<p>Leaning toward Cornell but Vandy close second. Any thoughts or advice. Intended major @ Cornell is Biological Engineering (CALS). At Vandy, Arts and Sciences, chemistry. I know, they are so different but I love them both! The plan is to do ED1 @ Cornell. If denied, then there's always ED 2 @ Vandy. I prob stand a better shot at Cornell. Vandy has gotten ridiculous!</p>
<p>Vanderbilt has one of the best biomedical engineering programs in the country. When my kids were there, they told us 6% of the worlds biomedical engineers came from Vanderbilt. Cornell engineering is a tough admit. If you’re a girl, engineering is easier for both schools than it is for boys. Going the CALS route at cornell is an easier option. I had 2 at Vanderbilt, now 1 at cornell. They workload at cornell is tough, very tough.</p>
<p>@Swimmer726, Is your child at Cornell in the college of Engineering or CALS? Thanks for taking the time to repy.</p>
<p>S1 is 3rd year at Cornell (CALS/Dyson) and S2 is 2nd year Vandy Computer Engineering/Math. Feel free to ask any specific question.</p>
<p>Vanderbilt is still a white boy southern country club stronghold.</p>
<p>Someone from my school got accepted there and he kind of hates the social environment lol.</p>
<p>Just something to keep in mind.</p>
<p>My daughter was admitted to both, Cornell & Vandy. While Vandy was more generous with merit NMF aid, she chose Cornell. Cornell is tough, but their recruitment and opportunities for students are second to none.</p>
<p>I am a current Vanderbilt sophomore. Currently majoring in Mech. E. and Math. Message me if you have any specific questions. From my experience, most of what has been said to this point is accurate. </p>
<p>Just spent 4 days at Cornell (visiting a friend) and socially the two schools are diametric opposites.
If I had a bet, I’d say Cornell is the more rigorous school. I don’t know if it was because of prelims or for whatever reason, but the libraries were packed. Much more packed than I have ever seen at Vanderbilt</p>
<p>My S at Cornell is in the college of engineering. He is regularly getting slammed with work. It’s manageable, but the kiss of death is getting behind.</p>
<p>Both my son at Vanderbilt and my son at Cornell are in/were in fraternities. That seemed pretty similar in terms of partying/etc. There are LOTS of Northerners at Vanderbilt. However, those are people who were open to the Southern lifestyle, so it definitely has a southern feel to it. My Cornell S has added a Dyson business minor. He has really enjoyed it and the classes are by no means as hard as engineering classes, so the information is relevant, but not too stressful. He’s taking all the accounting classes he can take. </p>
<p>From my limited knowledge, nahcnam is right - the Cornell students seem to work harder than those at Vanderbilt as a group.</p>
<p>Thank you ^^^ I am a hard worker and have always been good about staying on top of work and going for help if needed. But this is Cornell…not going to lie, I’m a bit nervous. However, I am up to the challenge! I live in a southern state so demographically I prob have a better shot at Cornell ED1 than VandyED1. Just submitted Cornell ED1 this morning!
Wish me luck!</p>
<p>^ We are southerners and my Cornell S LOVES it up there. He loves being part of the community and being surrounded by so many people studying so many different things. You will be very happy there. Even though our 2 older kids went to Vanderbilt, we knew that wasn’t the place for him. He would have been a little bit miserable there, and Vanderbilt doesn’t have the vast array of study opportunities that Cornell does.</p>
<p>If you made a good case for you ED in your essay and let them know who you really are, you’ll have a good shot. I do believe they want people who want to be there, and are willing to commit to the school, the work, the experience.</p>
<p>Good luck!</p>
<p>Thank you @Swimmer726! For a long time I was fixed on Vandy. My college counselor suggested Cornell. I visited and was sold almost instantly! I feel I have a reasonably decent app, hopefully I’m what they’re looking for! ED app is in…now it’s up to them! The waiting game begins! Thanks for your encouragement :)</p>
<p>Last year, my son, who attended public school in the NY area, was admitted to both Cornell and Vandy and chose the latter. He couldn’t be happier with his choice. He loves Vanderbilt. The notion that it is a “white boy southern country club stronghold” is really outdated. Only about a third of his class is from the south. 33% are minority (and that is NOT including international students). Yes, it’s a social school. Yes, the two schools are very different. To each their own. But to anyone reading this thread who may be looking for insight into what Vanderbilt is like, may I suggest: don’t judge a school based on comments on another school’s board. Take a trip to Nashville and see it for yourself!</p>
<p>Just apply to both, get into both, then compare the fin aid packages from both. Go to one that you like better. If you like them equally, choose the one that’s cheaper to attend.</p>
<p>I like the part where it’s physically possible for OP to apply ED to both schools.</p>
<p>I applied ED to Cornell. If I am admitted, that’s where I’ll attend. If I’m denied, I’ll go ED2 to Vandy.</p>
<p>Good luck.</p>