<p>Hi,</p>
<p>I got into these three schools and specific programs:</p>
<p>Cornell University (ILR - Industrial Labor Relations)</p>
<p>Pomona College</p>
<p>University of Texas at Austin (Plan II Honors Program)</p>
<p>I have been really confused as to where I should commit to, I was hoping for some feedback on the schools comparatively and/or the programs? I am quite torn. </p>
<p>Thanks in advance!</p>
<p>Look into the curriculum, in-college and course requirements at ILR, it is not the same as an Arts & Sciences college like Pomona, which has more in common curricularly with Cornell CAS. Not everyone affirmatively wants the particular program of studies that ILR offers. If you are one of those that do, I would think your choice should be clear, since it is the best place for what it does. But whether you affirmatively prefer that program or not is up to you.</p>
<p>I have two friends now in Plan II both disappointed with their choice. Among other problems, advising is abysmal and there isn’t the individual attention or flexibility they expected.</p>
<p>ILR is pretty small, which gives you a nice instant community at a big university. Agree that you should take a careful look at the course requirements and nature of the curriculum to make sure it’s the right place for you.</p>
<p>Yeah originally my main decision was Cornell, but some people have tried to convince me on Pomona because they say Pomona is small/liberal arts college feel and nice environment whereas Cornell is awfully depressing and desolate. these are just the rumors i have heard. any confirmations or denials of these from firsthand experience would be great! </p>
<p>Additionally some more useful info about my choices: I first planned on attending a liberal arts college like Williams/Amherst but did not get in, but ILR curriculum appealed to me cause i did debate for four years and heavy into social studies topics. I plan on either doing Law or becoming a professor after my undergrad.</p>
<p>I am an ancient alum, DS1 is a recent grad, and DS2 starts there next year. None of us think Cornell is depressing or desolate (obviously, or we would have gone elsewhere). If you are a little bit outdoorsy (not hard-core, just like fresh air and natural beauty) Cornell is a great place. If you are extremely affected by weather (like with SAD), then Pomona would likely be better. There are 13,000 undergrads at Cornell. Are some of them depressed? Yes. Would a random sample of 13,000 other people include some who are depressed? Yes. Most people at Cornell are thrilled to be there and embrace the diversity of interests, the myriad opportunities, the long list of ECs, etc.
It is a big place, and it’s best if you see yourself as a bit of a self-starter. But that is a great trait to cultivate for the rest of your life, so an early start is a plus.
I have nothing bad to say about Pomona–it’s a great school and the Claremont Consortium is a great concept. But I think you are hearing some negative information about Cornell that is not accurate.
And BTW, ILR is a great training ground for law.</p>
<p>Well it does seem you fit well at ILR, academically, and by objective and interests. </p>
<p>Location-wise, the environments are very different to be sure, and people are free to react to them differently.</p>
<p>Personally, I did not find it"awfully depressing " at Cornell, actually I loved it there. It is beautiful. It’s true they do have long winters in upstate New York. And it rains a lot in Ithaca in the Fall, though it is beautiful there anyway. Personally, when I was a student my mood was governed first by the state of my social life, and second by the state of my academic affairs. Neither of which had a lot to do with the weather. But YMMV, some may feel otherwise. You might explore this further on the Cornell subforum.</p>
<p>I don’t even get “desolate”, how can a campus of 20,000 students all in one place, in a collegetown, be “desolate”? </p>
<p>Cornell overall certainly is not a “small/ liberal arts college feel”. ILR may be somewhat different, as noted. You might check with the ILR students/alums about this on the Cornell subforum. Also, a few “Life on the Hill” bloggers are ILR students, you could shoot them an inquiry.</p>
<p>Just to echo the above, as we were cross-posting: I am also an alum, and my D2 is there now, obviously if I thought it was so horrible she would be less likely to be there. And she loves it there, FWIW.</p>
<p>Agree that ILR is a long-standing breeding ground for future lawyers,and I also know an ILR grad who is a Professor. By interests and objectives, at least, it seems to be a good match.</p>
<p>But whether one should prefer it to Pomona, that’s up to you. I also have nothing bad to say about Pomona.</p>