HI EVERYONE I was admitted to Cornell and Vandy RD and as I make my final decision I would like some advice. As of now I am about 98% committed to Vandy because it has been my dream school forever. I absolutely love Nashville, I love the HOD program, I love the size, the community, the work hard play hard culture, the general vibe of the school I feel like it would be a good fit. However, I was also admitted to cornell. There’s not really anything bout Cornell that I like that vandy doesn’t have (besides the IVY league name and I know some more people going to Cornell, I don’t know anyone going to Vandy). Do you think I am making a mistake by passing up an IVY Leauge opportunity? What do you guys think? I’m concerned that Cornell will be too cut throat and depressing In the freezing cold middle of nowhere. Also, money is not an issue for me. Lmk your thoughts!
TRUST YOURSELF
The campus culture of Cornell and Vandy are nearly opposites. I am a fan of Cornell (and have a gradschoolkid there), but the idea that the “Ivy” label is worth giving up a school that you are very happy with is actually sad.
Obviously, Vanderbilt since it is ranked #14 and Cornell only #17 in USNWR.
I AM KIDDING!!!
As @collegemom3717 said, go with your gut instinct. But it sounds like Vanderbilt based on your description.
Interesting handle.
You love Vanderbilt and your perception of Cornell is that it’s miserable. What exactly is it that you are struggling with here?
Go to Vanderbilt. Do not spend a second doubting that choice. Congrats!
You would NOT be making a mistake by choosing Vandy.
You basically wrote you love Vandy - you have loved Vandy - but Cornell is Ivy (so what) and you know more going - which means you’d meet less people.
Why’d you sell yourself against your dream?
I live in Nashville - come and add to our community.
No doubt you would be much happier and enjoy Vanderbilt more…but, lets be honest:
the prestige of an Ivy League education is likely to add thousands upon thousands of dollars to your lifetime income stream
If you love Vandy (and affordability is not a factor) go there. Both are wonderful universities and fit is important.
I’d recommend that you buy a Vanderbilt hoodie and celebrate your success in the college admission process.
The other choice is Vanderbilt, not Austin Peay.
Vandy it is.
Please cite your source. That is contradictory to most investment analyses I have seen.
I’m as prestige conscious as the next person – moreso, probably! But the “Ivy League” does not have a monopoly on prestige, and the benefits that accrue from prestige.
In my opinion, Vanderbilt is as prestigious as Cornell, and will open as many doors and make as many connections.
100%, go to Vanderbilt!
It’s an opinion: hence the word “likely”
Source:
College
Factual.com “Setting aside the time value of money, after 30 years, an undergraduate degree from Cornell University is worth about $2,056,000 more than what it would cost you.”
Source: CollegeFactual.com
“Setting aside the time value of money, after 30 years, an undergraduate degree from Vanderbilt University is worth about $1,717,000 more than what it would cost you.”
And you think we can extrapolate the value of a particular student’s undergraduate degree, based on aggregate data like this?
Just to give one example of a contributing factor, Cornell’s College of Engineering enrolls 20% of its undergraduate population. Vanderbilt’s engineering school enrolls only 10% of its undergrads. If engineering grads get higher ROI, then having double the proportion of engineering students is going to make Cornell as a whole look statistically better. What does that imply about the value of an individual student’s degree? Quite likely nothing.
Bottom line, we don’t have enough information to unpack what those numbers predict for any individual. The Ivy League is an athletic conference (and “Ivy” is not an all-caps acronym, despite the weird prevalence of that usage on CC!). Vandy and Cornell are peer schools; the value of the degree will depend on what the student studies and how they distinguish themselves during their college years. The OP should attend whichever school feels like the best fit, where they will thrive and be successful.
this is a great scene for all you Cornell lovers and haters. it will not help the OP but still…
My son and his large group of friends have been very happy at Vanderbilt and they have wonderful upcoming internships across a variety of fields. Nashville can’t be beat!
I suspect internationally the Cornell name is much more recognized than Vanderbilt, and the alumni network is larger and stronger.
While I think Cornell is better all-around academically, especially in STEM areas, Vanderbilt is a quality school as well. If you would be happier there, choose it.