<p>Hi I'm a Science student interested in doing a year in the US, I have a large list of Universities to choose from however my favourite three are Cornell, Berkeley and UPenn. Can you give me some recommendations? I am especially interested in Biology, playing soccer while in the US and doing some politics subjects. Haha theres a wierd combo but yeah tell me which you guys think is best and why.</p>
<p>Upenn
Cornell
Berkeley</p>
<p>If you go to the Berkeley sub-forum, there is a thread called 8 reasons not to attend Berkeley. Check it out. I was actually at berkeley over this weekend for a debate tournament. The campus is very pretty with trees all over and a stream, but the buildings are just ok. I dont know as much about cornell, but I do believe that the University of Penn trumps both of them.</p>
<p>I think Cornell would be best if you don't mind winter. Biology is very strong at Cornell (and also at the other two). Western NY is a soccer hotbed. US Soccer Hall of Fame is near Ithaca (Oneonta). Intramural soccer at Cornell...maybe other 2 also. Professional soccer teams in nearby NYC, Syracuse, and Rochester. Penn is in a kinda bad part of Philladelphia but would be good if you want to experience a large city and great urban culture. Berkeley is very big (maybe too big), nice climate, a mix of great students and above average students. Berkeley is perhaps the strongest program in biology, at least at the graduate level. Lots of cultural opportunities in the Berkeley area.</p>
<p>i'd second Cornell. Very strong bio dept. with dozens and dozens of available courses.</p>
<p>My abroad program means that I can only choose most of my subjects are Cornell from the CALS program, is anyone aware of where I can get a list of second year subjects they offer or someone have an idea of how large their range is? It would be much appreciated, btw my first thought was that Cornell would be the best but I have been scared off by their winter a little bit, same goes for UPenn. Because I'm from Melbourne Australia anything under 15 degrees centigrade is very cold for me. Thanks for your replies.</p>
<p>
[quote]
anything under 15 degrees centigrade is very cold for me.
[/quote]
temperatures fall well below that, haha. but i doubt you'd sacrifice the educational experience because of some snow.</p>
<p>I looked it up for you. The average temperature during the winter is -6.1 Centigrade, but I'm sure it fluctuates up and down.</p>
<p>Seriously how can you have a good soccer league when its freaking freezing most of year round!</p>
<p>either </p>
<p>A) have some balls and play outside</p>
<p>B) indoor soccer stuff. </p>
<p>really, come to Cornell for the superb academics not for soccer. </p>
<p>Check the CALS website for course offerings. They should have it listed (plenty of bio courses are in CALS)</p>
<p>to clarify, it's only "freezing" from late november until early march. Certainly not year round</p>
<p>Yeah I realise soccer isnt the best reason to go to a certain college, more a side interest. Hmm I cant find a subject listing, can you find me a link, I would much appreciate it. I'm very interested in doing some philosophy or history subjects outside of that, how does Cornell do for these? Also spoke to a UCLA prof who was complaining about how Cornell is really depressing, can you counter this or is this true? Really I am looking at studying very hard but I do like a cheerful/fun campus!</p>
<p>also, although it's cold at Cornell, UPenn has some winter weather too. Don't overlook Cornell because you think it'll be everlasting spring/summer at UPenn</p>
<p>Thanks Lemonhead, yeah atm its more that comparatively Berkeley will be everlasting summer. But Upenn has the ease of transport as an advantage, it will be my first time in the US and I would love to be able to explore... Cornell seems to be a lot harder to go anywhere from at least by PT.</p>
<p>this is also true, UPenn is in an area where NYC and Philly are more accessible. Honestly I would only pick Cornell over UPenn cuz i've been up and down the east coast more times than i can count, and the isolation doesn't bother me (plus i love skiing and lets face it, Cornell has the upperhand on UPenn there). But if you're also interested in exploring UPenn is probably a better pick for you in my opinion. If it helps, i've heard the UPenn campus is great.</p>
<p>aussie:</p>
<p>I did a quick search and came up with this page:</p>
<p>be sure to check out this site as well:</p>
<p><a href="http://www.bio.cornell.edu/%5B/url%5D">http://www.bio.cornell.edu/</a></p>
<p>"I'm very interested in doing some philosophy or history subjects outside of that, how does Cornell do for these?"</p>
<p>Cornell is fantastic in both departments. There will be dozens of classes in these subject that you will be able to take. No worries. </p>
<p>"Also spoke to a UCLA prof who was complaining about how Cornell is really depressing, can you counter this or is this true?" Give me a break. It might be depressing if you expect to do no work and still receive fantastic grades. Cornell is a wonderful atmosphere with 13,000 of the most driven and intelligent students in the world. It's a work hard/play hard atmosphere. </p>
<p>For transportation - there is a huge bus system that services Cornell around the clock. Busses go to NYC weekly (and i think daily on the weekends) for like $50 a round trip. There is also an ivy-to-ivy bus line that goes to the other ivy league schools, but I dont know the exact details of this. As a new student, you'd get a free bus pass on behalf of Cornell that will allow you to use the local bus system for free. I dont have a car on campus but i've never ever been in a situation where I really needed to be some place and I couldn't get there. In the worst situation, you'll likely have a few friends with cars on campus.</p>
<p>The fact is... all 3 of them are large research institutions of about nearly the same (very high) quality & prestige... so pick based on which is the best physical & social environment for YOU.
Definitely ignore anyone who tries to convince you that one is significantly, objectively better than any of the others... the differences in quality/prestige are very insignificant.</p>
<p>Thanks Harvard<em>and</em>Berkeley I realise that its my decision, however being an international transfer I don't get to have a good feel for universities except through other peoples eyes. Thanks also to gomestar, I'm looking for posts such as yours which argue militantly (or at least passionately) for your university, yeah good post. I think at the moment my preferences are Cornell, Berkeley then Upenn. Overall I've recieved the most info from Cornell and I am very impressed by its facilities. I also get the hard working, hard playing story from those I talk to, which is my scene! Cheers everyone. Please keep posting your comments, thoughts and the like.</p>
<p>no cornell. cornell is depressing.</p>
<p>PENN ALL THE WAY.</p>
<p>penn then berkeley then cornell</p>
<p>Cornell is a little isolated, but it's in a rich town (Ithaca). Coming from Australia, you could probably adapt easily in this regard unless you live inner city somewhere.</p>
<p>It is significantly colder but again, this is all in the process of learning - would one abstain from vacationing in Russia because it was cold as hell? (Well, some might, but I wouldn't!)</p>
<p>My friend is a Penn grad. He said that Penn was quite the cold place.</p>
<p>I say that at this point, base it on the externalities.</p>