<p>Hi,</p>
<p>This is a Cornell Eng. student who has applied for transfer into Columbia SEAS w/ 3rd yr standing. I'm currently a 2nd yr ChemE w/ cumulative GPA of ~3.7. Although I still won't be hearing from Columbia till 2 weeks later, I'm starting to have second thoughts about transferring.
Firstly, because Cornell eng. is ranked supposedly "much higher" than Columbia SEAS in my field and I've finally gotten used to living in the suburban/rural region quite recently, I'm very unsure if I'll be able to quickly adjust to an entirely different type of academic environment at Columbia.
Second, since I will most definitely apply to grad school after college, I imagine it'd be difficult for a transfer to fairly quickly and successfully obtain officer positions in the student organizations at the new school. Plus, will be there many tutoring/mentoring opportunities available in Columbia SEAS? And what about REU availability? I understand all of such factors weigh heavily in grad school admission.<br>
Last but not the least, the academics. Because Columbia SEAS is comparable to Cornell, and my performance in courses is around ave./above ave most of the time, I'm certainly not looking forward to a big dip in my grades if I actually transferred to Columbia. The dissimilarity b/w the ChemE curriculum at my current school vs at Columbia, in addition, would cause me to lose some credits.
Sometimes, I feel like the main motivation behind my need to go to Columbia is the overwhelming academic stress that Cornell ChemE has imposed on me. But at the same time, I've already got several wonderful activities going on, and have built some solid foundations w/ a few professors here. When I go to Columbia, everything's starting over again. And I'm not sure if it's worth it to take such a risk.
So I'm really hoping to get some valuable inputs from current Columbia students/alumni. Your opinion is HIGHLY APPRECIATED, thanks so much.</p>
<p>In terms of "rankings,"
A Cornell degree will do you much better if you want to be an actual engineer.
A Columbia degree will do you much better if you want to be anything else.</p>
<p>The thing is that I'm not so sure if I'll actually go on becoming an engineer since I'm definitely not one of those hardcore ppl in my school. But is there really a significant discrepancy in terms of engineering education b/w Cornell and Columbia SEAS?</p>
<p>I wouldn't say that there's that much of a difference in terms of education, except that Cornell is more focused while Columbia requires you to expand out a little more...but there is a difference in terms of reputation in that Cornell is considered better at engineering, although if you look at the rankings, that gap is definitely closing.
Although, it's ultimately more what you do at a school than it is the school's reputation, so I don't think you could go wrong either way.</p>
<p>I am NOT a Columbia person, but here my 2 cents anyway.</p>
<p>If you're transferring for purposes of reducing academic stress I'm not so sure your goals will be fulfilled. I know Cornell is very very tough, but I doubt Columbia is any slacker school either, particularly in Chem E.</p>
<p>I know someone who transferred away from Chem E at SEAS to an easier engineering major there, for essentially the same reason.</p>
<p>You might consider opportunities for doing the same at Cornell. It's a bigger engineering school I believe, so if anything there should be more diversification options there. There are probably areas of environmental engineering, ag engineering, others too that are themselves very interesting, draw on your prior chem e work , but are a bit less intense.</p>
<p>Chem E is just a tough major.</p>
<p>So much depends on your personal goals and objectives, and why you wanted to transfer in the first place, it's hard to advise.</p>
<p>Whatever your planned course of studies, I suggest comparing the relative upper-level electives that will be available to you at each school. And the number of recruiters who come to the respective campuses hunting for employees in that specific area.</p>
<p>Another thing that occurs to me, after re-reading your post:</p>
<p>Are you having any fun?</p>
<p>I mean all your comments seem focused on grades and things undertaken for purposes of pleasing some future grad school, as opposed to personal interest and passion for learning.</p>
<p>Maybe rather than transferring you should join the ski club, or something. Join a coop they are great.</p>
<p>I apologize if this is out of line.</p>
<p>I understand that ChemE is a tough major in general, but I would never give it up for any other eng. majors. It's just when the stress gets to me from all the workload and everything, there's hardly any place to escape.
Cornell, known for its remote location in upstate NY, pretty much takes up the entire town of Ithaca. Even if you try to get away from the campus to look for a place where you can finally breathe, you can't. Outside of Cornell is still Cornell. School=Social life, and that is something I really dislike about the place.</p>
<p>You aren't looking hard enough. Or you don't have a car.</p>
<p>If you do:</p>
<p>-Drive out past the octopus, take a winery tour.
-Rent a boat from Stewart park and go out on Cayuga Lake.
-There are about 4 of the most beautiful state parks ringing Ithaca, do some hiking.
-Go skiing at Greek Peak.
-Ithaca has an amazing music scene. completely unrelated to Cornell, find it.
-Go out to the Rongo in Trumansburg. With a designated driver.
-Walk around the Plantations; ok it's Cornell but it doesn't feel like it. </p>
<p>In actuality, Ithaca is a beautiful place and there's a ton to do there that has nothing to do with Cornell. But you need a car. And maybe some inspiration.</p>
<p>Try living downtown, that might help too.</p>
<p>Aside from all the above, you should be able to find considerable diversions right around the campus itself; it's huge and diverse.</p>
<p>OR hey, transfer to Columbia, could do worse.</p>
<p>too bad, ain't got a car. Plus I'm not a nature lover, the city is way more appealing to me. But even if I don't get into Columbia SEAS, at least I'm glad that I'm still getting a decent education at my current school.
Thanks so much for your input, monydad, although u don't go to Columbia.</p>
<p>I guess I should be somewhat familiar with your viewpoint, since my own daughter would not apply to Cornell and will be across the street from Columbia next year. Different strokes.</p>
<p>If you stay in Ithaca see there's some way you can finagle a car; it might make a big difference for you, nature aside. Good luck.</p>
<p>all i'll say is, ChemE is probably columbia's most rigorous major, and it is respected in the industry.</p>
<p>while the claim you made is probably true, I actually happen to know a grad TA that graduated from CU ChemE recently in my current school, and he is not really "that good", relatively speaking, compare to most undergrad ChemEs at Cornell. And I assume he was probably not doing too bad when he was still at CU since he did, afterall, get into Cornell for grad school.
But again, one person, of course, cannot represent everything about CU SEAS. Thanks for your input anyway.</p>
<p>i know a bunch of royal jerks at harvard, too. doesn't make me want to go to HBS any less.</p>
<p>you make a very good pt, but the interesting about that CU guy at my school is that not only he had no legacy (when he was admitted into SEAS), but he was also the bookworm type who spends like 24 hrs/day, 7days/wk on schoolwork. And he still looks bad before Cornell engineers.
But I think I'm still seriously considering attending SEAS for now if I'm lucky enough to get in. NYC is unbeatable compare to...pretty much anywhere.</p>
<p>If you really can't decide, flip a coin. It won't tell you where you should go, but it will tell you where you DON'T want to go.</p>
<p>Very funny, but as I've already said in my last thread, I am deciding on attending SEAS at this pt, if I get in that is.</p>