Cornell vs. Duke: Biology/genetics

Colleges and Universities A-Z Cornell University
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<p>Hi there. I'm a senior right now, and I was accepted at Cornell in March and very hopeful about my waiting list chances at Duke. So, this is gonna all be based on the scenario that I'm accepted to Duke later. I've got some pretty big dreams and career goals, but as of now, I'm pretty sure I'm going to end up doing something biology related. I'm thinking about focusing on genetics in the future and definitely hoping to go to grad school to get a Phd somewhere in this field. I especially hope to do some major research somewhere down the road, whether it is with a private firm or with a university. My dad's been really influential in opening my eyes to research because he's a research professor at a local university.</p>

<p>However, I've also had an interest in astronomy ever since I was really young. Another dream job possibility of mine is to get a job that blends together the two fields that really appeal to me, biology and astronomy. Astrobiology! AKA, studying and searching for the possibility of life on other planets. Cool huh?</p>

<p>I realize that I'm probably placing a bit too much emphasis on the undergraduate education at these two schools and understand that my choice probably wont make that HUGE of a difference down the road. However, like I said, I'm really interested in undergraduate research that will prepare me for my career choice.</p>

<p>I realize that this is a pretty specific question, but it comes down to this: Cornell or Duke? In my situation, what do you think is the better choice? Money isn't a huge problem, my parents are willing to support me financially with either choice. I want to see if ya'll can make me love one or the other, whether its academically or socially.</p>

<p>CORNELL:
Pros
-Chosen as a Hunter Rawlings Research Scholar (gives me opportunities to work with professors as an undergraduate)
-Huge school with great research opportunities
-Prestigious astronomy department (astrobiology?)</p>

<p>Cons
-Really far away from home
-Relatively isolated
-No real previous connections to the school. Besides academically, I'm in the dark.</p>

<p>DUKE:
Pros
-Big research powerhouse
-Top notch in biology/genetics research and great biotech/biomed program
-Close to home, with a number of friends going there
-Duke Athletics! (Long time Duke fan!)</p>

<p>Cons
-Undergraduate research opportunities???
-Astronomy?
-Smaller</p>

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<p>Congratulations!</p>

<p>Even if you get off the waitlist at Duke, I would recommend that you attend Cornell, mostly because the opportunities that come along with the Rawlings Scholar program are really unparalleled. </p>

<p>Cornell is already an excellent place for undergraduate research, and the additional funding and connections that you will make as a Research Scholar place you in a really coveted position. While Duke does offer a somewhat stronger program in biology and genetics, the life sciences at Cornell are very strong as well, and as an undergraduate the differences will not be meaningful. In graduate school the differences might be significant, but even so, Cornell has invested so much in nanotechnology and life science research in the last five years, I have the feeling that the differences are being lost.</p>

<p>My recommendations are really strengthened by the fact that you are seriously interested in Astrobiology. Cornell may not have Carl Sagan any more, but it's still a fantastic place for people of your interests. I would actually go so far as to recommend that you email Steve Squyres or another professor in the Astronomy department, explain your status and your academic interests, and ask them for their recommendations. I wouldn't be surprised if they offered you a research position on the spot.</p>

<p>Cornell</a> Astronomy</p>

<p>There's also something to be said about getting out of your comfort level a bit -- going a little bit farther from home and moving to Upstate New York would be a change of pace and culture that would help to expand your horizons and perspectives on the world.</p>

<p>I talked a little bit more about Cornell's campus and Ithaca on another recent thread, but those seem to be all extraneous to your decision. The only reasons why I can think of not to go to Cornell is if you absolutely must live in or near a city, but that doesn't seem to be your case.</p>

<p><a href="http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/cornell-university/496107-upenn-cornell.html%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/cornell-university/496107-upenn-cornell.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

<p>There was another thread on Cornell v. Duke. I will try to dig it up.</p>

<p>And we will make a hockey fan out of you yet.</p>

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<p><a href="http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/cornell-university/492730-nu-vs-duke-vs-cornell.html%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/cornell-university/492730-nu-vs-duke-vs-cornell.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

<p>And a pretty good take on Cornell hockey:</p>

<p>YouTube</a> - Its all your fault</p>

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<p>cayugared is probably going to hunt me down and beat me up lol...but i have to say it anyway. on your con list for cornell, change "relatively" isolated to <em>extremely</em> isolated.</p>

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<p>I wouldn't say 'extremely'. Clarkson University is extremely isolated. Dartmouth is fairly isolated. Cornell is in a city of 100,00 but is relatively isolated from a big city. North Campus is also a decent walk to the more bustling parts of Ithaca -- Collegetown and the Commons.</p>

<p>But there are 20,000 kids on Cornell's campus, so it's pretty easy to keep yourself entertained. Freshman year can be a bit difficult, like at all colleges, as you try to find friends and figure out your niche on campus. I myself had a couple of thoughts of transferring out my freshman year at Cornell to one of the LACs. But by sophomore year you should be pretty well situated and never at a loss for things to do.</p>

