<p>My son is trying to make a tough decision between these two schools. We live on east coast about 3 hrs from Cornell. University of Virginia is also in consideration but not as much. He was granted extensions on the time to respond because we submitted financial aid information late. The final decision will be his, but interested in your thoughts.</p>
<p>It would help if you gave more info (likely major, preference for campus, weight to all of these factors.)</p>
<p>If you are picking science or engineering, I would pick Cornell.</p>
<p>He is definitely not interested in engineering and is not set in stone on any major at the moment. He was accepted to CALS and was thinking of Economics as well as Environmental Science. But he could also decide to major in History and switch to CAS. Career wise, he may want to be a vet or that could change, and he might apply to dental school (interested in both) or work in business field. Really, I am not sure. He liked both campuses, but of course, ND has that special quality. There were great aspects about Cornell’s campus too. He thinks he could be happy at both.</p>
<p>Cornell: Large school with something for nearly everyone. Well-rounded university with strengths in arts, humanities, social sciences, and STEM fields…especially engineering and pre-med(if you can survive it) as well as many pre-professional fields like Hotel. Can get academically competitive at times. Work hard/play hard atmosphere. Politically leans center-left/liberalish…though the atmosphere is such that no one really cares if you’re liberal, conservative, don’t care, etc. </p>
<p>Notre Dame: Smaller school with strong school/sports spirit and closer knit campus community. Academic strengths are mainly in humanities/social sciences with respectable showing in natural sciences…but few I knew people from my STEM HS with STEM leanings ended up going there. Work hard/play hard atmosphere. Politically leans very conservative and conservative Catholic values will be front and center of the Notre Dame experience from friends/colleagues who are alums. If having an atmosphere dominated by such values and students who support them are not your college ideal…it might be a good idea to reconsider with a campus visit. Many more liberal Catholics I knew tended to prefer going to Georgetown or BC because the Catholic values espoused by the administration tends not to be perceived nearly as conservative…or dominant in the experience.</p>
<p>Can your S picture living 4 years on either campus? Because majors can and do change. Would your S have a problem with coed dorms–or single sex? Does he like lots of big time athletic teams–or very good teams with little rah rah? Does he want Greek life or not? Small class size or large o.k?<br>
Some of the questions I would ask. </p>
<p>Somewhat biased here in that our oldest will graduate from ND in May. Has been an absolutely fabulous experience for our family. She’s already boo hoo about the best years of her life coming to an end–and so are we. But…Cornell is fabulous, too. </p>
<p>Your S is blessed to have such wonderful options. </p>
<p>P.S. ND’s admin may be conservative…but would have to say that fair amount of students and professors quite liberal. Not sure I would base my decision on the “Catholicness”…</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>I think this is overstated. Most of the kids that go there are just regular people, not very conservative or very liberal. It is true that it is more known for being Catholic than BC or Georgetown, but that could just be because of its name (Latin for Our Lady), and of course, Touchdown Jesus. I think most kids want to go there because of the football and the tradition (besides being a good school.) </p>
<p>I think perceptions of Notre Dame are different on the East Coast than in the Midwest (and I think people in the Midwest have a more accurate appraisal of the atmosphere/student body because we know more people who have gone there.)</p>
<p>Thank you for the thoughful responses! I don’t think it would matter to him that much the dorm wasn’t coed (ND). He is Catholic, but politically more liberal. He doesn’t drink, although I am not so naive to believe that can’t change. He definitely loves ND sports and is atheltic. I do not think he cares about frats. </p>
<p>He visited both schools, althought the ND visit was a few years ago. It is a positive that Cornell is about 3 or so hrs away, but it is possible that I think he might come home every now and then on a weekend, but that may not be the case. </p>
<p>Most people where we live think the obvious decision is Cornell, but we have heard graduates say that you really do feel like part of a family when you attend ND and that never changes. </p>
<p>He may want to be a vet, and Cornell does offer more programs and research in that regard. However, about 100 Cornell students apply to their vet school, and 20 get accepted. I was wondering if it would be actually relatively easier to gain acceptance coming from another school with less applicants.</p>
<p>We were just joking on another thread about how much alums love ND. I think it is a very special place, though not as beloved here on CC. The vet question is the hard part, as it is extremely difficult to get into any vet school. I would take some time and look over the course catalogs to see which school has the best options for his varied interest. </p>
<p>Personally, I love ND.</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>Well, there are other vet schools, so I don’t think the admit rate for Cornell vet school should be an issue.</p>
<p>I don’t think it is easier or harder to get into vet school from either of these two. GPA, board scores, and relevant experience would probably make all the difference. And the animals won’t hold it against you for not going to an ivy.</p>
<p>It sounds like he is more enthusiastic about ND, so I think he should go there. Cornell may have somewhat more cache in certain circles, but I think kids are more likely to do well at a school they are excited about attending so career-wise he’s probably better off at ND. And you only get to go to college once.</p>