Whereas at Cornell there are many house parties (by individuals; not affiliated with fraternities)</p>
<p>I can’t imagine that they do a good job of integrating transfer students in NYC, you should investigate this very carefully. Else you may feel like just an anonymous person isolated and alone in a huge city. From slipper1234: "Columbia’s social life is not campus based, and since upperclassmen already form friendships and go out in the city I think its a tough place to transfer into socially. "</p>
<p>Also, you did not not say what college you want to apply to at each university.
Pre-meds can be found at several different colleges at Cornell. Each college has its individual curricula, requirements, and applicant pools. Likewise columbia College and Fu each have their own requirements. These include the “core curriculum”, a mandated sequence of courses that occupies a substantial fraction of one’s studies there, particularly at the College. </p>
<p>For someone who wants that curriculum I would think that there is no better place to study. But not everyone wants to take those particular mandated courses, in preference to other things they may alternatively elect to study. I know my kids didn’t want it. So that’s another thing you might consider, which might swing you one way or the other, depending on your preferences.</p>