Cornell CAS vs Dartmouth

Colleges and Universities A-Z Cornell University
1

<p>I am interested in both of these excellent institutions and was wondering if anyone could comment on the strength of the following programs (and compare Dartmouth to Cornell, and vice versa), and which ones Cornell/Dartmouth is better at (this is subjective, but it can be your opinion (which I hope is supported)):
Chemistry
Biology (Biological Sciences)
Mathematics (both pure and applied)
Astronomy
History
possibly interested in -
Economics
Government
Physics</p>

<p>Any imput would be great, especially from current/former students.</p>

2

<p>Astronomy = Carl Sagan = Cornell</p>

3

<p>as a Cornellian, i have to say Dartmouth does it better.
wth?
you know what the answer’s going to be if you post on a cornell thread.
furthermore, how on earth would we know how those subectS, not even one, but a whole litany of subjects, compares to those of Dartmouth?
If you’re referring to rankings, you know very well that you can just look that up on google.</p>

4

<p>Well, I will try to be unbiased. Cornell is generally better at hard sciences/mathematics. Dartmouth is probably better at the rest, and are known for their economics program.</p>

5

<p>@rlaehgund:</p>

<p>The point was to see what actual students thought of the programs, rather than just looking up a bunch of online ratings, as I stated earlier. Furthermore, I posted on the Cornell section because I know that a lot more people make posts on it as opposed to the Dartmouth one–so I thought I would get more feedback by posting on the Cornell forums.</p>

<p>I hope this makes sense to you now.</p>

<p>Thank you for the input CornellPerson.</p>

6

<p>Also, you don’t have to neccessarily know. Any specific knowledge about some of the programs that may be relevant, about either college, would be useful. Cornell and Dartmouth are my top 2 schools, and I am trying to decide which one to apply early to (I’m beginning to think I should just apply regular to both and give my self more time to decide… but I would really like to apply to one of them early if I can).</p>

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<p>my point was this:
how would a cornellian know the strength of a program relative to dartmouth, unless he/she has attended both schools, which is unlikely?
whatever the posters say here is probably based on rankings/ reputations that you’re trying to avoid.</p>

<p>i’m sorry if i upset your feelings; i shouldn’t have been so aggressive.
i’m not sure about dartmouth, but i know cornell has early decision, which i don’t really recommend, seeing as you seem to be wavering between the two.
don’t do ED unless your 100% sure that you’re committed.</p>

8

<p>My D was accepted at both chose Cornell because she now wants engineering. When she applied to both she was really undecided. Cornell has a stronger and more varied engineering program. Both had great undergrad biology programs although Cornell’s has more variety. </p>

<p>I also think it depends on what you are looking for. At Dartmouth, the classes are much smaller and there is more one on one attention with your profs especially in your first 2 years. The student body is smaller too–so you can be on sports teams even if you are not a top athlete. You don’t feel like a number in a crowd. At Cornell, there is more competition for spots on the athletic teams because there are more students. Having more students gives you more options for clubs, sports, social events, etc.</p>

<p>Cornell is a much larger school and is a research university so there are lots of opportunities to do research if that interests you. You will have more large classes in your first 2 years at Cornell vs Dartmouth. </p>

<p>Dartmouth was rated #1 in undergraduate teaching. They hire professors that love to teach. Research is not a main focus there like it is at Cornell. But you will have tons of access to your professors which is neat too. Students have dinner and coffee with their profs a lot and I hear that profs notice if you miss class and will email you about why you are not there. </p>

<p>I think both schools are amazing. My D is very independent and would be successful at either school but fell in love with all of the great opportunities in the engineering program at Cornell.</p>

<p>I was actually rooting for Dartmouth until she decided that engineering was her thing. I would have gone there if I was choosing because I would have enjoyed all of the interactions with the professors. I also think Dartmouth is great if you are undecided as you will have frequent contact with professors who can offer you guidance and you are not committed in a certain college like you are at Cornell. The quarter system at Dartmouth allows you to take more classes each year so you can figure out what you like (althouth that also means more finals!). You can have faculty interaction at Cornell too, but you have to seek it out a bit more and if you change majors say from Engineering to Biology, it may require you to transfer colleges which can be difficult depending on grades, etc.</p>

<p>Both schools have great outdoor programs and are in beautiful settings. I also think that Dartmouth had a strong international study program and really encourages students to study abroad.</p>

