Cornell v. Villanova v. Boston College

Colleges and Universities A-Z Cornell University
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<p>Okay, so I have like four days left...</p>

<p>Any responses I would really appreciate! :) </p>

<p>So Cornell's ILR school, Villanova's school of business, or BC's school of business.
I am leaning towards Cornell or Nova.</p>

<p>Price:
Nova will be cheapest (10k-40k less than Cornell over four years)
BC will be a bit more than Cornell over four years.</p>

<p>Academics:</p>

<p>I am interested in management, entrepreneurship, and economics.
ILR is a very good management program, and BC's B-school is known for management, but I don't know much about Nova. It can't me that much of a step down? If any?</p>

<p>Cornell will offer me flexibility if I decide to change my interests, but I'm not sure if the Ivy name advantage will be worth the sacrifices in quality of life. The ILR program does seem to be the perfect program for my current interests though. But how much better is it? Nova's b-school is very good, and both BC and Nova are in great locations for interns. Could you argue they are better academically than Cornell? Will being able to intern in a city, for example, prove vital? </p>

<p>Quality of Life:
Honestly, I like them all. BC probably the most, Nova second, Cornell third.
I love the fact that they offer school spirit and big sporting events. Villanova's students are also described as very genial, but the Cornell student's Ive met have all been nice as well. </p>

<p>But can someone talk more about the student bodies at the respective schools?</p>

<p>It's weird because BC's seems to have the highest quality of life, Cornell the best academics, and Nova is the cheapest, but they are all incredibly close. I'm not sure what academic program (BC or Nova) is better for me. </p>

<p>Diversity isn't a factor for me. I don't think I'll be unhappy at any of them, It's just a matter of where. </p>

<p>Please someone help! Thanks!</p>

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<p>definitely Cornell…</p>

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<p>Yeah, Cornell. 40k over 4 years isn’t a lot. Why do you think the quality of life is the worst at Cornell? I think most people are happy here.</p>

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<p>Quality of Life at Villanova is better in my eyes for the following reasons:</p>

<p>Better location
Final Four BBall team
Very strong school spirit
Great size, while Cornell is a little big
Hot girls</p>

<p>That’s hard to beat…even if Cornell is slightly better academically.</p>

5

<p>^^
If that’s what you want most out of college, then don’t take someone’s spot at Cornell who might appreciate the academic resources and rigor more than … hot girls.</p>

<p>Just too big and expensive a decision that affects your whole life.</p>

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<p>I agree with Applejack. </p>

<p>Anybody who is seriously willing to consider turning down Cornell due to ‘hot girls’ and (in their opinion) only ‘slightly better academics’ probably never should have applied to Cornell in the first place.</p>

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<p>cayuga: what about those who turn down a school they like more just for the sake of an ivy degree?</p>

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<p>

</p>

<p>They are equally as misguided. The Ivy League is an athletics conference. Nothing more.</p>

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<p>To state that the Ivy League is just an athletics conference is an understatement. It’s more of an exclusive club that opens a lot of doors, maybe even more so than other top colleges. There’s even a separate section of this forum for Ivy League schools. You don’t see one for PAC 10 or other sports conferences.</p>

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<p>Yeah, by definition the Ivy League is a sports conference, but not by perception. </p>

<p>Cornell>>>Nova</p>

<p>And the ILR workload is not that bad at all compared to the science and engineering majors I know.</p>

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<p>

</p>

<p>The Ivy League, I agree, is officially and technically an athletics conference. It is also, however, a de facto denotation of eight established collegiate institutions of very high academic quality.</p>

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<p>

</p>

<p>I hate to burst your bubble, but attending Dartmouth, Brown, Penn, or Cornell does not open any more doors than Chicago, Duke, Stanford, or MIT due to association with a sports conference. The schools open doors on their own accords.</p>

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<p>[Ivy</a> League](<a href=“http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ivy_League]Ivy”>Ivy League - Wikipedia)</p>

<p>This decent entry in Wikipedia covers the various levels of meaning which have been attributed to the Ivy League over the years.</p>

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<p>applejack and cayuga:</p>

<p>The reasons i listed were reasons i thought quality of life was better Nova than Cornell. I did not weight the importance of each, nor did I ever say these were the reasons i would turn down Cornell. Cornell is more expensive, and it seems I could get just as good a job at Nova (Hell, business week has Nova ranked higher overall salary-wise). It seems I will receive more individual attention at Nova, be in the honors program, and experience a more broad business education. These, along with the prestige of VSB are my main reasons for considering Nova. My social life will be a factor, albeit a smaller one. Please don’t make assumptions. </p>

<p>I have crossed out BC…thanks everyone!</p>

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<p>What Business Week post-college salary ranking? Was it particular to Nova’s school of business? … because on the Wall Street Journal’s list of post-college salary levels, Villanova doesn’t even make the cut, while Cornell is somewhat high up the WSJ’s salary list.</p>

<p>[Post</a> College Salary](<a href=“http://online.wsj.com/public/resources/documents/info-Salaries_for_Colleges_by_Type-sort.html]Post”>WSJ.com)</p>

