<p>a 3.3 is about average. It's not impossible to get a 3.5 or more (heck, i have a 3.7). Just stay on top of your work, study hard, prepare well for exams and you'll have no problem getting a 3.5+. Engineering is tough because of the curve it's all graded on. It's different in HumEc. I know there is a huge stigma that says Cornell is impossible and only for geniuses. Well, it's very rigorous but not impossible. Just dont get carried away by your social life (going out to party on tuesday nights isn't a good idea). </p>
<p>I'm relatively close to home (it's more like an hour and a half, i live just north of Syracuse) but just far enough where it doesn't feel like home. Damn glad too!! :)</p>
<p>um, yeah, a 3.3 is average, but the "average" cornell student is brilliant anyway, right?? I mean, I've always been a great student, but I doubt I am "highly above average" for a school like cornell, so I'd probably get a 3.4 or 3.3, even if I worked my butt off. Is it really worth it to study like a maniac to get a B+ GPA, when kids at schools like Harvard with huge grade inflation get like A averages? It just seems excessive.</p>
<p>I think that's a perfect distance. My schools are either all too close or too far. Why didn't I apply to Bowdion??? :-( that would have been an excellent choice, both educationally and location-wise.</p>
<p>no matter who brilliant the average student is, I believe that those who work hard at this place will succeed. Sure, you will have some very hard courses. Are you willing to put the effort into it? I highly doubt you'd work your ass off and only earn a 3.0. If Cornell honestly thought you'd be just an average student here, why would they admit you? They obviously saw you had the potential to thrive in an environment like this. Being surrounded by 13,000 driven individuals is an incredible experience and that's what keeps me motivated. You'll study like a maniac at times, but certainly not on the average day. </p>
<p>I think you'd be passing up an incredible opportunity by passing on Cornell. I mean this in relation to the number of courses and opportunities offered to you in your interested field of study. I know Wellesley is an incredible school, but I think Cornell just has alot more to offer for you to take advantage of.</p>
<p>You could always do a school like Cornell for grad school. My thought process was that I only had one chance to attend a small liberal arts school. I'll be at Wellesley next year, so I'm probably pretty biased. Did you go to Spring Open Campus?</p>
<p>I haven't looked at any specific stats but based on my ancient experience, it's possible that the Wellesley student body is on the whole slightly more capable than Cornell Hum Ec students are. As a whole. The Cornell stats used to be routinely broken out by college, but these days I see them mostly merged so it's impossible to tell. But when they appeared broken out there was a discernible difference among the various Cornell colleges.</p>
<p>Moreover, I don't know that the workload in the Hum Ec college is the same as, say in the Engineering College. On the other hand, during my daughter's college hunt I came away with the distinct impression that Wellesley is a very tough school. So actually, from where I sit, I would have assumed just the opposite of you. I would have assumed that Wellesley is actually tougher than Cornell Hum Ec. Somewhat. And more or less the same as Cornell Arts & Sciences, both in academic rigor and prestige.</p>
<p>i'm sorry but no way is cornell as close to new york as wellesley is to boston and something...... something tells me that gomestar goes to cornell.
don't worry about the social life at wellesley- its pretty great after all its practically in boston and surrounded by so many colleges. so if there's not a party on campus then there's one at babson or bentley or whatever. also the good thing about wellesley is that you can cross-register at places like mit and get credit so there really are lots of courses you can take. and women's studies?? wellesley all the way!
i don't know that much about cornell but.... since you're leaning to wellesley its usually an indicator that its the right place.</p>
<p>MY daughter researched this very carefully, talked to a lot of people, and in the end came away with a different picture than the above would suggest. Promotion and actuality can differ somewhat.</p>
<p>I suggest you likewise investigate these points carefully and talk to a number of people, as we did.</p>
<p>As to the specific points raised:</p>
<ul>
<li>The majority of Wellesley students and alums we spoke to did NOT think that the social life there was "pretty great". Quite the contrary, actually.</li>
</ul>
<p>-Not everyone desires Babson or Bentley guys. To meet Harvard & MIT guys, the Wellesley people get themselves bused in to these frat parties. YECHHH.</p>
<p>This is the only environment I can imagine where the typical MIT guy would have girls bused in and lining up to meet them. (sorry, but...)</p>
<p>-It is not in Boston, and the campus life did not seem that thrilling. You're in a suburb, in actuality. </p>
<p>-There were reported scheduling issues which constrained the cross-registration at MIT. Not that the courses they offered were necessarily ones you want to take anyway.</p>
<p>-I have no idea whether Wellesley's offerings in Women's Studies are superior to Cornell's. Knowing what I know about Cornell, I'd expect that actually Cornell's offerings would be superior in this field. but I haven't investigated. OP should, if it's important.</p>
<p>obviously both schools are far from flawless, and I agree with all your points, but I just need to come to a decision and stick to it. </p>
<p>monydad - yes, I'm aware that HE is probably slightly easier to get into than CAS, but I'd researched Human Development at the time, and it seemed like a very cool program for someone who wants to be a psychologist. Plus, at the time, the school was one of my first choices, and I REALLY wanted to get accepted. I figured that in the worst case, it would be easier to transfer between schools and sneak into CAS that way if I changed my mind after getting in.</p>
<p>But on the other hand, if wellesley really is more academically challenging, etc, AND I prefer the environment a lot - why not go? </p>
<p>On the other hand, my boyfriend is going to be going to school in DC, and I'll be all alone here... Hopefully, we'll still be together, but the school might be pretty lonely. :/ </p>
