<p>Hello, I just got admitted to both Brown and Cornell, and I plan to pursue the premed route. I'm having trouble deciding which school to go to, since I know that Cornell is a more science oriented school, but there are rumors of grade deflation. Brown has a higher medical school acceptance rate for premeds, and easier access to bigger cities, and it helps that the medical school is on campus, but I like the environment better at cornell and it's medical school is really good. Please help me in deciding which school to go to, thank you.</p>
<p>From my research it’s not really grade deflation. Any school you go to will be challenging. Average GPA’s at these schools are all the same, better yet any top school is the same (I think ~3.4ish). Just take into account for Brown I think you have to build your own portfolio & they tell med schools not to focus so much on the grades I believe. Also look at premed advising - idk about Brown’s, but Cornell’s is supposedly fantastic. Prestige wise out of the ivies Cornell is top ranked (even world wide). Good luck although it seems you like Cornell better. - this is coming from a recent admit who had to research aswell. </p>
<p>It’s nice that you like the Cornell medical school, but you aren’t admitted to it. Decide based on what is under consideration–your undergrad college. Nice choices.</p>
<p>Cornell’s medical school is in NYC, not in Ithaca.</p>
<p>Thus brown has at least 3 aspects better than Cornell, from what you have cited. Also at Brown you can drop a class on the last day of instruction without any markings on your transcript of the drop, which means nobody will know you have messed up (not saying you will). Emma Watson chose Brown for its flexibility in student education choices (make your own major, take interesting classes without having to worry for grades, etc.)</p>
<p>You can still take interesting classes without having to worry about grades (just take them pass/fail) and Cornell is actually academically very flexible since you can pretty much enroll in any class you want (nobody cares about prerequisites), you can take as many classes as you want, and most majors don’t have too large a set of core requirements (aside from many of the engineering majors). The medical school not being on campus doesn’t really matter as there is still a lot of research going on at the Ithaca campus in medical-related topics and lots of graduate-level biology courses if you want to take those.</p>
<p>Cornell isn’t grade-deflated, but Brown is very grade-inflated - their average GPA is around 3.7 or 3.8. Thus it will probably be easier to get a high GPA at Brown which improves your chances of admission. However the science programs at Cornell are indeed better, and it is very doable to get a 4.0 (or above) at Cornell if you work hard.</p>
<p>Both are good choices.</p>
<p>Any thoughts when Columbia is thrown into the mix?</p>