<p>Hello all. I have finally narrowed my choices down to Cornell, Bowdoin, and Wesleyan. I just recently got back from Bowdoin and loved it. I will be visiting Wesleyan next week, but unfortunately I won't be able to visit Cornell. I am, at the moment, considering majoring in natural resources/environmental studies and was wondering if anyone who has been to any of the schools can comment on their experience. </p>
<p>I liked the size of Bowdoin, so my main concern about Cornell is its size as well as the fact that housing is not guaranteed for all four years. I also liked the people I met at Bowdoin--everyone seemed really friendly and down to earth. Also, I want to be in a place where students are concerned about their academics, but are not overly competitive, and I want a student body that is diverse, accepting, and tolerant. So for those who've either attended one of the schools mentioned or were trying to decide between them, could you please give me some feedback.</p>
<p>Thanks.</p>
<p>Read the thread about Cornell vs Williams. It would give you a good idea of differences between small LAC and Cornell.</p>
<p>If you won’t visit cornell, that means you won’t be able to determine confidently whether you might really like it there, or to see whether your concerns are valid, or what strengths may not have otherwise been evident. So you will not have confidence to choose Cornell.</p>
<p>So it would appear that you have already ruled out Cornell, by choosing to visit elsewhere and not there.</p>
<p>Next?</p>
<p>As betweeen Wesleyan and Bowdoin, I don’t know about environmental stuff, you’d have to check. I believe Wesleyan is quite a bit larger than Bowdoin, which means it may offer a wider potential social circle, wider course selection, less chance of being bored or stunted in the upper class years. Based on my D’s experience at an LAC these issues can be legitimate areas of concern, so I would personally pick Wesleyan for these reasons. I imagine it also has more diversity of “types” of kids as well. YMMV.</p>
<p>It’s not that I didn’t want to visit Cornell, it’s just that I wasn’t able to swing it financially.</p>