Cornell vs. Upenn

Hey guys!! I’ve always been interested in Upenn and Cornell and have always flip flopped between those two. Can anyone please give me a comparison between those two or maybe some reasons to go to either? I want to major in biology or biomedical sciences because I want to go down the doctor route. Thanks!!

It is very cold at Cornell, Upenn has better reputation.

@3CsinLife thanks!! Does anyone else have anything to add?

Cornell is in a part of upstate NY State that has arguably the worst weather in the whole USA. Also, Penn is urban, Cornell is in a rural area. Penn highlights its “one school” atmosphere where you can take classes anywhere in the University. By comparison, Cornell is more like a large public university where the different undergraduate schools are more separate.

UPenn is very pre-professional and urban.

Cornell is in a suburb of nowhere and surrounded by rural. Sprawling campus. Parts of school are NY State land grant. Offers non traditional programs for an Ivy like Ag, Hotel Management, Labor Relations …

@collegeready33 you should check out some of my previous posts about Penn to get sense of what might be some of its defining characteristics.

I chose Penn largely because of its collaborative/interdisciplinary environment (fostered through the One University Policy mentioned above), it’s beautiful, traditional campus that is only a short walk from the heart of America’s 5th largest city, its reputation as the Social Ivy, the quality of the other students who matriculate at Penn, the access to internships and volunteer opportunities in Philadelphia, and the proximity of Philly to other major urban centers.

While both schools will prepare you well for med school, Penn Med and the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania is right on the same campus as the undergraduate schools meaning that you can do research with med school professors and actual physicians and you can sit in on med school classes to get a better sense of whether that is truly the path down which you would like your academic and professional career to travel. In contrast, Cornell’s med school and hospital are located in NYC while the undergrad campus is in Ithaca making that sort of interdisciplinary and professionally oriented education impossible for cornell pre-meds.

Just some things to consider. I’m happy to answer any questions you might have about Penn or why I chose Penn over several other ivies and great schools.

Are you planning on NOT applying to one over the other? WHy not both and see the results in April and then visit?

@T26E4 I’m still looking at both schools, so I’m not really sure yet. Once again thanks everyone! I’ve gotten a lot more insight and will be able to see both schools in a different light. Have a good day and happy holidays!!

YOU need to choose the environment YOU prefer to spend the next 4 years at.

BTW: when a HS student tells you X has a better reputation than Y, take it with a huge grain of salt. The USNWR and other prestige-deluded public actually thinks there’s a huge difference. Anyone in either of those schools or in academia or a hiring manager will tell you otherwise. Both are wonderful schools and anyone would be immensely fortunate to attend either.

collegeready33, Cornell and Penn are peers. As such, I recommend you research the two universities on your own. I agree with T26E4. Penn does not have a better reputation where it matters. According to academe and industry, Cornell and Penn are both extremely well regarded. Cornell’s campus is more well defined and quite pretty. Penn’s campus more urban, although relatively well defined as well. Both have great social environment and large Greek systems. Both schools are excellent for premeds. If cost of attendance is not a concern, go for fit.

That’s actually very true you guys. Thanks a lot!!

Just apply to both and see what happens. That’s what I’m doing.

@collegeready33 Yes Penn is on the whole more highly ranked than Cornell and more cross-admits choose it , but that should not be your basis for making your decision. Penn and Cornell are highly comparable. You should think of where you fit in best both in term of academics, career aspiration and social life, schools culture.

One practical consideration for your specific case is that Pen has its medical school and hospital right on campus, while Cornell does not. This is an important consideration for life sciences and pre-med students because to allows easy access to volunteering and research opportunities as an undergrad which are important for med school applications. Penn has one of the top 5 medical schools in the country and one of the top 10 hospitals in the country. Many of the top names in their fields are professor at the medical school and researchers.doctors at the hospital. Penn also makes it quite easy for undergrads to get involved in research projects at the hospital/medical school. Being able to say you have worked on research at Penn Medicine and even getting letters of recommendation from some top names in the field can go a a long way in med school applications. Also getting research and volunteering experience at a top hospital is beneficial because it will give you a first-hand insight into what doctors actually do.