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</p>

<p>These are all good reasons to turn down Cornell for Villanova, especially if you aren’t excited at the prospect of studying at one of the world’s premier research universities, surrounding yourself by students of extremely high caliber studying every conceivable interest, and engaging in one of the largest and loyal alumni networks upon graduation. </p>

<p>Because if you wanted the above, it is probably worth the additional $20k.</p>

<p>Additionally, it is unclear to me that you would receive more individual attention than in ILR, which is known for its intimate setting. </p>

<p>But it sounds like you are less interested in the unique multi-disciplinary approach to education that Cornell ILR would provide and instead want a good business degree to get a good job.</p>

<p>But please don’t go to Nova if you like hockey.</p>

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<p>I don’t think there are many who would agree with you that you’ll get more personal attention at Nova than Cornell. Cornell may be bigger, but the university is divided into many schools where you get to know your professors quite well in pretty small classes. </p>

<p>I’ve also never heard anyone put Nova in the same category as Cornell, but perhaps in some region of the country that’s true or in a particular field. I can’t speak to your particular program, so if it’s better for you and you get the hot girls, then go for it!</p>

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<p>Hey College1221,</p>

<p>I’m glad to hear you have narrowed it down to two choices with which you would be happy. Here are my thoughts:</p>

<ul>
<li>My impression is that ILR doesn’t have much of an entrepreneurial vibe. I don’t know if Nova has one, but if you came to Cornell, you’d probably be learning about entrepreneurship from your interactions outside of ILR (possibly friends, clubs, internships, or classes)</li>
<li>ILR is indeed has a very good rapport on the organizational side of management, possibly one of the very best places to go if you can see yourself doing HR consulting, organizational design and development, or the like. </li>
<li>I wouldn’t be too enthused about getting a broad business education as an undergrad, particularly if you plan on getting an MBA. Undergrad business and MBAs are largely redundant, and coming out with other skills (including ILR or economics) will help you specialize and set yourself apart. </li>
<li>Yes, the Ivy League is technically an athletics conference, but that isn’t to say it has no effect on Cornell’s reputation, either. Maybe Nova’s honors program will be perceived as prestigious too, but for better or worse, a lot of people give Cornell a reputation bump for being in the Ivy League, and this isn’t immaterial in many prestige-obsessed business occupations. </li>
<li>ILR’s mean starting salaries are the second-highest in Cornell (to engineering), not that salary comparisons are a very good indicator of much at all. </li>
</ul>

<p>I also don’t see what’s wrong about choosing a school based on location-- quality of life is an important consideration, and this fit can have an enduring impact after you graduate. I will say, however, that people generally overestimate how “isolated” Ithaca feels. </p>

<p>Good luck in your decision =)</p>

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<p>Thousands of people apply to Ivy schools every year; a lot apply to most if not all of them even though some of the schools are quite different. Is their applying to multiple Ivy League schools because of the quality of the schools or because the schools are part of a sports conference?</p>

<p>I’m just saying you’re being disingenuous by saying that the Ivy League is just a sports conference, because it’s more than that. Sure they are all good schools, but they all benefit from being part of this sports conference. You think Cornell, with it’s cold weather and somewhat remote location, would get as many applications that it does get if it were not part of the Ivy League?</p>

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<p>I admit I am playing Devil’s advocate a bit here…</p>

<p>But I’ve seen some great points in the last few posts. Thanks guys!</p>

<p>RenTheSecond in particular, thanks!
-I was not aware that ILR had the second highest salaries at Cornell…but I suppose this makes sense as it doesn’t require additional school to get a good job. </p>

<p>-You are right about Entrepreneurship, but the great thing is I can take classes in AEM, plus Elab and other clubs should address this issue. </p>

<p>-I agree that a broad business education is a bit sketchy and redundant. From what I’ve heard, it will be possible to take classes in AEM (especially because I would go in with a ton of AP credits) if I want to learn more about certain areas anyway. </p>

<p>-I am glad you feel that social life should play some role, even if it is a small one. In the back of my mind I am thinking about Nova’s lack of snow, and location near philly ;p…But it seems like this factor, even combined with a cheaper price, will probably not be enough to get me to turn down a Cornell education. </p>

<p>Applejack-I have visited both and I feel that ILR will give me a lot of contact with my professors, I just feel that I will receive a bit more at Nova. I also feel Nova’s faculty is one of it’s strengths, even though it is a strength at Cornell as well. (Nova just succeeded in stealing a professor away from Cornell’s ILR, even after a counter offer). And yes, Cornell probably is perceived by much of the country as the better school, no question. </p>

<p>Cayuga–Unfortunately I prefer basketball over hockey :p. But your right, I love the prospect of being able to study virtually anything. If Nova and Cornell were the same price, I would choose Cornell. I’m just not sure if the extra money is worth it when a Villanova degree is just as valuable. </p>

<p>I have been looking at businessweek for most of my stats. For example, Cornell’s business school has a lower academic rank than Nova (yes I realize this is subjective and that I applied to ILR lol). Cornell on the other hand, has a terrific graduate school placement rating. The ratings are comparable, I should try and find a link.</p>