<p>So, I know that there are a few other threads like this, but they were all really kind of focused on premed, or prelaw, or there was a biochem one. I have no idea what I want to major in, although my likeliest choices are either Psychology or something to do with writing. I'm also a huge fan of languages and history, so I'm really kind of lost. Originally, I really wanted to go to Columbia, what with it being in NYC and all that (I'm not sure if this is relevant or makes a difference, but I'm from Toronto, Canada). Plus, it's a great school, and it seems as though New York would be a great place to be to study, and I love big cities. I've always wanted to go there. But I've also just been more or less given the opportunity to go to Cornell, which I know is also a great school, and I've heard that the campus is beautiful, and that the people are really nice, and that it's a great place to be, etc. Plus, I also like peace and quiet, so depending on the day and what mood I'm in, I could either really want to disappear into the country, or do the opposite and go somewhere lively and big and crowed. Only thing is, I have no idea if I'm even going to get into Columbia (it all depends on whether or not the women's tennis coach decides to give me a spot on her team or not), so I'm not sure if I should keep trying, or just leave it alone. But anyway, assuming I am able to go to both schools, I'd be torn as to where to go. Should I keep trying to get into Columbia, or should I just stick with Cornell? I'd really appreciate people's opinions, what the pros and cons are, all that jazz. Where do you think would be better and why? Thanks a ton for your help!</p>
<p>IMHO, one of the largest things that separates the schools is the types of students that go to each. My friend recently went to columbia and he told me that they have a huge concentration of the artsy hipster kids, and they all go to museums and talk about modern art and stuff. Cornell has a ton of different type of people. If you are a hipster, there are plenty of them here, but your hipster artsyness wont be as satisfied as it would be in New york. Basically, columbia is a hipster mecca, if you are a hipster, you will LOVE it there. That does not mean that you would hate it if you werent a hipster but whatever…</p>
<p>I am biased towards cornell though because I love it here.</p>
<p>“it seems as though New York would be a great place to be to study”</p>
<p>If you can study with near 24-hour noise.</p>
<p>They are different environments, a campus-centered life in a college town, vs. living in NYC and having a city-centered life, but going to classes instead of working there. NYC is a great city- particularly for working professionals with $$$- however the campus experience, and your college years, can feel less special there, and less different from the thereafter. IMO. You might come to feel it is more about the city and less about the school there, to a degree. But in either case there are many who like the environment they chose, and also some who don’t.</p>
<p>This is anecdotal, so take it for what it is worth. My D is a student at Cornell. Her boyfriend is a Columbia grad. His brother attends Cornell. </p>
<p>Her boyfriend, a NYC resident and die hard city man, says he wished he went to Cornell. He finds the atmosphere intellectual, but more relaxed. He finds that it seems people have more fun, are less cutthroat and it seems more of a college experience. </p>
<p>Again, just his opinion.</p>
<p>Lmao at the grossly stereotypical “hipster” comment.</p>
<p>I am just reciting my friends experience during O-week. He told me that they had performance night or something like that the first night they were there and there were a bunch of average kids, and these two ridiculously good guitar and saxophone players, and all of the kids kind of latched on to that whole art scene because the sax player and guitar player were awesome and were hipster/artsy.</p>
<p>Cornell is the best. I came home tonight after two frat parties and two much keystone and the only reason I don’t have a girl in my room and I am on CC now is because the party I was at got busted up by the cops. In Ithaca, when cops bust parties, they just show people the door, they dont care about under age drinking. I do not know what the party scene at columbia is like, but cornells is awesome.</p>
<p>Haha - drunk tboonepickens. awesome.</p>
<p>Bottom line: I second monydad. </p>
<p>If you were going to live in Springfield, Illinois the rest of your life, then I’d probably suggest experiencing New York while you can. But it doesn’t sound like you are. You have your entire life to live in major cities when you have money and legal access to the nightlife (and you’ve already spent your childhood in a major city), so you might want to consider pulling away and having an experience that is uniquely collegiate in a beautiful environment full of waterfalls and gorges that can be very intellectually stimulating and really help you ponder the bigger questions without the constant distraction of urban stimulation (sounds cheesy, but that’s what Cornell did for me). You could waste your time just as easily, but the opportunities are there for that kind of experience that aren’t there at Columbia. It just sets “college” apart as a unique time in your life and I know a lot of big city alumni who have very fond memories because of it. </p>
<p>I know the Columbia social life revolves around the city without a real sense of campus, and Cornell’s revolves around the campus. So, that’s something to consider as well. But Ithaca’s actually a really interesting little city that’s not like anywhere else you’re ever going to be.</p>
<p>Since this thread is on the Cornell board, there are going to be a lot of pro-Cornell responses. Which is good because it means at least some students here think it’s great. But don’t “settle” for Cornell just because you want to be done with the whole applications process and you know you’re in here and it’s got plenty of prestige.</p>
<p>I never really got a great feeling about this school and frankly I still wish I’d have gone to my dream school. I’m here because Cornell offered financial aid. </p>
<p>Once you make the decision to go wherever you go, you’re not done with the decision. You’ve got to stay there until you get your degree or I guess, transfer away. Just make sure you’re not “quitting while you’re ahead” or whatever is a better analogy for it by coming to Cornell because if it’s not what you want, it’s not what you want and consoling yourself with its high ranking or whatever won’t change the actual experience.</p>
<p>Sooo I guess what I’d advise you to do is apply to Columbia and see how that plays out before you make your decision. Maybe Cornell’s best or mabe Columbia is, but you would likely regret not giving Columbia a shot, especially in the first few weeks of school, when there’s a ton going on already.</p>
<p>Besides the difference between the major-city and middle-of-nowhere environments, there are three other differences between Cornell and Columbia that you might want to take into consideration:</p>
<ol>
<li><p>In general, it is easier to get into Cornell. Columbia’s NYC location attracts a phenomenal number of applicants, and as a result, Columbia’s acceptance rate is now in the single digits, comparable to the acceptance rates at Harvard and Yale. For many students, Cornell is a more realistic choice.</p></li>
<li><p>Columbia has a rigidly prescribed core curriculum. You either like that or you don’t. Cornell has different curricula in each of its seven undergraduate schools, but in general, the curriculum is pretty conventional, with plenty of flexibility in the ways in which you can fulfill general education requirements.</p></li>
<li><p>Cornell is a larger university, with a wider variety of undergraduate programs. If you’re interested in the liberal arts or engineering, this does not matter because you can major in those fields at either university. However, most of Cornell’s other programs do not exist at Columbia, at least not at the undergraduate level. In particular, one of the programs that is especially popular among today’s students – an undergraduate business major – is only available at Cornell. Columbia doesn’t have a program of that type.</p></li>
</ol>
<p>I like cornell because I can take what I want instead of waiting 2 years to start taking major courses.</p>
<p>Also, if hipster means people with good taste in music and who attend concerts, they don’t exist here.</p>
<p>My understanding is that Columbia has a very active creating writing scene. Perhaps someone on these boards can speak to creating writing and particular at each?</p>
<p>Cornell has a renowned Creative Writing program.</p>
<p>It’s true; Cornell is widely considered a top 10 school for Creative Writing.</p>