Cornell vs. Vanderbilt (Engineering)

[Telophase]

<p>I have been admitted to both.</p>

<p>I am looking to go into some branch of engineering, although I am not particularly sure as to which one I will ultimately choose. Cornell's depth/breadth seems to win in that respect.</p>

<p>However, Vanderbilt is certainly the more affordable option for me (thanks to generous merit aid), while Cornell carries a full price tag. My financial situation is just good enough that I did not qualify for need-based aid, but I am not well-off enough to easily pay for Cornell. That being said, with some considerable effort, I could probably make it happen.</p>

<p>After visiting both schools, I felt like Cornell was a better fit for me. The somewhat rural, northern setting is actually a plus for me despite the area's reputation for harsh winters. It also seemed to me that the school's diverse and large population of undergraduates offered more alternative activities/social life. I do not plan on partying in college (and if I do, it will certainly be minimal), and I am not fond of a school culture that embraces sports and the "jock" life overzealously. From what I've heard, I have some fears regarding Vanderbilt's social life and the probable dominance of greek life, jocks, and this "party hard" atmosphere.</p>

<p>What is the social life at Vanderbilt really like? How prevalent/dominant are sporting events, parties, and the "southern gentility"? Would I feel isolated or alone if I were to avoid parties? What alternative activities exist, and how strong are they? Also, am I right in thinking that a semi-nerd would fair better socially at Cornell? Or are engineers generally the same in terms of social interests, regardless of their respective institutions? Also, how does the social atmosphere of Vanderbilt's engineering majors compare to that of the school at large?</p>

<p>Finally, is Cornell's engineering program really that much stronger than the one at Vanderbilt? Will a diploma from a (slightly?) more prestigious university like Cornell really pay for itself in the form of better internships/employment/salary?</p>

<p>Thanks to all who answer. May 1st is dangerously close, but at least this is my best work to date in terms of avoiding procrastination...</p>

[midmo]

<p>My son is a serious student, semi-nerd, non-fraternity member junior at Vanderbilt’s engineering school. He is quite sociable, always has a lot of friends and likes to work and study with groups. I think you are right to suspect that the culture at VUSE is a bit different than the overall undergraduate vibe at Vanderbilt. I haven’t seen any numbers, but there seems (to me) to be a much lower percentage of students in Greek organizations in the engineering school. (That doesn’t mean they are not partiers, of course.)</p>

<p>Financially, our family is in exactly the same boat as yours: full pay, but right there at the cut-off. It would have been a stretch to go full pay at Cornell or any other number of schools that did not give merit aid. Son did not decide on Vanderbilt simply because they offered him major merit money (approx. 40K/yr), but the offer was enough to get him to make two trips to talk to professors and students. In the end, he liked what he saw and heard and headed for Nashville. He has not regretted that decision for one moment. He likes the school, the campus, and the city. (And he likes graduating with a whole lot of $$$ still in the bank, but believe me when I say that is not the biggest thing. With his record, he could have gone to many schools for free.)</p>

<p>One difference between my son and you is that he did not want to attend any school out in the boonies, which is what Ithaca seemed like to him. He doesn’t mind cold weather; he was born in Massachusetts and was sorry when we moved somewhere warmer. He has acclimated to the warmer weather of Nashville–very quickly, actually.</p>

<p>One further note on the potential culture clash (not that I think it is inevitable): after your freshman year, you can get a group of 10 (male or mixed male/female) students with a strong common interest and apply for one of the Mayfield Lodge 10-room townhouses. Small kitchen, small common living area, set up town-house style. No guarantee you can get it; a good application is required. However, it is one way to make sure you are mostly surrounded with students who have a common approach to studying and partying.</p>

<p>Here is a link for the Mayfield Lodge:</p>

<p><a href=“Housing and Residential Experience | Vanderbilt University”>Housing and Residential Experience | Vanderbilt University;

<p>Good luck with your decision.</p>