Cornell v. UC Berkeley

Colleges and Universities A-Z Cornell University
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<p>@ fall2016parent: great article, but it doesn’t seem to apply all that much since neither Cornell nor Berkeley is an extremely elite, hand-holding school. Both are big, and both are amazing, but it’s like comparing apples to oranges, really --they’re just very different. </p>

<p>@ everyone else: </p>

<p>Having now visited Cal and seen the aerospace student groups that many mechanical engineering students get involved in there, it seems the lack of the aerospace engineering degree is less of an issue, and the main difference is the location and student atmosphere. </p>

<p>Many of the students I’ve talked to have interned at JPL or NASA, both of which have locations relatively close, and many of them are either working after graduation (with 100k starting salaries at Google, consulting companies, etc.) or going to grad school (met 5 going to Stanford, 2 going to MIT, many others admitted to Harvard, Caltech, etc). Would you say Cornell is about the same? Or let me rephrase my question(s), which I really, really hope will actually be answered:</p>

<p>Does Cornell’s location make it more difficult to get internships with NASA, JPL, etc., and do many engineering students from Cornell go to top graduate schools in their field?</p>

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<p>@Semioverachiever - Thanks for your feedback, that is encouraging for folks who feel they have to “settle” for Cal :slight_smile: Yes, I did feel that the difference is more in the culture, and not the academics as such.</p>

<p>By the way, my cousin graduated Cornell and interned back east (think it was IBM), but eventually ended up working in a semi-conductor company in the West. so not your situation but he eventually ended up coming to CA. Guess there are some big defense companies in the DC/Virginia area…as well…</p>

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<p>[NASA’s</a> top techie speaks out–straight from Cornell]( <a href=“http://cosmiclog.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2011/11/11/8758913-nasas-top-techie-speaks-out][b]NASA’s”>http://cosmiclog.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2011/11/11/8758913-nasas-top-techie-speaks-out)</p>

<p>[Undergrad</a> Opportunities through NY Space Grant Consortium](<a href=“http://astro.cornell.edu/specialprograms/spacegrant/undergrad.html][b]Undergrad”>http://astro.cornell.edu/specialprograms/spacegrant/undergrad.html)</p>

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<p>OP - The article was in response to Saugus, just a generic one on the craze for Ivies…
Anyway, I think you are beating a dead horse here.
Both cornell and Berkeley are great Engineering institutions. Both offer wonderful opportunities.
Like we have told you, you can’t go wrong with one over other.
Will Cornell get you great internships - YES
Will Berkeley get you great internships - YES
Will Virginia Tech or Cal Poly get you great internships - YES
It really depends on how you shine in each of these places. You think NASA/Boeing is only full of interns from the top colleges. NO. These opportunities are available everywhere for any GOOD student who is willing to take advantage of these opportunities.
You cannot go wrong either way. My nephew from Rutgers (mech engg), landed a internship and subsequent job with Northrop Grumman, a leading defense company.
It really DOES NOT matter where you go, but what you do and how you shine amongst your peers. Good luck with your decision.</p>

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<p>Thank you, though I what meant was, would going to school in California be more helpful in terms of the aerospace opportunities right there?</p>

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<p>Both Cornell and Berkeley have more opportunities than you can take advantage of. Pick the place where you will be happier because then you will be more likely to succeed.</p>

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<p>here is berkeley’s career site <a href=“https://career.berkeley.edu/EngineeringInt/EngineeringInt.stm[/url]”>https://career.berkeley.edu/EngineeringInt/EngineeringInt.stm&lt;/a&gt;
here is cornell’s [Internships</a> and Summer Jobs](<a href=“http://cals.cornell.edu/cals/current/career/find/internships/]Internships”>http://cals.cornell.edu/cals/current/career/find/internships/)</p>

<p>Honestly, if you were my family member, I 'd just choose a school based on proximity to home (all things being pretty even)</p>

<p>As both are comparable in every way. By the way, did you find out the strength of students in Cornell vs berkeley. </p>

<p>here is another old thread <a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/university-california-berkeley/684880-uc-berkeley-vs-cornell.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/university-california-berkeley/684880-uc-berkeley-vs-cornell.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

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<p>OP - I think you should pick Cornell. I have been watching your posts. You really do not want Berkeley (due to same old, same old as your high school in CA, everyone goes there, too many asians…etc…etc). But I feel you are torn because it is a given that the state flagship in your area happens to be the #1 public school in the country and #3 in Mech Engineering. </p>

<p>Set aside the rankings, close your eyes, picture yourself in both places. I think Cornell comes close to your Ivy dreams that you had imagined when you started to apply to colleges. With Berkeley, heck, the top 5% from CA, ends up there. Cornell will be a big change from where everyone in your high school is going.</p>

<p>And I agree - you will do well only if you are happy at the school. So if Cornell is it, just go there. Otherwise you will always wonder - what if…Internships will happen to anyone who is at the top of their class. Be prepared for a lot of hard work both places…</p>

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<p>Sorry to bring this back, but here’s my final decision: I’m going to Cornell.
Thank you guys for showing me what I knew all along (evidenced by my Princeton essays, which substitute Cornell for Princeton three times). I am so happy to be going to Ithaca next year!</p>

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<p>Congrats, Semioverachiever! Good luck at Cornell!</p>