<p>I know that there have been several other threads comparing Cornell with many other schools, but my case may be a little bit different...I'm trying to decide between Cornell Engineering and Dartmouth. I am pretty sure that I want to do engineering as an undergrad, and I have been considering going into patent law beyond that (as opposed to acually becoming an engineer or something of that nature). Also, I could see pre-med being a viable option for me. I'm still mostly undecided, but I do have some general direction.</p>
<p>That said, here's my dilemma: Cornell seems to offer a much stronger academic climate specifically for engineering, but I think that I can relate to the environment of Dartmouth a little better. If I were to go to Cornell, I would most likely major in chemical engineering. At Dartmouth, however, my options seem to be a little bit more limited. I guess it would have to be "Engineering Sciences" instead of anything more specific, but also I hear that it is a 5 year program. With AP Credit, it <em>could</em> become 4 years. Also, given my interests and indecisiveness, I think chemistry might perhaps be a better option if I go to Dartmouth. If I do chemistry instead, would that eliminate any of my post-undergrad options (i.e., law or medicine)? I think that I would be happy at either school, but my gut instinct is leaning me toward Dartmouth, although Cornell may be a better academic fit.</p>
<p>Other things to consider: I like the size of Dartmouth. Is there anything that is lost in this regard by going to Cornell, which is obviously larger? They still seem to have a comparable faculty-to-student ratio. Also, each individual college at cornell seems to be fairly small, but does that compensate at all? Additionally, while I am mostly certain that I want to pursue either engineering or chemistry, I am not completely sure that that is I want to do, which makes me think that Dartmouth may be a better option, although I suppose I <em>could</em> transer colleges at cornell if I were to change my mind.</p>
<p>Any advice or insight would be greatly appreciated.</p>
<p>Hi:
My d and I just got back from visiting Cornell yesterday and we were pleasantly surprised.<br>
Apparently it is relatively easy to transfer between colleges at Cornell, and credit is accepted for most APs if you score 4 or better (I think you get 8 credits for a 4 on Calc BC if you are in Arts and Sciences, and 4 credits for BC if you are in Engineering......).
Also, four years ago, Cornell made a big effort to help freshman ( who had been spread out around the large campus) to adjust more easily to the school, and it seems to be paying off.. All freshmen now live in close communities on the North side of campus, and they may specify a choice of " living community" --- dorms specialized to an interest. There's a music dorm, a performing arts dorm, an environmental dorm, an international dorm, etc, etc. These changes have made the university much more friendly for freshmen, in addition to being hotbeds of interesting activities and parties. In short, it now has a small school feel with large school options. The freshmen community centers are also good meeting places. There are about 1,000 freshmen in the Arts and Sciences college.... and as an Engineering major you may take classes in Arts and Sciences and other schools such as Art and Architecture, so it opens up many options as you become an upperclassman... and also keeps your interest level high....</p>
<p>Another positive-- the food is fantastic--- we ate at the Purcell cafeteria, and the Mongolian grill is fabulous.. plus the ice cream is home made. The town of Ithaca is cute and probably has more shopping and eateries than Hanover.<br>
The study abroad is also excellent--- with options in Australia, China, Europe, etc. etc....</p>
<p>The above said, Dartmouth has a slight edge over Cornell in overall reputation, although both are very well respected Ivys. Dartmouth also operates on a rather grueling quarter system---(I think that is what it is called) so that might be a factor that outweighs its prestige edge..... </p>
<p>You should visit both and ask LOTS of questions..... One last thing-- I think Cornell grads have an 85% acceptance rate to medical school....
