Cornell CAS Tanner Dean's Scholar vs. UC Berkeley College of Chemistry (Chemistry major/Pre-Med)

College Search & Selection
1

<p>Hi, I am a high school senior from Illinois who is currently deciding between Cornell CAS (which nominated me as a Tanner Dean's Scholar) and UC Berkeley College of Chemistry. I intend to major in Chemistry and go straight to medical school after my undergraduate education.</p>

<p>I am not really sure which to choose. My parents really want me to pick Berkeley because it trounces Cornell in nearly every international ranking list and because it is in California (they love the state for its weather). They view Berkeley as considerably more prestigious, especially since my relatives in Asia have heard of it but have never heard of Cornell. I originally really badly wanted to go to Berkeley for its epic chemistry program, but now I am finding the allure of an Ivy League like Cornell to be very strong. In addition, Cornell is offering me a considerably more generous financial aid package than Berkeley, and Cornell would actually be cheaper for us than Berkeley.</p>

<p>Any thoughts?</p>

2

<p>It’s a nice choice to have. I think your parents are making too much of rankings. I don’t think you should decide on that because the caliber of these colleges are so high. Anyway they are probably looking at grad school rankings. Making a decision based on impressing relatives is something I can’t comprehend. Looking at cost is just smart. Are you parents going to be moving with you to college and enjoying the weather? Tell them to book a family vacation to CA.</p>

<p>I’d try to dig down and examine what the experience of being a student at each is. And what the type of opportunities you would have to do undergraduate research.</p>

3

<p>Your parents have excellent taste. :)</p>