<p>I live in NY and my cousin has had some friends that go to Cornell and say it is very brainy and very cut-throat. Even my mom doesn't want me to go there because she thinks that I won't be happy since there will be a lot of competition. Is this true? I haven't visited the school yet, but it's my dream school...</p>
<p>I heard the same too 
but I don’t think that’s entirely true, a couple of people told me some people are actually nice and even assist in projects while just about a few are cutthroat.</p>
<p>definitely apply, if you have a chance, you should visit too!
I’m a recent alum and I can confirm that there are a lot of smart people at Cornell, and some of them are very competitive. you could also just call them passionate and motivated, since I their efforts aren’t so much aimed at bettering their classmates as they are at self-improvement and planning for their own futures.
I worked on group projects in a couple different kinds of classes, and for the most part my partners were all extremely cooperative. in most lines of work, being able to collaborate effectively is really useful, so it makes sense people would hone that skill. I encountered a few people whom I would consider “difficult” partners, but I consider them the exceptions, and I think you’d find people like them at any school.</p>
<p>@Lelyke @faustarp
That is really reassuring thank you so much! I was really scared that there would be really… obnoxious people. Right now I’m in the top 10 of my class and I can still feel tension about grades even though we’re all friends, and I don’t want to feel too much of that in college! Thanks again!</p>
<p>I really wouldn’t worry. I’m a sophomore bio major/pre-med, which is supposed to be super cut-throat, but I think its the opposite. Yes, grades are curved to B/B-, but with the classes being large (Organic Chemistry started with 1050 students) you don’t feel like you are in any competition with students, just the curve. I have gotten help from many students and I gladly help others.</p>