Hello,
My daughter was admitted at Vandy arts & science (public policy) and Cornell Human Ecology (PAM). She is having such a hard time deciding. We are from South Florida so southern thing not really a plus but not a negative either. She seems to click with Cornell students from the accepted sites on Facebook and visiting, but I am concerned that weather, lifestyle, academics and being away from home for the first time is all a little overwhelming for a young freshman. (will have just turned 18 when starting in fall) Also so hard to get to from here as compared to Vandy. But inconveniences would all be ok if she I felt that she would not find overwhelming. Cornell is so large in so many ways. Help!!! Need to decide soon.
Hi, S1 is a senior at Cornell, S2 a Jr at Vandy and S3 accepted and will be going to Cornell (HE/PAM). Very different schools with very different students. Both are VERY smart campuses. Academically both will give her amazing opportunities. Of your concerns: Weather, Vandy wins, the Ithaca winters are brutal. Lifestyle, Cornell is obviously less “southern”, I have found that in the NY area where we are from, Vandy is still somewhat unknown. So depending on where she may want to settle after graduation, Cornell will give her an edge for working in NY. I have found also that most of the Vandy recruiting is for the South, West and Chicago area and not much in the NY markets. Our Vandy son, has secured great internships but they have been in Austin and Los Angeles. Our Cornell son, was recruited to work on Wall Street. (what he wanted). Most of our Cornell son’s friends are from the NY/metro/Florida area as Vandy son has friends from all over the country. Not sure this has helped you but please message me if you have any additional questions. She has 2 awesome choices. I do give Cornell a slight advantage as being an Ivy league school, but not by much.
I am from North Florida and my daughter was accepted to both as well. She will be a PAM major. My daughter cannot wait to get out of the south and try something new. We visited both campuses and she did not care for Vandy as much. I loved it. I also like the fact that it is easier to get to. I have to agree with the previous post that Cornell is an Ivy and with that goes prestige. People from all over the world have hard of it and it has a stellar reputation. I am from NY originally and never heard of Vanderbilt until I moved to the south. Has she visited both campuses?The weather is rougher but It snows in Nashville too and think of how many friends will want to come home with her over spring break! What about financially? Does one offer more aid than the other?