Hello everyone,
I’m an economics major and I would like to work in a city when I graduate (not necessarily New York, not investment banking). I’m deciding between Cornell and Vanderbilt. The financial aid is about the same and I don’t really care about the weather because I’m from the north anyways. I’m leaning towards Vanderbilt because I feel like students have a happier experience there, but I have already passed up on Stern so it’s hard to give up Cornell as well because I have heard that it’s harder to get a job outside of the south at Vanderbilt (I’m not sure if this is true?). Cornell has a better name but a lot of kids from my high school go there and I feel like I would be too shy/embarrassed to try anything new whereas I don’t know anyone at Vanderbilt and I would be more likely to be outgoing there. I just want to be happy but also have the best tools to actualize my potential. I’m not sure what to do.
Vanderbilt’s reputation is more regional. Few people where I live (west coast) know much about it, whereas Cornell has a national reputation. Many top tech companies in SV recruit heavily from Cornell, as well as many top wall street firms. If they cost the same, I would go to Cornell.
If you really want to go to Vanderbilt, you should negotiate the financial aid package with them, let them know about Cornell, and try to get a better deal.
I don’t know about west coast but Vanderbilt has a good and growing reputation in the Northeast. On US News, their rankings are pretty comparable (Cornell is 15 and Vanderbilt is tied for 16) but I have seen rankings (Niche) where Vanderbilt is ahead of Cornell. Not that rankings are that meaningful but I think Vanderbilt, along with Duke and Rice, are thought of as “Southern Ivies,” at least by people here in NY. But obviously, Cornell is held in high regard too.
Just confirm that the FA is the same, Vandy is a NO LOAN school and that may be a difference of 25K over the 4 years. S1 is graduating from Cornell next week and S2 is a Jr at Vandy. Both amazing schools. Agree that Cornell has a national reputation and “Ivy” and Cornell does a better job at recruiting to NY. Vanderbilt does a good job at recruiting in the South, Chicago and Texas. You have 2 awesome choices. Congratulations!!!