<p>Can someone tell me why Cornell is better than other universities? Why you choose to go? Would you go to Brown or Cornell? Please help me decide. Atmosphere, people, faculty, vibe... etc.</p>
<p>ah yes, i forgot that "ivies" aren't real universities...some silly people just group them in there haha</p>
<p>The question is not simply whether Cornell is better; it is whether cornell is better for you. What are you looking for in your school in terms of size, philosophy, level of challenge, etc. Basically, what are your key criteria?</p>
<p>I chose cornell for:
1. the wide academic choices
2. Fabulous academic reputation
3. the substantial, self-sufficient, and vibrant college community/town
4. Work hard/play hard philosophy
5. Gorgeous campus/area
6. Proximity to my home in NJ, and skiing.</p>
<p>With all due respect, my, or anyone else's, "Cornell vs. Brown choice" really has nothing to do with you. You need to choose a college based on yourself.</p>
<p>Atmosphere: Competitive, but NOT cut-throat. As one current student said (or at least something close to it) "It's much easier and more productive to raise your grade up 30% than to bring down someone elses 30% thus increasing the curve by 0.34%." Students form collaborative study groups.</p>
<p>The people are reputed as very diverse, not strictly in a racial sense, but as complete individuals. Think of the unique talents and abilities that got some of your friends who graduated last year into top collges. Now image 12000 of those kids on one campus. yea...</p>
<p>Faculty: they don't baby students. They're not going to come to you from what I hear. However, it's entirely feasible to go to them. They hold office hours, and are accessable.</p>
<p>The vibe: while this is, again, an individual and personal aspect, the vibe I got was essensially just excitement. The tour guides were enthusiastic and genuine, and there just seemed to be a buzz of energy in the air in the SUMMER when there weren't even any students. I visited colgate and hamilton when there were no students there, both on nice days like the one where I visited cornell, and just didn't feel the "vibe" Somone on here quoted his teacher as saying something close to, "of all my graduating students, it's the ones going to cornell who are the most enthused and enamored of their future school."</p>
<p>Thanks for the advice; this website is really useful :). I'll try to visit the universities myself. Here is what I'm looking for in a school: </p>
<p>(1) great teamwork because I can't stant geniuses that put people down and call me stupid like at my high school; (2) Has students with a thirst to learn, people who arn't there just for the A, people that have broad goals and minds; (3) Skilled and accessible professors; and (4) has at least a B-type atmosphere and living condition.</p>
<p>Well I guess Cornell has a lot of these characteristics. I just hope I find a right college to apply ED to soon.</p>
<p>PS. Any suggestions about getting recommendations? Should I suck up like crazy? Thanks.</p>
<p>Oh... and Iv'e had this question for a while. If anyone can tell me the answer to this please answer this before you answer my previous question. Ok... Some people say that Brown's pass/fail grading system can be bad for pre-med students. I never really understood why. Can someone please explain this to me? I'm trying to make a list of the good and bad aspects of the colleges at which I'm searching.</p>
<p>GREAT ANSWER!!!!!!</p>
<p>You have got the whole essence of Cornell down to a "T". Because of that, you're going to love it there.</p>
<p>Thanks for being such a great advocate for the spirit of Zinks...</p>
<p>Wharf</p>
<p>Quick: Med school applications are incredibly competitive. In a sense you are very much a set of numbers when it comes to applying there. So, having a P/F type GPA doesn't show how well you did in college. I think P/F is optional at brown, though.</p>
<p>If med school is your aspiration, cornell is definitely a great option. Of its graduates who apply to med school, 78% get accepted, and 89% of those with a 3.4+ GPA get accepted. Compare that to a national average of just 50%.</p>
<p>Yes, CC is VERY useful, I wish I had used it before I got accepted ED haha.</p>
<ol>
<li><p>I have never heard of students calling each other retards at cornell. as an anecdote, in some parenting brochure for cornell students' parents i saw, it says if your kid calls home thinking he is a retard, make sure to remind him that "at cornell, even those not at the top are pretty damn smart in the real world." And like i said before, those collaborative study groups...</p></li>
<li><p>If you're going to a top college on your academic merit (i.e. not a recruited athlete or superhardcore legacy--not to say that many or most of those students have the academic merit and drive too), you have a thirst to learn...You won't find that many kids at Cornell or Brown who aren't interested in learning.</p></li>
<li><p>Like I said about the professors before: it's a large community of students, so some professor is not going to seek out the random student in the intro bio class of 150 students who failed some prelim. But if that "some student" wants to talk to the professor (yes the professor himself, not a TA), word on the street has it the professor is there to talk. And taking initiative is a good life skill to have...</p></li>
<li><p>The kids from ithaca college come up the hill to cornell for the parties. Like just about any college, a dorm is a dorm, but @ cornell you can get cable TV on your computer, T3 internet in your room and wireless on much of campus. The food is the best just about anywhere, with guest chefs preparing meals on occassion. The ice cream is to die for. Overall, it seems cornell has a pretty good quality of life.</p></li>
</ol>
<p>Keep in mind that while i've done my research, I don't currently attend cornell. I will next fall, but this is for the most part relayed information from current students, guidebooks, college brochures, and some personal experience there (the food really is delicious I know that first hand, and the ice cream...aaaaah!)</p>
<p>It sounds like a spectacular school. I think I'm leaning toward Cornell more now. Thanks for all your help. The US has so many great opportunities for education.</p>
<p>No way any med school will allow you to take your premed courses Pass/Fail.</p>
<p>I'd choose Cornell over Brown, Darmouth, Columbia, Penn, and many other schools. I'm an international student and no one in my country knows the schools I named except for Cornell. They simply think HYPMS and Cornell are the best schools. Unlike many other people on CC boards, I have to think about international reputation. And, trust me. Cornell's reputation in Asia and Europe is sooooooooooo great.</p>
<p>Since when does CA qualify as a country?</p>
<p>Cornell's international rep is very good. As good as Columbia and better than Penn, Dartmouth, or Brown.</p>