Case Western vs. Cornell University

<p>Hi, just wanted to get some advice from you guys about my predicament as of now. I got the trustee scholarship from case (paying $16000) a year and absolutely nothing from Cornell (paying $45000). Now, I basically freakin out about which school to
go to and i've got bout 2 weeks to decide. I mean they both big on engineering and science research, case dorms and food aren't quite comparable to Cornell. My parents have decided that they can pay for my college but I'm worried about grad school or med school. If, you were in my position, what would you do? And, do you think that 30000 extra is worth the ivy league education? By the way, what's the avg gpa for students in the engineering school?</p>

<p>i don't know actual GPA's, but i do know that it is extremely difficult to get a good GPA in Cornell engineering...although i also hear Case engineering is very hard. If you like the city atmosphere, go to Case, as cornell is pretty much in the middle of nowhere. I personally don't think 30000 per year is worth the ivy league ed.(especially if you're planning on med school), but most people value prestige differently.</p>

<p>I'm a Case sophomore, Biochem, pre-med, who visited Cornell as a prospective student. Cornell is a lot bigger than Case. When I went on a tour there the tour guide talked about a huge auditorium that sat close to 2,000 people that they used for classes! Case has some bigger engineering classes freshman and sophomore year but they're 150-300 people not huge. I know from a friend who's a sophomore at Cornell that many of the core science classes are 800+. From being in general chem, bio and organic chem here at case with the same 200 or so people I can actually recognize by name probably 3/4 of the students in my classes which is nice since they are larger. I don't know if that would be possibly in much larger classes. Case also has a lot of medical opportunities right on campus and down the street (Cleveland Clinic, VA Hospital etc.) Cornell really is in the middle of nowhere.
On the financial front there are lots of scholarships (150-200+) given each year to upperclassmen in Science/Math/Engineering fields who have done well. So it's possible to compensate for the tuition increases that will occur anywhere, these sorts of scholarships aren't available at Cornell since they don't do Merit Scholarships. If you go to Case you could save 120k and that would buy you 2-3 years of med school. Case students do very well getting into med schools, comprable percentages to students at Cornell.
I would strongly suggest visiting Cornell before deciding to go there, it completely changed my view of the school and I visited there on a sunny day in april (and i really like sunny weather). Another difference is that most Cornell students only live on campus freshman year, I believe it was required freshman year and then 60% soph year and then way less after that. Cornell also has a reputation for lots of drinking.
The overal Case GPA average is around a 3.1, I think engineering might be a tad lower maybe 2.9 or so but I know several engineers who've done very well 3.7+.</p>

<p>Thought of something else...
Both Cornell and Case have pretty large campuses compared to some other schools, although I think Cornell is a bit larger and more spread out so they both have shuttle buses that run around campus. From being a student now for two years it's incredibly nice when it's snowing/raining/cold whatever to be able to hop on one and not walk the mile or so to the other side of campus. The difference is at Cornell you have to pay $2 each time you get on before 6pm or so. At Case they're completely free all the time and go until 2:30 in the morning, start again at 6 or so. You can also track them online so you know when they'll be arriving and can time when you leave your room. From the Cornell students I talked to there attitude was that any extra fees like the $2 you could just bill to your parents. Well that doesn't work if the 45k is already a stretch.
I am in a similar position to you that the merit scholarship I receieved to come to Case means that there will be some money leftover for med school so that I don't have to go to med school completely on loans I really like Case. I feel like I fit in with the other students here because many if not most of them are in similar boats.</p>

<p>The last part about the buses is no longer true. First, it was only $1.50. Secondly, bus passes are now offered free to each incoming class (beginning w/ the Class of 2009). The only people who have to pay for bus passes are Class of 2008 and earlier.</p>

<p>I would strongly suggest visiting Cornell if you can. It's a great experience. The campus is one of the most gorgeous (or gorges) you'll ever see. The food is great. And the education and reputation is top-notch. </p>

<p>Cornell's rep in engineering speaks for itself. </p>

<p>And Cornell's premedical education is AMAZING. I scored a 30 on my first diagnostic MCAT when most of my peers in the Princeton Review class from Stanford, Berkeley, UCLA, UCSD where scoring in the teens. I never took any physics in HS and ended up with a 15 on the Physical Science section on the strength of Cornell's Physics 101-102 class alone. In orgo we learned more than twice the number of reactions you'll need to know for the MCAT.</p>