<p>Dartmouth is on the quarter system and had the D plan which is unique and lends itself to some nice internship opportunities. But, at Cornell, if you want to do research, there are tons of opportunities even as a freshman. Cornell is on semesters. I also think that Dartmouth requires you to be fluent in a foreign language upon graduation. At Cornell, it depends on the college you are attending.</p>

<p>In short, Dartmouth is more like a liberal arts college and Cornell is more like a large research universtiy. Both provide an excellent education. You have to figure out which way you prefer to learn and also look at who has the best program for your areas of interest.</p>

<p>Good luck!</p>

9

<p>

This is just a personal opinion. I never liked the quarter system because everything is so crammed. When people in the semester system have more time to digest everything, people in the quarter system have to know everything ASAP. It’s true that you get to take more classes though :)</p>

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<p>Perhaps I’m biased, but I’d choose Cornell just for the depth and sheer number of courses. Not only are you able to take the many classes in CAS, but you’d also be able to take, say, a wines class from the best hotel school in the world as well.</p>

<p>For fun, take a look at this: <a href=“http://courses.cuinfo.cornell.edu/[/url]”>http://courses.cuinfo.cornell.edu/&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

11

<p>Dartmouth is seriously one of the most amazing undergrad experiences in the world. My brother got a grant to do research in London, lived in Africa for an Environmental Studies program even though he was an econ major, and got the job of his choice (he’s now in Private Equity at one of the best firms in the world). At his wedding there were probably 50 Dartmouth alums all of whom were super successful yet all super cool. Its such a chill Ivy and its special. I would say even vs. Columbia, Yale, or Penn its far more unique. He told me that at his 10 year almost half his class showed up and they all help each other and remain good friends. I think its an experience that can’t be recreated anywhere. I love Brown but I think Dartmouth kids do get a bigger adventure.</p>

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<p>i think dartmouth would be nominally to mildly better at economics and government. the smaller graduating class size may also make it more of a tight knit place relative to the other ivies (although you can probably recreate that feeling anywhere, its mostly up to you). In bio, physics, math, and chem Cornell wins hands down ( I mean we have a particle accelerator, come on). Regardless, you would still be able to get a great education in any of the areas at cornell and dartmouth but you would have more varied science courses and better research opportunies in ithaca.</p>

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<p>Thanks for all the input so far everyone. It is very helpful :)</p>

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<p>Yeah but trust me at the undergrad level it doesnt matter. In fact its way better to go to a smaller school like Dartmouth or Brown where you will know a professor like a friend and have dinner at her house. I just dont get the big Uni idea. My oldest brother went to Harvard, my middle bro went to Dartmouth and it isn’t even close how much my Dartmouth brother loves his school and how much it did for him. He just bought my parents a huge house in florida and he was class of 99. And he has a ton of friends who are equally successful yet so cool you would never know it. I just dont fell like Cornell, Columbia, or Penn kids are that cool.</p>

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<p>Im not sure where ur going with the “bought my parents a huge house in FL” thing. You shouldnt have a problem being fairly succesful coming out of an ivy if u have a decent plan (as in a relatively practical major in engineering, biz/finance, science, math). And that said, a lot of ur success will depend on u and not ur undergrad college. I dont know exactly how ur comparing coolness of Cornell/Columbia/Penn students. At best we can compare academics. Our experiences are too small to compare the personalities of the student bodies.</p>

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<p>D just graduated from Cornell and had a wonderful education and experience. She got to know professors personally-- eating dinner with or going to their home, etc. At the end of her internship last summer, she was offered a great job upon graduation. She started her job two weeks ago in NYC and is living in a luxury apartment with two other Cornell grads working in equally good jobs. She had a great semester abroad experience and took many interesting and varied classes at Cornell. </p>

<p>Both schools are great schools. But I think the opportunities are greater and more diverse at Cornell.</p>

17

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<p>Guess what? That tends to happen a lot at Cornell as well. One of the fantastic things about Cornell is that it contains all of the benefits of both a) a small collegetown atmosphere and b) the resources of a major research university. </p>

<p>I wouldn’t compare the Harvard experience to the Cornell experience. Harvard is atrocious for having un-accessible professors. Cornell professors are very approachable and myself and many of my friends return to chat with their professors now even having graduated five years out.</p>

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<p>Cornell is pretty strong in the fields you mentioned and has a good community…something to consider when choosing a college.</p>

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<p>Unless you are applying ED, apply to both and hopefully you will only get into one of the two so you don’t have to make the decision. =]</p>