<p>My brother planed to attend Cornell CAS. However, he got off the waiting list at Brown. Now he just got off the waiting list at Duke. He also still has UMich (Literature, Science, and the Arts) as an option. He's not sure what he wants to major in yet. It would cost about the same if he attends Cornell, Brown, or Duke. UMich is about $9000 cheaper/year. All four options are still under his consideration according to him. We are having this family debate on which school he should attend. How do these schools compare.</p>
<p>The thing that makes a school great is how strong the student body is. It's what attracts employers and causes people to perform their best. With that in mind, I'd go with Duke.</p>
<p>Brown .</p>
<p>I would either choose Brown for its open curriculum and Providence or Duke for its ib-recruitment and social life.</p>
<p>That's just what I like though.</p>
<p>We really need to know more about your brother.</p>
<p>It sucks because your brother didn't get to visit all of these schools during the academic year as an admitted student. I take it he visited Cornell? Did he enjoy his time in Ithaca?</p>
<p>Academically:</p>
<p>Brown: Open curriculum and chance to explore. Specialties in humanities and applied math. You can chart your own intellectual path, but will you get lost along the way?</p>
<p>Duke: More regimented curriculum, with chances to explore. Probably the strongest in the social sciences. Most pre-professional (e.g. doctors, lawyers, bankers)</p>
<p>Cornell: More regimented curriculum. The strongest for the hard sciences, with very strong humanities (e.g. English, Classics, Theater, Music) as well. As with Brown, sends a higher percentage of students on for PhDs than Duke.</p>
<p>Michigan: Will feel the most like a big state school, because it is a big state school. Outside of the most popular majors (psychology and economics) you will be given a LOT of exposure to senior faculty. Probably just as much as the other three.</p>
<p>Socially:</p>
<p>Brown: Laid back student body, intellectually-minded. Most everybody dorms. The closest to feeling like a LAC. Not for everyone. Nobody really cares about sports.</p>
<p>Duke: Preppy student body, bright and well-rounded, lot's of campus spirit, but homogeneous feel. Big time basketball. Most everybody dorms. Not for everyone.</p>
<p>Cornell: Very diverse student body. Down to earth, but academically intense. All freshmen dorm, than you have the choice of seeking Greek life, residential colleges, program houses (e.g. ecology themed housing, music themed housing) co-ops, unaffiliated upperclassmen dorms, and bountiful off-campus housing. A little bit of everything for everyone, but because of that, it's not for everyone. Big time hockey.</p>
<p>Michigan: Fantastic large research university. $36k cheaper when everything that is said and done. Big time football and hockey. Pretty much for everybody.</p>
<p>Ann Arbor, Providence, and Ithaca are all pretty good college towns. And each has their attractions. Durham on the other hand...</p>
<p>$36,000 less to attend Michigan. That's a lot of money.</p>
<p>If Brown's costs are similar to Duke and Cornell, I'd choose Brown...but that's me.</p>
<p>UMich + ~$36k in savings is also a great choice...</p>
<p>Decisions, decisions...</p>
<p>He visited all of these schools except for UMich. He liked all of their campuses, but he still can't make a clear decision. And the family's very divided on this issue as well. UMich is $9000 less for the first year. However, if he attends one of the private schools, that school's going to increase his need-based financial aid next year because I will be going to college as well.</p>
<p>Where do you want him to go?</p>
<p>Either Cornell or Duke since I liked Cornell and Duke the most while visiting last summer. He wants to go to the school that provides the greatest intellectual challenge though.</p>
<p>i thought cornell started dropping all need-based loans starting this year and replaced them with grants for middle-class families. how does his cornell fin. aid look compared to other schools?</p>
<p>goto Duke.</p>
<p>Perhaps he should visit Michigan first, although I would first make sure it isn't too late for him to enroll. Assuming he was admitted before April 1, the deadline for securing his spot would have been in May.</p>
<p>His got until July 9th to respond to UMich. The differences between the costs of attending private schools are less than $2000.</p>
<p>Maybe he should try Brown. At least he gets the opportunity to explore his interests, especially since he has no idea what he wants.</p>
<p>But UMich's offer is very good. Tough choice! Good luck and do tell us which school he is going to choose.</p>
<p>Well then, he should visit Michigan ASAP. I was in a similar position as your brother and my visits made all the difference. Academically, he cannot go wrong. It really boils down to fit. Where will he be happiest? Which setting can he thrive in the most?</p>
<p>
[quote]
Either Cornell or Duke since I liked Cornell and Duke the most while visiting last summer. He wants to go to the school that provides the greatest intellectual challenge though.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>Well that is up to him. Not the school. All three are going to be the equivalent in terms of intellectual challenge, though he will probably have to work hardest at Cornell, especially if he is in the natural or physical sciences.</p>
<p>Brown and Cornell are probably just a tiny bit more intellectually-oriented than Duke. That said, about 10 percent of all alums from these schools go on to earn a PhD.</p>
<p>But, again, Brown is going to be more of an intellectual, hipsterish vibe and Cornell is going to be a bit more jeans and flannels down to Earth and/or practical.</p>
<p>essentially, on this forum, </p>
<ol>
<li>Duke backers will try to tell you that HYPSM is lacking a D, and it is way ahead of Cornell and Brown, the "bottom" of the ivy league.</li>
<li>Cornell folks will tell you that Cornell is tops in every field, Cornell's selectivity is low because of its size, but will not give Michigan a break in selectivity even tho it's twice the size of Cornell. And they will tell you that Cornell CAS is HYPSM material, and just as good as Duke, if not better.</li>
<li>Michigan folksin general will take Alex's stand that it's one of the top 15 Universities, and all 4 schools are in the same bracket, and that reputation wise, it is just as good, if not better than Cornell, Duke, Brown. Same selectivity arguments as Cornell, but we concede that Cornell is more selective.</li>
<li>There doesn't seem to be a lot of Brown threads. </li>
</ol>
<p>Ultimately, going to any of these schools will not hinder your ability to succeed in life. Having any of these school names on your resume will catch the HR folks' eyes and be equally impressive, until they interview you. (Duke backers will tell you i'm wrong and that Duke is a far more difficult school to get into than Michigan, blah blah)</p>
<p>The difference will be in your college experience, knowing what you want to get involved in college, will help you make this decision. If you do well at these schools, you'll be equally successful, if you have a sub 3.0 gpa at these schools, you are screwed regardless of which school you attend.</p>
<p>^ very true</p>
<p>"2. Cornell folks will tell you that Cornell is tops in every field, Cornell's selectivity is low because of its size, but will not give Michigan a break in selectivity even tho it's twice the size of Cornell. And they will tell you that Cornell CAS is HYPSM material, and just as good as Duke, if not better.
3. Michigan folksin general will take Alex's stand that it's one of the top 15 Universities, and all 4 schools are in the same bracket, and that reputation wise, it is just as good, if not better than Cornell, Duke, Brown. Same selectivity arguments as Cornell, but we concede that Cornell is more selective"</p>
<p>haven't seen much of those here, personally. Cornell CAS is good, but no one will say that it is as good as HYP. It is where it should be: top 15 in the nation. Again, Cornell is top 15. It is similar in quality to other top schools of its range, such as Johns Hopkins, Northwestern, U of Chicago, WashU, Brown, Duke, and some others.</p>