<p>Go to Cornell if you want different but cold. Go to Duke if you want warm, but familiar. I'm biased toward Cornell but from the way you describe yourself, I think Duke might be more of a sure fit for you. I'm saying that mostly because of cold and rain.</p>
<p>Cornell isn't really cold; its climate throughout the year can be very polarized. For example, it can be very hot and humid in the summer and very cold during the winter.</p>
<p>I think it depends on how close you are with your family/friends from home. I am assuming you say Cornell is 12 hours away because you wouldn't be flying to and from school. 12 hours is a long way from home. Would you be comfortable at not being home for Thanksgiving? Would you be ok if your parents couldn't come up for parents weekend? Both Duke and Cornell are great schools, but to be 12 hours away (it's not the distance, I could be in Japan in 12 hours) from home is something to think about. If you lived within 4 hours of Cornell, you could always find a ride home, but that's not going to be as likely if you are 12 hours away.</p>
<p>Let me respond to the cold charge: you went there on April 7th, and it was cold in Ithaca, but it has been cold all over the Northeast since spring started. We haven't gotten into the spring-summer weather for some reason. The Northeast had a mild winter this year, so I guess, spring is kind of making up for it.</p>
<p>You'll get used to the climate after a while. Many people have. I remember a person on here who was from Texas going to Cornell and he adapted nicely.</p>
<p>if you can make some good friends (you will), distance shouldn't be a big issue at all. I have a few friends from the South Carolina area and they all grab rides home with each other if they don't want to fly. It works out well.</p>
<p>go to Cornell</p>
<p>"the major disadvantage is that I don't have the same amount of awe (I guess this is the right word) for it as I do for Cornell (I've had my eyes set on it my whole high school career)."</p>
<p>i feel like that's your answer right there. you've worked for 4 years to get into cornell, why wouldn't you take it now that it's there?</p>
<p>given the difference in prestige...
experience > name - research, visit, choose what's best for you</p>
<p>Go to Cornell. It'll be a different experience.</p>
<p>cornell 50 thousand
duke 50 thousand
for everything else there is a state school
the preferred school of people who cannot afford a 50 thousand dollar school</p>
<p>^Mastercard commercial?</p>