<p>I already know Cornell engineering >> Harvard engineering. My interests are only in things like CS/EECS/robotics and applications of cs.</p>
<p>Cornell seems like the obvious choice.</p>
<p>....but harvard has a huge wow name (better than cornells), but also has lots of potential for connections and networking etc.</p>
<p>It would feel horrible to turn down Harvard. (I am still on the WAIT LIST at Harvard, but there is (i think) a good chance i might get in) What would be a better decision for my life (provided i actually get in to Harvard)? (I am interested in doing business school post college at Harvard or Stanford business school)</p>
<p>Any input would be awesome! (as of now i am going to Cornell engineering)</p>
<p>Basically at this point, it just depends which school you like better.</p>
<p>Does Harvard have a better "WOW!" name than Cornell? I suppose. Is Cornell still an extremely prestigious and recognized school? Yes.</p>
<p>Frankly it won't make an astounding difference no matter which you chose. I'm going to Cornell and one of my best friends is going to Harvard, yet I didn't even bother applying. Why? I just didn't like Harvard that much.</p>
<p>What you do where you choose to go has much more of an impact than what school you chose at this point. If you get pulled from Harvard's waitlist, awesome, just chose which school you like better.</p>
<p>That would be an extremely difficult decision - have you looked up the CS/ECE departments and faculty at each school? </p>
<p>I don't know about opportunities at Harvard, but there are tons of things for ECE/CS majors outside of class here, like tons of project teams (CUSat, DARPA, AUV, more that I'm missing I'm sure). If you are interested in research, maybe check out the research that's going on at both schools and see what interests you.</p>
<p>I am an ECE major here, and the CS/ECE professors I've had have been awesome. One of them, Jon Kleinberg, is considered one of the world's top researchers on social networks and search engines, and in his early/mid 30's has already won a MacArthur "genius" fellowship (plus tons of others) and a Nevanlinna Prize (the CS equivalent of the Fields Medal). Definitely what I consider an interesting application of CS.</p>
<p>But honestly, if I had gotten into Harvard (I didn't have a chance and didn't apply), I probably would have gone. Make your own choice, though. I doubt you'll have any better chances getting into a top business school coming from either. Cornell is well-recognized and has strong ties to all of the top schools - your admission to any of them would depend on your performance during undergrad (anywhere) and on your work experience after college.</p>
<p>You also might want to look up the sorts of employers Harvard engineers are hired by if they release that sort of information.</p>
<p>Why are you confident that you can get off the Harvard waitlist? The Harvard yield rate isn't exactly abysmal enough to give you a good chance. In fact, in previous years they've taken single-digit numbers off the wait list.</p>
<p>Have in mind that just like YOU know that Cornell engineering is much better, the people who will later hire you will probably know it too. So Harvard might have the name, but... just not in that domain.
Nevertheless, I'd choose the school I prefer overall, not just focus on the name.</p>
<p>Harvard engineering won't make people think "wow the engineering program sucks." If you decide by any chance to not do engineering (as is the case of many people,) Harvard gives you an edge in many other aspects. Both schools are excellent though.</p>
<p>Thanks guys; the input is really helpful. I am definitely leaning towards Cornell, but I'll see what happens with my status at Harvard.</p>
<p>@Ray192 - I know getting off Harvard's wait list is difficult. But, my father (who went to Harvard too :) )knows the Dean of Engineering (and the assistant Dean) pretty well and they have put in a good word for me. Harvard is very strict on connections for getting in, but since I made the wait list on my own, perhaps something can be done now. But, you're right, honestly, who knows?</p>
<p>Cornell is definitely better recognized for engineering (and the people who really matter in the industry know that). Since you are planning to go to business school the line becomes more blurry since you aren't going straight into the profession. I'd say go to where you feel more comfortable because both are great schools. Overall school vs. department is a hard choice.</p>
<p>I would pick Harvard since undergraduate engineering is very similar no matter where you go and yes if you do want to enter the business world the Harvard name will benefit you more and you will probably have a higher GPA at Harvard so take that into consideration because Cornell is grade-deflated.</p>
<p>^^ Well PMWannabe, I guess for people like you your GPA is one of the only thing that matters ;)</p>
<p>Cornell Engineering pwns Harvard Engineering (which isn't bad by any means, but given Harvard's reputation and strengths, engineering is sorely lacking).</p>
<p>It's not just the classes that are important in any research/experience oriented field, it's the research and experience you can get while working for the departments.</p>
<p>At the same time however, take note that if you later on choose not to become an engineer, Harvard has a slight edge in many other programs (more common ones, such as liberal arts). Many engineers at Cornell transfer out into another school, some because they can't handle the courseload (yes, some engineers spend hours on hours studying and still barely pull a B or B-), some because they're unwilling to put in the necessary effort (I almost couldn't believe it when I saw a fellow engineer play on a friend's Xbox 360 while griping over how hard his problem sets were, especially since he played the xbox from 2 pm until his dinnertime. He also griped how hard his calc class, which was probably because he never went to class and copied his HW from other ppl). Only a few engineers transfer out because they genuinely realize they are not interested in engineering anymore (ridiculously smart buddy of mine transferring out despite his 4.1 engineering GPA of pwnage!).</p>
<p>pre-medwannabe engineering is DEF not one of those programs that is the same all around. Cornell engineering is very well funded and there are soooooo many research opportunities. It is one of Cornells most well-recognized and respected programs so you would without-a-doubt learn more and do better with engineering there rather than Harvard. So it's not about which will provide u a better education in the engineering department but about prestige, which no matter what anyone says is always a factor (because Harvard as a school is obviously more well recognized than Cornell while Engineering as a department and obviously more well recognized than Harvard. Hard choice!). Have u chosen a school yet?</p>
<p>Cornell hands down. Yes, Harvard is a big name, but within engineering circles, Cornell engineering says a lot more than Harvard engineering. Even though Harvard's name is tempting, you have to think about the quality of the Engineering education you will get. Cornell's engineering programs is one of the best (and the people who will hire you know that). Apart from an amazing curriculum, and ridiculously nice funding, you have the opportunity to do real undergrad research (I have a friend who does undergrad research there, and it was published in Popular Science magazine, and many others, and he's still in undergrad!), co-ops, access to a great engineering alumni network, and you are practically guaranteed a job once you graduate. That being said, Cornell Engineering might make you cry because any of their majors is easily among the most difficult majors at Cornell, but if you survive it, the benefits are endless. Good Luck!</p>