<p>On the other hand, women's studies IS exceptionally good at Wellesley... I checked out the courses available and they seem great. buuuut what can I do with a minor in women's studies aside from being an activist/feminist/writer? I don't know.</p>
<p>Anyway, if human dev is weak, and if I might end up even going for prelaw, maybe it's just not what I should pick right now. aye?</p>
<p>"something tells me that gomestar goes to cornell"</p>
<p><--- it says so right here. </p>
<p>"i'm sorry but no way is cornell as close to new york as wellesley is to boston"</p>
<p>your superior map reading skills are correct. I never touched on location, but there are busses that run routinely from Cornell to NYC. I have spent several weekend in the big apple the past two semesters. It's not like NYC is next door, but it's close enough to allow for visits every now and then. </p>
<p>"human dev is weak" this program is certainly not weak!!! If it was truly weak, why would i mention the fact that one of my friends got admitted to the cream-of-the-crop grad programs with just a 3.3? Some people might consider it weak, but certainly not grad schools. At Cornell, you will be set up very nicely for pre-law as well. Cornell has fantastic law school placement rates, among the very best in the US. As an undergrad, you can take classes at the Cornell law school putting you at a better advantage for admissions to elite law schools one day. </p>
<p>The Women's study program is also strong at Cornell. No need to worry about this. </p>
<p>I still thing the human dev. program would be best for you. In my experience, it's provided some fantastic opportunities for a few of my friends (plus, you can do a year in NYC for credit).</p>
<p>I do not think HE is "weak" per se. It might possibly be slightly less actively intense than some other areas at Cornell though. Which I thought in your case might be a good thing- since you seemed very concerned about how tough Cornell might be for you. My impression is that if you need to be concerned about this at Cornell than you should be just as concerned about Wellesley too. Actually I would guess that HDFS program at HE is probably about the best of its type in the country.</p>
<p>There is no general "right" answer that someone can give you about this choice. There is good, bad, and who knows in either direction. You've just got to weight them yourself, based on your personal values and priorities.</p>
<p>We've submitted our two cents but the choice is yours.</p>
<p>academic wise it isn't weak at all. But, it's probably less intensive than some of the hard sciences and engineering stuff. I doubt you'll find a better or more respected HDFS program in the country, though. </p>
<p>Good luck with your decision, you can't go wrong with either choice.</p>
<p>ok, i was really hoping you didn't miss that. </p>
<p>On the NYC thing, I just got an email about a trip next week. $30 gets Cornell students a bus trip to the city with tickets to a broadway show (I forget which one off the top of my head). This has been the 4th or 5th time something like this has been brought up this semester. There have been other things such as hockey games in philly, yankee games, and red sox games as well. All 1 day trips at a ridiculously low cost to Cornell students.</p>
<p>Perhaps Cornell students get discounts to Disneyland as well.</p>
<p>However, that does not change the following:</p>
<p>Cornell is located in upstate New York, a good 5 hour drive from NYC. I am not aware of any train service, and service from the local airport was both sparse and expensive, when I last looked at it.
Alfred Kahn, a Cornell prof. and "mastermind" behind deregulation of the airlines, has been quoted as saying he drives over an hour to Syracuse to get cheaper and/or more timely flights, rather than flying from Tompkins County Airport.</p>
<p>One can of course make a weekend trip to NYC from Ithaca. Heck, I drove to Florida from Ithaca with some friends. But it should not be construed that there is some close association between Cornell and NYC. NYC is quite distant from Cornell.</p>
<p>come on, my point was you wont be limited to only ithaca the entire year. There have been ample opportunities to go to other cities with busses right from campus. </p>
<p>And why would you fly from Ithaca to NYC? You'll spend just as much time in line or taking a taxi from the airports to the city as you would if you just did the drive. </p>
<p>"it should not be construed that there is some close association between Cornell and NYC"</p>
<p>I disagree, but maybe this is because i'm an ilr student. ILR has a big division based in NYC. One of my professors teaches there via video conference. I've gone down there before to each lunch with him. A big research department for ilr is also located in nyc. I've considered doing research there before. Also, students from every college can study in NYC for a semester. There is also the "urban scholars" program that is a summer employment opportunity where you get paid (plus free housing) to work in NYC. Jobs are wide and varied and include responsibilities ranging from analyzing the legal framework of the city to teaching inner-city youth. Also, the medical school is located in Manhattan. Cornell has a very big presence in the city. </p>
<p>No, NYC is not a 30 minute drive from Ithaca. But, the city is more than accesible from the Cornell campus. If you want to, you should have no trouble getting there and back from Cornell.</p>
<p>that's unfortunate. You don't seem very enthusiastic about your choice. Last time I picked a college and said "I guess" I transfered out after two semesters (really). Cornell (and the hum. develop. program) seemed like an environment that you would trive in. Never the less, I hope you don't regret it either and that everything will work out anyways. </p>
<p>If you get off the waitlist at Tufts, you should go to Cornell ;)</p>
<p>I wouldn't seem enthusiastic about my choice either way.. if I chose cornell, I'd be like, "oh, I'm going to cornell.. hmmm." and I would worry about it too. So, maybe I just didn't apply to any schools that are perfect fits for me.</p>
<p>Cornell is just too expensive for me right now, anyway. I don't know. I should really study for APs because I will get 2s or 3s on all four tests if I keep refreshing this thing.</p>