Cornell vs Penn vs Dartmouth vs Cal

College Majors Science Majors
1

<p>Can any current students at Cornell, Penn, Dartmouth, and Cal comment on the feel and academics of these schools? I'd especially like to hear from the perspective of undergraduates majoring in physics or mathematics.</p>

<p>I live in the Bay Area and want to go somewhere new for college, so Cal's proximity and size detract from its appeal. But its physics faculty and facilities are wonderful, and both its demographics and offered courses are very diverse. I also got the Regents' Scholarship, which is a perk. However, I'm looking for an vibrant, intellectual learning community with small class sizes and close relationships with professors, and the Ivy League is stronger in that respect.</p>

<p>I worry that a school like Dartmouth, with its smaller size and secluded location, will limit my opportunities. I want to get involved with physics research early on, take courses in esoteric branches of math and physics, and have the ability to talk with a wide range of professors. I'm also a little concerned about its focus on Greek life and drinking. However, I'd like a liberal arts education that teaches me how to think critically. Dartmouth's close-knit community appeals to me as well. I also know that it would be easier getting a research position because the physics major isn't as big as something like the social sciences or economics.</p>

<p>I've heard some bad things about Cornell and am worried about it being too stressful or competitive, but at an admitted students reception, an Engineering alumnus changed my mind, and emphasized the campus's physical beauty and its strong alumni networking. Also, Carl Sagan. :)</p>

<p>I'm unsure about Penn's focus on business and pre-med—the College of Arts and Sciences seems second to those fields. When I visited, however, I loved the campus and the feel. I also adore Gothic Revival architecture.</p>

<p>I've visited Cal and Penn, but neither Cornell nor Dartmouth. I feel like I could enjoy myself in both an urban and a more rural environment. I love the outdoors but would also appreciate the greater social opportunities in a city like Philadelphia.</p>

<p>As someone who is very intellectually curious, I know that I could do well anywhere. However, I'm very indecisive. While I'm extremely grateful for my options, at the same time I'm spending so much time researching and trying to sway my opinion before the May 1 deadline that my nails are bitten to the quick. At each admitted student event, I fall in love with a new school, and it's getting difficult to differentiate between them. I'm hoping you guys can help me resolve this!</p>

<p>I posted the same thing in the College Search & Selection Forum, btw.</p>

2

<p>Regarding Penn, Cornell, and Dartmouth, I would definitely choose Penn or Cornell. Penn has a fantastic physics department which provides a nice undergrad environment since it is small and closeknit. The teaching is great, there are wonderful research opportunities, and it is very easy to take grad classes. We do pretty well in grad school admissions although not too many people apply from Penn. This year people got accepted to Harvard, MIT, Stanford, Caltech, Chicago, and Cornell among others.</p>

<p>I don’t know as much about Cornell but there graduate program is outstanding and from what I saw on grad school visits, the students do incredibly well with grad school admissions.</p>

<p>Cal of course also has one of the best physics departments. It’s obviously a bigger school so teaching may not be as good but I could be wrong. Cal students also do very well in grad school admissions.</p>

<p>So I would say besides Dartmouth, the schools you mentioned are wonderful. It’s just a matter of personal preference. If they are all financially ok, the other things I think you should consider are things like campus, location, general vibe, etc.</p>

3

<p>@Poeme: What are your reasons for ruling out Dartmouth? As a small school, professors are more focused on undergrads, and I assume it’d be easy to ask them to help out with research. The science majors I’ve spoken to have loved their classes and professors. However, I’m trying to figure out if anything would be missing at Dartmouth versus at a larger, more urban school like Penn. </p>

<p>I’ve also heard that Dartmouth is more intellectually stimulating than a career-oriented school like Penn. </p>

4

<p>The physics department at Dartmouth is just not at the same level as the other schools you mentioned as well as Dartmouth’s reputation as a research university. Dartmouth as a world university does not make the top 50 and neither does its physics department.</p>

<p>If you want to get involved in physics research being done at the highest level, the best opportunities will be at the three schools I mentioned. There are also a lot of opportunities to take grad courses which really helps when applying to grad school. The physics grad students themselves are also a great presence, I have quite a few friends that are grad students and many of them have given me great advice.</p>

<p>The Professors at Penn are more than happy to speak with and mentor undergrads. They also all care about teaching and are very accessible if you have a question. I assume they are that way at Cornell as well as I have only heard great things from physics majors who go there.</p>

<p>Penn itself is not a career oriented school. Especially not in terms of the education in CAS. The reason Penn seems more preprofessional than other Ivies is because we have Wharton. However, even though there is a bit of pre professionalism among students in other schools as well, it’s not like you wouldn’t find that at Dartmouth. Dartmouth is a huge feeder into the finance/investment banking and consulting industries. It is also known to be more conservative than the other Ivies.</p>

<p>I myself only notice the pre professionalism in social settings, not in academics. I choose the classes I want to take because I am interested in them, not because I want to inflate my GPA, so the other students are always very intellectually curious as well. My three closest friends (who I met in freshman physics) and I are all attending top graduate schools in physics next year. A lot of my other friends are doing PhDs in other fields as well or will be in non finance jobs/consulting jobs.</p>