<p>USC vs. Cornell
Note: Similar thread posted in USC forum, for balance.</p>
<p>Well, after a long process, I'm finally down to two schools: USC and Cornell, and I need a little input to help me choose. Let me start by saying that I highly respect both schools, and a lot of the pros and cons and stuff are stereotypes that I would like to have corrected, but are things that always come up when I talk to people about these two schools.</p>
<p>Major and Special Programs:
At USC, I am in Viterbi majoring in Biomedical Engineering, and I want to minor in something but I don't know what yet (not necessarily science or engineering related). I am a trustee scholar, I'm in the W.V.T. Rusch undergraduate engineering honors program (special courses, seminars, retreats and special advising), and I am a Research Scholar which allows me to be involved with research and earn up to $3000 per year starting freshman year and continuing every year. I have to maintain a 3.0 or a B average to keep all of this.</p>
<p>At Cornell, I am in the CALS studying Bioengineering and I would also like to do a minor here that could be, but doesn't need to be related to engineering. I am a Meinig Family Cornell National Scholar, which is leadership based and allows me to work on a large project within Cornell and be mentored by an administrator (including possibly the president or vice president of Cornell). I need a 2.7 to stay in the Meinig program.</p>
<p>Finances:
USC is much better. Because of the trustee scholarship and outside scholarships so far, it would cost me about 14,000 total each year, and I could still apply any additional outside scholarships I get.</p>
<p>Cornell would cost about 33,000 each year because of need-based grants, and any future scholarships I get would make no difference because they would simply take away my grant aid.</p>
<p>Both of these costs are without any loans.</p>
<p>Gut Instincts:
I love USC's school spirit and emphasis on well rounded engineers. I love how easy it is for engineers to minor inside or outside of viterbi, and how much the school works with engineers to facilitate study abroad and other opportunities. I visited and felt very happy and excited and I really like the university as a whole, and if rankings didn't exist, I would most likely go to USC (and the price difference doesn't hurt it)</p>
<p>I recently visited Cornell and was impressed with how hard working the students are, but it was also really, really easy to see how stressed out a lot of the students were. They said they were happy and they have fun, but it seemed like the depression to happiness ratio was a little high. Granted, I visited right before prelims, but I was also told that the average engineer's GPA is a 2.7 which seems depressing in its own right. I feel like I would fit really well here, but my gut is still saying USC.</p>
<p>Other Pros (things that matter to me):
USC:
+More relaxed attitude (perceived)
+Encourages well rounded engineers
+They seem happy and very willing to work with engineers on double majoring, minoring, and studying abroad
+Weather!
+LA is an interesting/exciting city
+School Spirit (wow!)/Everyone I met there LOVES USC
+Trojan Network
+The computer science(gaming) and related minors sound really cool</p>
<p>Cornell:
+Higher Ranked (as a school and in Bio/Biomedical engineering)
+Stronger Peers? or maybe more academically focused?
+More programs in conservation/environment
+Alumni Network/is an ivy
+Safer Area
+Very beautiful campus
+Food!</p>
<p>Please feel free to tell me that something I think (or have been told) is way off base</p>
<p>BIG QUESTION:
-Cornell is ranked higher both as a school and for biomedical engineering, but I'm not sure how much that really matters. How much do ranking and prestige really matter for grad schools or for getting a job, considering the special programs I'm in at each school and the price difference in my undergrad education?</p>