<p>So I've applied to both Cornell and UPenn, and I have a good chance of getting in to both (35 ACT, really strong ECs, the whole shebang). My family hardly has the means to visit either, so I want to have a pretty good idea of my preferences before acceptance letters start rolling in come April.</p>
<p>First, as far as I'm concerned Cornell CAS = UPenn CAS in terms of prestige and overall quality. Therefore my choice mainly comes down to fit and my area of study. I want to major in English with an emphasis in creative writing, maybe minor (or double major) in religious studies, and I'm a huge fan of theatre also so a good drama scene is a plus.</p>
<p>I started out leaning toward Cornell (I like its more rural setting and snowfall), but writing the "Why UPenn?" supplement turned me on to UPenn's offerings. Its English department is ranked #4 (compare to Cornell at #8) and its creative writing courses seemed more fun--though this could just be a matter of clever course cataloging. But UPenn also has the Kelly Writers House.</p>
<p>Can anyone here enlighten me on Cornell's English / creative writing courses? And what about religious studies at Cornell? It has a religion major, but no department. I want to study Judeo-Christian texts most, and it seemed like Cornell's offerings were sparse for a university its size. (I actually found religion courses more specific to my interests at Vassar!)</p>
<p>A couple other concerns I've developed about Cornell are its larger class sizes (45% have >20 students) compared to UPenn (31% have >20 students). Plus, frat culture purportedly has a bigger influence at Cornell, a turnoff for me personally. Does anyone know whether these would or would not be noticeable?</p>
<p>Thanks.</p>
<p>P.S. -- I realize I could have asked this <em>before</em> applying, but UPenn and Cornell are good about matching each other's finaid offers, so I figured I could save some money if I got into both.</p>
<p>Haha im pretty sure Upenn consistently ranks Higher on the party school list (plus friend there says it gets WILD) so yea that might be a turnoff for you to consider. Also, bear in mind that these are both large universities (>10000 undergrads) so that measure of percentage of classes >20 students is incredibly general(Cornell could have alot of classes of 21 or something lol) im sure Upenn also has its fair share of large class sizes.</p>
<p>As for English and religion studies, cant give u much info there except for the fact that Cornell is the more math-science oriented school (thats why im goin there for chemistry), but hey Toni Morrison is a Cornell Alum so its english department must still be held in high regard regardless of some what number rankings may tell us.</p>
<p>^ Duly noted. I’ve heard both sides make cases for which is the wilder partier, so I’ll assume it’s about the same. I know Philly can get a bit crazy, but Cornell apparently has wild parties in senior apartments. At any rate, the percentage of undergrads in frats is nearly the same at both schools.</p>
<p>I’ll also take the class size metrics with a grain of salt, but 31% vs 45% is a significant difference. I still want to know what’s up with that.</p>
<p>I do see that Cornell’s a science school (and hotel school… I’ve always found that odd), so I’ll probably choose a LAC over Corny unless I fall in love with Ithaca on a visit. And I do hope to visit–I’ve got a freshman friend there who’s been my pen pal since middle school, and tragically we have yet to meet!</p>
<p>^ I’m don’t drink and don’t want to be socially excluded for it. A campus with low fraternity engagement has always seemed like a healthier, less-fragmented environment for me.</p>
<p>But if fraternities seem different to you, please feel free to share how you feel and why. I’m always open to new viewpoints. :)</p>
<p>Cornell’s English department is outstanding, and the upper level courses generally have very small enrollments. Many of us love Cornell’s setting - an idyllic campus in a wonderful college town. 70% of Cornell students aren’t in frats, so it’s just another option for those interested.</p>
<p>Saugus,
Maybe the novelty of snow would wear off after a year or so, but in the beginning I’d love it. Coming from Tennessee, I see an inch or two snow only once every five years or so (right now we’re overdue!), and it’s always so wondrous when it happens. So yes, snow is a treat for me. Definitely better than Philly’s rain!</p>
<p>behappy7,
Thanks! I figured Cornell must have a great English department given its high ranking. I’d wanted to go to Vanderbilt since I was six, but Cornell destroys it in the humanities. I guess the lack of a religion department is still a concern, though, but I can probably get over that if I fall in love with the school. But Penn has an excellent department… I’m torn. (And almost hoping to get rejected from one of the schools; it’d make my choice so much easier.)</p>
<p>Hey Denlah, I barely ever drink as well (and when I do, only very minor amounts). The good thing about Cornell is that it’s so big and there are so many people that you’re guaranteed to find people who are similar to you in this regard. However, that doesn’t mean that you can’t be friends or hang out with someone who does drink regularly. You can even go to parties and such without drinking. Most people here at Cornell are smart-- they will respect your decisions and will not look down on you for it.</p>
<p>It’s really hard to say that the students of a Greek-life university consume any more alcohol than their non-Greek counterparts. Unless you plan on joining a frat, the only thing Greek-life means is WHERE the parties take place. At Cornell, they’re mostly at frat houses. If you were to go to a non-Greek college, they’d take place at other places, but the same amount of alcohol would be consumed. Cornell’s frats are REALLY nice by the way-- like Greenwich, Connecticut McMansion nice.</p>
<p>Please PM me if you have any other questions about college and not drinking.</p>
<p>All statistics aside, having had the chance to visit Cornell, it is definitely an inspiring place for an aspiring writer! The campus is absolutely gorgeous (I know, maybe superfluous, but both schools have excellent academic ratings, so just a personal thought) :)</p>
<p>My daughter chose to attend Cornell after discussing it with a friend of mine, a published author who had been an English major there. After she graduated, she told me that her favorite course in college was a creative writing course she took there.</p>
<p>I do feel that atmosphere is hugely important to my college decision, so your advice thininkw1nk was not superfluous at all! I am going to suspend my hair-splitting and, if it should come down to it, simply take monydad’s advice and visit both schools. Strangely, I don’t yet know which environment I’d prefer. I’m thinking I’d prefer Cornell’s exclusion, but having never lived in a city, I don’t have any feel for what Philly is like.</p>
<p>And thanks Peppino for your wisdom that fraternities determine only where parties occur–this was silly for me to worry about in the first place!</p>
<p>I look forward to maybe seeing some of you later this year, either on visit or as a freshman pupil. Fingers crossed and best wishes to you all. :)</p>
<p>You should really check out Kelly Writers House. I will be there next year, also doing both drama/creative writing! Their amazing alumni and staff really drew me in - unlike at other ivy league universities, writers here have a place all their own. </p>
<p>I have yet to commit to a school officially, but I am almost certain now where I will spend the next four years. I gained acceptance both to Cornell and to Penn, and for a little while I was torn between what separated the two schools. Penn, with the Kelly Writers House and a better English department, had more resources for me as a writer. But Cornell’s beautiful campus must indubitably be more pleasant and inspiring than the concrete jungle that is Penn.</p>
<p>Then I stopped by Princeton on a college visit, and it became clear that I could have both. It captured everything I loved about Cornell, its campus and quaint town. But with Princeton’s English department came many of the benefits that made me salivate at Penn.</p>
<p>I learned Thursday that Princeton has accepted me into its Class of 2018, and I am ecstatic. That I have to turn down excellent schools like Cornell and Penn in order to attend pains me, but I know that it is the right choice for me. My thanks go out to all the wonderful people in this forum who helped me discover Cornell and who, through their unwavering kindness and assistance, have shown me that they genuinely care both about the school and about me.</p>