<p>I know there have been many threads like this lately, but I am really torn and could use some insight. I have been accepted to both Cornell and Northwestern and I am having trouble deciding between the two. I visited both last spring, but there is a good chance I will go to visit them again this month.</p>
<p>I really don't know yet what I would like to major in, so a well-rounded liberal arts education would be nice. What I am most interested in hearing about, however, are the differences between Ithaca and Evanston and the differences between the environments of the schools. I do like to party (although I know that isn't discussed much here) and I want to go to a place where there is nightlife. I am not a very competitive person, and I know that Cornell has a reputation as being a cut-throat environment. </p>
<p>I want to go to a school where I will receive a great education, while also having a good time. If anyone can shed any light on the differences between these schools (in as unbiased a way as possible) I will greatly appreciate it. Thank you very much CCers</p>
<p>Cornell kids are quite often “grade-grubbers.” I hope I’m not offending anybody because there are good kids everywhere and bad kids everywhere, but I’ve found that that’s the case. If you want night-life, go to Northwestern. Evanston is a stone’s-throw from Chicago which has PLENTY to do, whereas Ithaca is a town of 30,000 in the middle of nowhere.</p>
<p>The cultures are quite different. Northwestern=Tons of fun. Cornell=cut-throat. </p>
<p>Sources: I went to summer programs at both. Interacted with then current students.</p>
<p>you might say I’m “cut-throat” about emphasizing that Cornell is NOT cut-throat. sources: I’m a current bio major (at least half my classes each semester are teeming with pre-meds.)
I am not a very competitive person either so it’s really easy for me to not get involved when people do get a little intense.
I can’t speak much to the nightlife but I know many regular CCers seem quite enthusiastic about it. I know lots of people who go out every weekend, it’s definitely not rare.</p>
<p>i attend cornell i have a close family friend who attends northwestern. to be honest, i dont really see the cutthroat environment at cornell to the extent that ppl say it is; whereas, i always hear my friend talking about how northwestern kids are competitive and argue for the very last point. i dont think that thats a bad thing at all, and im sure both schools are competitive. cornell has a large greek life, so if you’re looking to party in frat houses thats not lacking here. if youre looking for a lot of options, i know that cornell has a wide range of subjects to offer, a lot of them very special (ILR, HOTEL, human ecology etc.)</p>
<p>i think both are great schools, and i think that you should visit to see where you think you’ll fit in better. there’s no black or white “cornell is more cutthroat and northwestern’s tons of fun”</p>
<p>i dont think grade grubbing is accurate for cornell students…</p>
<p>nightlife would be northwestern just because of chicago…there’s just no comparison here…</p>
<p>all people do in ithaca is go to a bar or two…have a couple drink…then call it a night…
frat life is repetitive here…dies out by soph year for MOST
there are a few indie concerts here and there…
couple cool hippy/artsy festivals throughout the year (beerfest, chilifest, applefest?) though i’m sure there are BIGGER festivals available at NWestern</p>
<p>cornell is cut-throat in that the competition is fierce to be above average…not SABOTAGE cut-throat though…</p>
<p>though there are always nerds who are vicious and cant enjoy learning for learning’s sakes…</p>