Cornell ... or ... Princeton

Colleges and Universities A-Z Cornell University
1

<p>This is soo bad. I have to choose where I send my ED application. Its either Princeton or Cornell.</p>

<p>Cornell is just simply breathtaking. I really want to be in a place with the academic atmosphere, and a large school. I know the proffessors in the maths department (my intended major is maths and maybe economics) because many of them worked with my dad and they are all among the best in their field. Also at cornell I can do a doube major- something I can't do at princeton. Then Cornell has nice little town and nice scenery and stuff.</p>

<p>Princeton is much smaller student body wise. Has slightly more prestige especially internationally than cornell. Nice place as well, although not as breathtaking but still gorgous. No double major but strong emphasis on Maths is very handy. Undergrad focus. But definately much harder to get in. Also ED at Princeton means I can't apply to my safety early via EA.</p>

<p>Its a dilemma people. They're both perfect and the question now is which one is more perfect. Anything I've missed?</p>

2

<p>Care to post your stats? btw, are you an international student?</p>

3

<p>What are your stats, it might help tell you if Pton is realistic. No point wasting an application and an ED opportunity...</p>

4

<p>I'm from Tasmania which is in Australia. Henc international unfortunately</p>

<p>SAT 1- 1550 (Maths 750, Verbal 800). Doing new one October to include writing</p>

<p>SAT II - 800 Maths, 800 Lit, 790 Pysics. </p>

<p>Rank: 1 out of 221. My school finally worked a rank for me.</p>

<p>Secondary Record? Yeah its pretty much decent. Not sure how GPA works exactly but I pretty much get A's all round. I'll let the colleges work out my GPA for me.</p>

<p>Extra Curricular?</p>

<p>RUGBY- the best game ever ladies and gentlemen. State Club U18's champions, state rep and on all star list at National championships.</p>

<p>State U21 Table Tennis champion (6 years running), U18 Champion. National U16 placed 3rd in championship few years ago.</p>

<p>Piano- State recital, era works U18 winner (2001, 2002, 2004, 2005) as well as LMUS diploma (highest possible diploma availble here)</p>

<p>These are the main ones. I'm going to leave out the ones that don't really mean much.</p>

<p>Pretty much I had the chance to represent my state and school in may national championships for rugby and table tennis but due to a lack of finances ... I only attended rugby cauz the club paid for the expenses. My parents are stingy because they don't really like me playing sports... especially contact ones.</p>

<p>Awards.</p>

<p>Top in State for Maths Specialised, Economics, and Info systems.
Prize in Aus Maths Comp (2001, 2002, 2003, 2004)
Plaque in the Chemistry Quiz (2003, 2004)
Random loads of other awards.</p>

<p>Community Service?</p>

<p>Worked at Nursing Homes on almost all day Saturdays since Y7
Worked every winter holidays for the Salvation Army +
Amnesty Int Coord for Tasmania (not using this because it really is a meaningless role and I did screw up in it a bit)</p>

<p>Work Experience?</p>

<p>Well I work pretty much all my spare time weekends at the local supermarket either at the casheir or stacking boxes since y7. Doesn't pay much but enough for me to spend. Ever since I turned 18 and finished school, I run the supermarket by myself after 7pm to closing time (i close up the shop).</p>

<p>Languages? Profficient in English (duh), and Mandarin (thanks to stepmom)</p>

<p>THANKS
Alex</p>

5

<p>I think you'll get into Cornell anyways. I would suggest going ED to Princeton since admissions are much tougher, and I think Princeton Math is much better. Cornell is better I think in more of the research area sciences, such as engineering and applied science and biology and chemistry. You have very good stats. If you write a good essay I would think that you would be admitted to both. But ED should be to the school you REALLY want to go to. I had mediocre stats and I applied to Brown ED a few years back and was deferred. It is very unlikely that you will get outright rejected from ED. I would suggest that you really think hard about the decision. For Princeton, I would suggest you go ED because it will greatly improve your chances of getting in. As I said earlier, Cornell you probably have a very good chance of getting in anyway. But you don't want to be bound to a school you don't want to go to. I would just say do your research and think about it a little more and follow your gut feeling.</p>

6

<p>Where are you nowadays bullseye?</p>

<p>thanks for the advice. Now i just have to think about it alot.</p>

7

<p>you've got a good shot at either. keep in mind that princeton is a risky application for anybody, even "perfect students." That's not saying you're not very qualified for princeton (you are! :)) for cornell I feel comfortable saying you'd likely be accepted.</p>

<p>In terms of prestige, I'm not sure that princeton has more than cornell internationally. Cornell seems very very well known for all of it's research in academic and more prestigious professional circles (obviously princeton is as well) The difference is more likely with the less educated population, where princeton might be better known.</p>

<p>In terms of undergrad focus, I don't think cornell is particularly lacking. Leading professors in their fields teach intro courses (like psych 101, which is reputedly incredible). All my professors have been both friendly and interested their students. I will ask my mother about princeton's focus (she used to be a professor there). </p>

<p>Cornell's econ department is reputed to be excellent, and the Undergrad business program has risen to incredible prominence in just a few years since it was launched.</p>

<p>quite frankly, all those anecdotes aside, it really sounds like a toss up for you. what are you looking for outside of the academics? the personalities of the two campuses are different.</p>

8

<p>From your post, it sounds to me like your heart is set on Cornell. If you're worried about the comparable prestige of the two schools, remember that it's often less about which school you go to, and more about how well you do.</p>

<p>-Ted</p>

9

<p>sparticus800: "the personalities of the two campuses are different"</p>

<p>Since I'm too lazy to plow through your 2K or so (and very informative and appreciated I might add) posts to see what you might mean by the above, could you elaborate on that comment? Thanks.</p>

10

<p>You are a relative lock at Cornell. I would do Princeton ED.</p>

11

<p>To respond to your question, I was in the Six Year MD/BA program at UMKC, which really isn't a BA program, but I transferred out due to health reasons, not being intellectually stimulated or motivated, as well as being too far from home. I now go to a smaller school near my home, which I really like, but I commute and don't like that part about it as well as the fact there really isn't anything to do around here that you couldn't do in high school. I am looking to transfer to Cornell, which I now favor over Brown, but I will be applying to both for fall '06 along with UPenn. If not those, I will go to UIllinois which is my safety and is a really good school if I don't get into any of those ivies. Most of my friends go to UIllinois.</p>