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<p>Thanks for the great input CayugaRed! At this point last year, I never thought I would end up going to Cornell. But, the more I look into it, it seems like an awesome place to be, both socially and academically. </p>

<p>So, for now, I'm putting down my deposit for Cornell. If I get into Duke off the waiting list, we'll see what happens.</p>

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<p>So yeah, I'll go ahead and resurrect this thread. Looks like this situation is actually gonna happen, because I was accepted off of Duke's waiting list today. </p>

<p>I'll be receiving the formal packet in the mail soon...they're giving me some time to look over my options and make my final decision. </p>

<p>Does anyone else have any last minute thoughts? Appreciate it.</p>

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<p>Duke ALL THE WAY!!! duke has one of the largest (if not THE largest) research center in the country. it's a no brainer.</p>

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<p>it seems like everyone's getting off Duke waitlist.</p>

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<p>I don't think there are a lot of research differences between Duke and Cornell when it comes to biology. Duke is in the research triangle, but that is mostly a factor for graduate students, not undergrads.</p>

<p>TAdd -- I know you really had your heart set on Duke, so I suspect you will end up there. But I'll just reiterate two things that may help to inform your decision:</p>

<p>1) The Presidential Research Scholars gig is really something not to be passed up. From the minute you step foot on campus you will have myriad opportunities to interact with many top-level professors and researchers, and the University is going to be giving you a fair amount of money to pursue their research goals. I happen to think that Cornell is probably the best place for undergraduate research in the country, and for anybody seriously interested in pursuing a career in research, Cornell needs to be strongly considered.</p>

<p>2) There's something to be said about getting out of your comfort zone and exploring another area of the country. It will open up your horizons in many ways that perhaps you never thought about.</p>

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<p>i turned down cornell's menig family national scholars program for duke without thinking twice... i don't know if that will mean anything to you, but i'm just saying.....</p>

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<p>Well for that matter, I would never want to attend Duke in a million years for countless reasons.... but I'm just saying.</p>

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<p>CayugaRed - what if someone has Cornell (no scholarship), Duke, and Columbia to choose from, all of which be "out of the comfort zone" (person lives in S. CA)? Is Cornell still the best choice?</p>

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<p>I'd say in this day if the debt load for one college will be significantly less than the other....I would be more inclined to choose the college with less debt...especially if your other options are Duke and Columbia.</p>

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<p>
[quote]
CayugaRed - what if someone has Cornell (no scholarship), Duke, and Columbia to choose from, all of which be "out of the comfort zone" (person lives in S. CA)? Is Cornell still the best choice?

[/quote]
</p>

<p>For what... Engineering? Hockey? Architecture? Hotel Management? Outdoor activities? Off-campus living arrangements? Greek scene? Yes.</p>

<p>For basketball? City life? A core curriculum? Bio-engineering? No.</p>

<p>Otherwise, a lot more information will have to go into the decision. There is a lot of unmerited disrespect of Cornell on these boards (it's too rural, it's too easy to get into, it has a hotel management school), and I've just been trying to clear the air.</p>

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<p>^yes, I agree with CayugaRed. If Cornell isn't giving you enough financial aid but they offer a program or lifestyle that is truly unique and you want it, then you do have a tough decision to make and you might need to be willing to pay the extra money.</p>

<p>And...I also agree that it's time for the disrespect toward Cornell to stop. And I'm happy that dedicated alums and current students are out there to "clear the air."</p>

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<p>For biochemistry/pre-med... and yes, core curriculum is a big factor.</p>

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<p>Well... would the core be a positive factor or a negative factor? </p>

<p>Quite frankly, they are all at the same level for premed and biochem. Choose the school that feels like the best fit. They offer three very different campus environments. I'm obviously partial to spending four years of your life in one of the best and most scenic collegetowns in the country. You will have the rest of your life to live in cities and Durham doesn't really offer much for students.</p>

<p>For what it's worth, Cornell produces more students who go on to be doctors than any other school in the country. Same for students who go on for a PhD in the life sciences.</p>

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<p>"would the core be a positive factor or a negative factor? "</p>

<p>Positive factor... though I'm sure one could cobble one like it together at Cornell as well. But I agree with you on the bottom line being the big city vs. scenic collegetown experience.</p>

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<p>You can definitely coble the Core together at Cornell, especially the art, literature, music side. </p>

<p>I think the only tough one would be Columbia's "contemporary civilization" course, but I think taking Cornell's intro to political philosophy and intro to modern philosophy would suffice. Both would obviously be lectures led by marquee professors (as opposed to seminars), but I believe both classes have a writing intensive section you can enroll in for an additional credit.</p>

<p>You can also take Core-esque courses as a Freshman Writing Seminar. While not all writing seminar's are of the same type, the kids who want a Core-esque experience tend to end up in the Shakespeare or Marx and Freud courses...</p>

<p>There are negatives to the Core, too. For one, you might end up in a section where a lot of students might not be very interested in the material at all.</p>