Good luck in your decision....!</p>
<p>bulldogbull, you don't sound like you're a good fit for Dartmouth. By right of the very fact that considering Dartmouth means considering changing YOUR plans to FIT the school, you don't seem like a good fit. Having said that, majoring in chemistry at Dartmouth would not damage your postgraduate plans (except I suppose if those plans could have been chemical engineering). However, I believe you will have far better results as a chemical engineer coming out of Cornell in the eyes of graduate admissions committees. Grad schools love engineers, especially engineers out of Cornell, where the work ethic and determination necessary to meet the grade are respected nationwide.</p>
<p>I would also have to disagree with the claim that Dartmouth has a better name than Cornell. First of all, let's consider the world. People in foreign countries know nothing about Dartmouth because Dartmouth doesn't come close to the international footstep (mainly in research and development) that schools like Cornell, Harvard, UC Berkeley, MIT, UMichigan, Cambridge, etc. have. Now let's look at the U.S. Yes, Dartmouth is more selective, and yes that gives it a bit of a boost in the Ivy Leage heirarchy, but the fact of the matter is that Dartmouth and Brown sort of play in their own little sandbox in the Ivy League. Cornell might get slack in the heirarchy but it still plays with the big boys. Dartmouth is very small and it attracts very specific students, the kind of student looking for a LAC.</p>
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The above said, Dartmouth has a slight edge over Cornell in overall reputation, although both are very well respected Ivys. Dartmouth also operates on a rather grueling quarter system---(I think that is what it is called) so that might be a factor that outweighs its prestige edge.....
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<p>tho i usually don't believe in rankings, i'm forced to cite 1 now Cornells ranked #14 in THES and Dartmouth's #117...thats a 103 rank different...slight edge for dartmotuh eh? And Cornells way ahead for sciences...</p>
<p>Also, Engineering at Cornell is rally the best available...ive said this a ltta times but Cornell offers u the best UG research experience available...all said, Dartmouth is an LAC, engineering is NOT its forte.</p>
<p>The OP already decided on Dartmouth after attending Dimensions. Congratulations on your decision, bulldogbill. You made a tough decision and it must feel great that you don't have to think about it anymore.</p>
<p>ASP (Arjun Shankar Prakash),
Personally i agree with you that Cornell offers much more than Dartmouth, but... east coast snobs would usually encourage their kids to go to Dartmouth undergrad over Cornell.... cuz that's the nature of men--- they need to be exclusionary to feel good about themselves...and they play endless games to ensure that they are "special..."</p>
<p>The kind of kids that got into Dartmouth from my ds school play the stats game to the maximum with less emphasis on integrity.. (I had one Dartmouth acceptee tell me that its ok to maim a pigeon with your car in central park because there "are so many of them......" I am not a big animal rights person, but this kind of ruthless thinking is scary to me...... if you can avoid hurting an animal why maim it for no reason? ) </p>
<p>On the other hand, my experience with student integrity and values at Cornell was pleasantly surprising: My hubby lost his bank card in the machine there, and by the time we got back to the machine an hour later, it was gone. At 10 pm we called the credit card company to find out that a good samaritan Cornell student had already called and cancelled the card for us!! This little act of "Cornellian integrity" by a stranger was extremely important to me ...and it sure beats maiming a hapless pigeon for no reason! </p>
<p>Anyway, Cornell does beat Brown in the US News rankings.....so don't get bent out of shape over Dartmouth... just remember the pain wracked pigeon with the broken wing...tee hee......</p>
<p>Characterizing Datmouth based on one statement made by someone accepted to Dartmouth does not begin to approach rationality. Cornell may have a better engineering program, but Dartmouth's Thayer School is no disgrace. At Dartmouth you will receive personal attention and more face time with professors. Perhaps this is a trade-off for a lesser amount of research opportunities. A ranking of US colleges by prestige was posted somewhere on CC and it listed Dartmouth as #5. Rankings are what they are, so take that or leave that as you will. Dartmouth also has a medical school, so pre-med advising and opportunities at Dartmouth will exist, as I'm sure they will at Cornell. With regard to you possible interest in law, Dartmouth boasts one of 2 undergraduate law journals in the country. Dartmouth gives more options for those undecided, but you must decide for yourself.</p>