<p>Not blindly supporting anything, merely reporting the truth from actual, on-campus experience as a student. Clearly, that's the hardest to swallow for some.</p>
<p>Are there cliques at USC might like in high school? I'd be lying if I said there weren't. But as a member of a minority myself, to suggest that minorities are "oppressed" by "rich white kids" is outrageous and farcical at best. You're certainly entitled to your opinion from what you've heard from black kids, but to each his own.</p>
<p>Have a great weekend! Hope to see you around campus this Fall, where we can continue this absolutely pointless debate.</p>
<p>Razor165, (as predicted), I apologize for the above debate with Donjuan78. Back on topic, I honestly believe you're very fortunate in having the opportunity to attend any of these three fine institutions. Aside from my little banter with Donjuan78, I really think you need to follow your instinct, and also plan ahead: eventually settling down in CA, or east coast? Something to think about. And do you prefer an "urban" campus, or a significantly more rural location? One big "culture" difference, IMO. </p>
<p>Princeton is lovely. A lovely town, a lovely campus, and when it's called a "country club" it is not a big stretch. My friend's D is a sophomore so I have been there a few times to visit her.</p>
<p>The contrast to Cornell is huge. Cornell is more gritty, more crunchy granola, more upstate. There's a real 'remnant of the 60's' feel to Ithaca and the surroundings. I've heard comments that downtown Ithaca really needs an update -- but I think it <em>had</em> the update already. And someone else commented that nowhere else can you go to a <em>steakhouse</em> and find a vegetarian section on the menu. The natural beauty surrounding Cornell is amazing -- gorges, waterfalls, hills, cliffs, the lake etc. My S is also a sophomore, so I have visited a lot. </p>
<p>Population wise, Cornell seems more diverse demographically and academically. Probably economically too.</p>
<p>I could relate to cnp55's comments, after visiting both campuses. But Ithaca is definitely distinct, with its own unique touch of flavor (until I visited the campus last winter, I hadn't had real, warm apple cider in years in ages... delicious!). We drove up from NYC right after the huge blizzard/snow-storm, so the scenery was absolutely gorgeous.</p>
<p>If you think downtown Ithaca really needs an update, you should have seen it five or six years ago, before the Hilton Garden Inn was built and Starbucks, etc. were added. There's a whole slew of construction projects going on these days, including luxury condos along Six Mile Creek and another hotel going up at the corner of State Street and Green Street.</p>
<p>But some of us liked it the old way. I can get Starbucks anywhere. But I can't get the growlers from Chappy or the juevos rancheros at ABC Cafe anywhere else.</p>
<p>I'm not the one that thought it needed the update! That's a direct comment from a parent staying at the Best Western a few months ago visiting Ithaca College with her son.</p>
<p>But I will always remember my H, calling while on an April visit in 2005 with our son to tell me that what was happening in the arts quad was a timewarp to 1968!</p>