<p>"There is nothing “LAC-like” about Cornell. "</p>
<p>Can’t say I completely disagree. CAS feels bigger than its literal size, particularly in underclass years. As I got into my physics major, in upperclass years, there were not only underclassman CAS physics & chem majors in my classes, but also grad students in other physical sciences areas, maybe also some engineering physics guys who I didn’t know. Probably depends on major quite a bit, I know D2 has had a good number of small classes. But D1 attended an LAC and had a number of courses with 2-8 students in them, D2 has had but one course that size at Cornell. Socially the entire undergrad student body size is clearly relevant, not just CAS.</p>
<p>I never heard the administration being particularly singled out and known as being unresponsive, etc, however I wouldn’t argue vehemently that this was a gross mischaracterization. If you really want unresponsive though, try attending NYU.</p>
<p>Cornell is a great place in its own way, it has tremendous diversity of people, areas of study, courses. Also, size has its advantages. Go if you like what it offers, if you think you fit there. But do not expect to find an LAC.</p>
<p>I’ve never been to Dartmouth, so can’t compare. Back in the dark ages, I did not look into Dartmouth because it had the reputation, at the time, of attracting students who were WASP-y, conservative and jock-y, and this did not describe me. As you get smaller in student body size, there can actually be a meaningful prevailing campus culture that may impact one’s experience, and which may appeal to you or not. However I have read on CC that these prior stereotypes, if ever descriptive, are not so now. So I don’t know who goes there now, or what the prevailing campus culture is. You should find out.
It is less of a concern at Cornell due to size and diversity, you can find your crowd regardless.</p>
<p>There are 13,000 undergrads among the 7 schools, but there are also 4,200 courses. A smaller school could not offer study in so many disciplines. Size does matter. Having 7 different schools [of which CAS with about a class of 1,000 is the largest] also makes the university seem somewhat smaller.</p>
<p>MonyDad - Dartmouth’s changed a lot. Its much much more diverse than the early 90s with about 35% of the class being minorities and its shifted from conservative to liberal. I do agree that a culture can dominate at a smaller school. I think Dartmouth luckily is a much more open place than it used to be.</p>
<p>If you are interested in finance & consulting, Dartmouth would give you the opportunity to take classes from the Tuck School as an undergrad. As far as I know, it’s the only elite business school that has no undergraduate program that offers classes to the undergrads.</p>
<p>^^Not really true, IvyBear. Univ of Chicago undergrads can take classes in their B-school (and even their law school). UCLA offers a Finance track through its Econ liberal arts major.</p>
<p>It’s not really on point here anyway, Cornell students can take business courses at AEM, and probably some similar courses the Hotel school for that matter.</p>