<p>It is down to these two. I am OOS for UMich and was given a 20k Engineering Scholarship plus a small grant, work study and loan. I know the engineering program for both is comparable. UMichs ECE program is bigger in faculty/student size and maybe even their facilities but I am not sure if this is good for me. So I was leaning toward Cornell even though it would cost about $7000/yr more out of pocket. I like Cornell Engineering Quad that is in central campus (vs. UMich isolated North Engineering campus) and generally its prettier campus. Either Ann Arbor (3 hours drive) or Ithaca is ok for me. Ithaca is 3 more hours of driving from home but I can take it. Cornell also gave me the Meinig Scholarship which provides leadership development opportunity I am interested in. So, I was almost going to send in the deposit to Cornell. Then, UMich threw in a $5000/yr (outside?) scholarship that is administered by the Engineering (ECE) yesterday. The difference in cost is now $12000/yr. I still like Cornell. But I dont hate UMich either especially taking into account the $5000/yr scholarship also includes internship opportunity at a major router company for the summers after freshman year. </p>
<p>So, please help me with your comments/opinion: Am I giving up too much of UMichs offer for Cornell? Thanks in advance only a few days left </p>
<p>Michigan will give you more balanced undergraduate experience and will cost 48K less. I agree about Engineering campus in UM being a minus (disconnected from main campus with bus commute between classes first 2 years). Cornell students will be slightly more intellectual on average.</p>
<p>DTan, as an alum of both Cornell and Michigan, I would have to disagree with you. I'd say Michigan and Cornell students are equally intellectual. And yes, Michigan's North Campus is slightly secluded, but a free, safe and frequent 10-minute bus route connects North Campus to Central campus and Ann Arbor itself is not secluded. </p>
<p>However, the OP seems to have a preference for Cornell so that's where I recommend he go.</p>
<p>... only if the OP has visited both campuses and is aware of what Michigan offers in terms of campus life and overall college experience. I also think that Michigan has a slight edge in the engineering industry (at least in my field - ChE).</p>
<p>Still not convinced that it's worth $12,000/yr more to attend Cornell, especially in engineering.</p>
<p>You have two excellent choices, can't go wrong. If your family can easily pay all or part of the extra 48K and you like Cornell, go. If not, maybe you could borrow half. 24K is not a bad debt. I would choose Michigan myself, to save the money, and because the location is less rural and isolated.</p>
<p>Well asteriskman, all of your observations of where Cornell is better than Michigan are pretty true. However, you seem to leave off every way Michigan is better (athletics, social scene, college town atmosphere, etc). I think you have to consider all these factors in addition to what you listed.</p>
<p>Thanks for all your responses. I have visited both campuses. I overnighted at Cornell but not Michigan. I am easy on the things that Michigan is better. Like if I go to Michigan, I probably will only watch the football game at the stadium once. Haha. Since neither Ann Arbor nor Ithaca is like NYC or Boston, I consider they are about the same.</p>
<p>I have lived in Ann Arbor for 7 years and in Ithaca for 2 years. They are not the same at all. Ann Arbor is much larger and has a lot more to offer. Ithaca is a quaint and pleasant little city, but it doesn't come close to Ann Arbor. Yes, Ann Arbor isn't NYC or Boston, but by that same reckoning, Ithaca isn't Ann Arbor.</p>
<p>What I meant is if I like cities, it has to be cities like NYC, Boston, Chicago, SF, LA or the mega like Shanghai, Tokyo etc. Small cities then to me are about the same. It is just me. ha ha. Thanks for your comments.</p>