<p>Just a little bit of advice from someone who goes to Cornell, grew up in Ohio, and now lives in CA:)</p>

<p>If you're thinking about grad school/med school, I'd definitely go to Case. The undergraduate program is just as rigorous as the one at Cornell. I say save your parents the money. As I understand it, grad schools understand Case for what it is.</p>

<p>Normally, i would say go to Cornell with out question, but for your circumstance i would probobly choose Case if you want to go to Med school...........anyhow goodluck w/ your choice</p>

<p>I'm going to Case next fall, and planning on med school. I'm just curious as to why you would choose Case over Cornell for someone planning on medschool.</p>

<p>The average engineering GPA at Case is 2.7 last I heard. Don't know what it is for Cornell.
When it comes time for graduate school, don't worry about what grad schools think about Case as it's a very well respected degree. Personally I'd say go for the money- it's also worth noting that a LOT of kids hereabouts turned down Cornell for that reason.
Best of luck in your decision! :)</p>

<p>I guess the more important question is which school would be better for grad school? I mean, do they weigh heavily on gpa , research exp. rather than the undergrad school itself? And what factors do assistanships depend on?</p>

<p>well i heard from someone at Cornell that their average GPA for Eng is around 2.7 to 2.8 also...so they're both very difficult.... if you were just going for an undergrad degree, then Cornell...but since both are at least around equal when it comes to kids that get into Med school,...its the years after UGrad that matter for you...go where the money is...if you can get through the terrible social life....then you'll b fine</p>

<p>is an ivy league education worth nearly $200,000 (45k x 4 plus rising tuition)? especially one thats not from harvard, princeton or yale? Furhtermore, throw on medical school costs and you're pushing over half a million dollars. Now add on some nice interest and you're paying until youre in your mid to late 40s. That may seem late, but keep in mind that as a doc, you dont start real work unil you're 30ish anyway. Remember that a doc's salary probably averages out around 150,000 or around 250,000 for a surgeon. i realize some specialties are a lot higher, but not everyone can be the chief cardiovascular surgeron at the Cleveland Clinic, so well say 150-250k is good. undergrad importance pales in comparison to your medical school and subsequent training. That said, i would go with case for undergrad and aim as high as you please for medical school. Case is a d*mned good school for premed. Case is still expensive, but the 16k helps.</p>

<p>Is the social life that abysmal at case? Oh well, I'm not that party frat boy anyhow. Well, i guess the comparison is which school as the better research/corporate opp for undergrads in Engineering and where do case undergrads in ChemE go for grad school, jobs, ...</p>

<p>hey caliburx417, </p>

<p>which college did you end up choosing and why? i’m in the same situation right now that you were in about cornell and case western.
also, which engineering field did you go into?</p>

<p>I’d say Case. I’m looking at that school also for Biology major, pre-med advising and I really like it. If it’s offering you that much money AND you have to worry about Grad school, say you apply to another ivy for that, that’ll be a LOT of money. </p>

<p>You should think about future plans in conjunction with this as well.</p>

<p>^^Because someone who last logged on 5 years is totally going to respond to you -_-</p>

<p>Well, its a difficult decision for sure. I was thinking about pre-med in Case for next fall too. (It would be almost free compared to the other university I had in mind). I wish you good luck with deciding !!</p>

<p>meadow36 Hahahaha, just noticed.</p>

<p>Go to case. I looked at cornell but it seemed really difficult to switch between the engineering school and the arts and sciences school. At case you don’t have any hoops to jump through. I’m engineering at Case and the courses are just as rigorous as an ivy, as in, very rigorous. I agree that grad schools will definitely know case for what it is and I know a lot of premed people who all really love Case. Also, the social scene is whatever you make of it. Personally, I’m not a loner or anything and I find plenty to do at Case and love it.</p>

<p>“…at cornell but it seemed really difficult to switch between the engineering school and the arts and sciences school.”</p>

<p>It is not “really difficult”, but there is a process, it is not automatic, and transfer is not absolutely guaranteed.</p>

<p>Procedurally, you have to submit an application for inter-college transfer, talk to a few people, eg your current advisor, get some stuff signed, and then wait for the decision. </p>

<p>Cornell Arts & Sciences has its own name and standards to maintain, it is not there to take the dregs of the engineering college who merely couldn’t hack it in engineering and don’t really fit in the arts & sciences college. But for those who are not dregs and simply want to switch for reasons that make sense, if their plan is sane and they’ve done decently academically, there generally is no problem.</p>