Cornell vs Claremont McKenna

Colleges and Universities A-Z Claremont McKenna College
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<p>Note: I also posted this on the Cornell forum for both sides of the argument.</p>

<p>So, I was just taken off the waitlist at Claremont McKenna College, so now I have a bit of a dilemma: do I go with the southern californian LAC or the large northeastern university? </p>

<p>I'm looking at economics/possible finance work/possible tech business.</p>

<p>The weather question isn't really a massive matter for me, we can ignore that for now. </p>

<p>Aid/price is not a question whatsoever.</p>

<p>On the margin, I like the Claremont consortium's size, but I also kind of like Cornell's overall atmosphere.</p>

<p>I'm going to see if I have the chance to visit before I have to make a decision, but that's up in the air as of now.</p>

<p>Any opinions?</p>

<p>Thanks!</p>

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<p>Have you actually been to either Cornell, or Claremont? Also, do you currently reside in the east?</p>

<p>They’re so different, I think a visit would be worth the time/cost, especially when considering the importance of making sure you pick the right fit for you.</p>

<p>Being a Claremont grad, I am admittedly biased, but I would pick Claremont McKenna in a heartbeat…currently pressed for time, but will expand later.</p>

<p>BTW congratulations!</p>

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<p>I’ve visited Cornell; Claremont is going to be this weekend (probably).</p>

<p>I’m a Southerner (TN to be exact).</p>

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<p>I just recently picked CMC over Cornell after visiting both. Its really up to what type of environment you think you would like better. It still was a hard decision though but in the end I figured I’d like the smaller class sizes at CMC on top of the awesome Cali weather(from NY)/ students.</p>

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<p>For your area of interests, definitely CMC. I have similar interests, and my college list contains schools like CMC and Bucknell, but not Cornell. I just haven’t found anything spectacular about Cornell, that is related to finance/economics.</p>

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<p>Kaarboer,
Just posted a response to your ‘dilemma’ on the Cornell forum, and rather than rewrite it, will just copy it here…good luck in your decision!</p>

<hr>

<p>Cornell is a great school with a rich, storied tradition, and great research facilities.</p>

<p>That said, I honestly believe that the undergraduate experience at Claremont McKenna is unparallelled…and, not just referring to those who major in Govt, IR, Economics (which is what the school has largely managed to establish its national reputation on in such a short time).</p>

<p>Just check out the speakers at The Athenaeum, and I challenge anyone to find an institution of higher learning where an undergraduate can have dinner in a relatively intimate setting, with world-class speakers on a variety of
subjects, ALMOST EVERY NIGHT (except weekends)…this, at a college of around 1250 students!</p>

<p>Enough has been written about the advantages of small,intimate classes at top LACs (world-class professors - no such thing as a TA - who know you by name…often hold classes at their homes, etc).</p>

<p>The other unique aspect of CMC is its membership in the Claremont consortium (where students can take classes at the 4 other 'Cs"…Pomona, Harvey Mudd, Pitzer, and Scripps.), which is basically like one big campus, as its contiguous, but with each college having its own unique campus, architecture, etc. This is unique in American higher education, as its modeled after the Oxford setup, as opposed to the typical 'eastern LA consortium…i.e., Williams, Wesleyan, etc. where you need to take a bus to go to the other colleges.</p>

<p>Kaarboer, I’m 'not saying Claremont is better for everyone…you are fortunate to have two great choices…both wonderful schools, but different in many ways.</p>

<p>I believe you said you had visited Cornell, and were visiting Claremont this weekend.
Let us know how it goes…best of luck!</p>

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<p>So, just to update you guys on what happened: I was going to pick Cornell… until I got off the waitlist at UChicago. So, I’m going there instead.</p>