<p>I am a transfer student from BC and I have been accepted into both Cornell (A&S) and Harvard. I am a poli-sci/econ double major and minor in enviro studies. I was looking for an opinion on why I should choose Cornell over Harvard. I am a really big outdoorsman and I know Cornell has an excellent program for that. I love the campus and Ithaca, and I feel like the social life would be better at Cornell. However, at Harvard, I feel like the academics would be more challenging and the long term benifits to a career in politics (networking, internships, etc) would be greater.</p>
<p>Transfer apps/admits/matriculants:</p>
<p>Cornell: 2,307, 766, 535</p>
<p>Harvard: 955, 55, 55</p>
<p>Byerly, does this mean that 20 of the transfers last year were juniors? I know there were 75 total.</p>
<p>To the OP:</p>
<p>Both schools are great, but I would really go with Harvard.</p>
<p>You are thinking of 2009 transfers.</p>
<p>Actually, there were 75 TOTAL transfers into Harvard last year, which includes both the class of 2008 and 2009. There were 20 freshman transfers last year matriculating at Harvard sophomore year.</p>
<p>It's not hard to get out and enjoy the outdoors if that's how you want to spend your weekends at Harvard.</p>
<p><a href="http://hcs.harvard.edu/%7Eoc/%5B/url%5D">http://hcs.harvard.edu/~oc/</a></p>
<p>I would really go with Harvard.
Harvard has a better reputation that Cornell, although they're both amazing (congrats on getting in! WOW!)
Also, Cornell is rural, so if you like 10-month-long winters and the highest college suicide rate in the country, go to Cornell.
If you think Boston would be great, go for Harvard.</p>
<p>you got the rural part right...but some of these other assertions are flat out wrong...</p>
<p>
[quote]
10-month-long winters
[/quote]
The winter weather in Ithaca and Boston is substancially the same</p>
<p>
[quote]
the highest college suicide rate in the country
[/quote]
this is just an urban legend. here are some resources to brush up on your facts:</p>
<p>I think it's awd that people think Cornell has such a high rate. Awll colleges have suicides, plus Cornell has 20000 undergrads!</p>
<p>This past winter, Ithaca, I believe, had less snow than did Boston. One or more of the NYC to Boston's blizzards bypassed Ithaca. The only point is that weather shouldn't be the deciding factor between the two schools as the weather at each is basically the same. Cambridge, MA has traditional New England, snowy winters.</p>
<p>Even if the temperature + amount of snowfall is the same in Cambridge and Ithaca, I think weather will have a greater effect on Cornell students. Cornell's campus is huge and hilly, while Harvard's is (relatively) compact and flat. Also, Harvard has some incredible snowshovelers (No idea what that's like at Cornell, I've only spent time there during the "gorgeous" summers).</p>
<p>The point about Cornell's campus being big is valid..but that's what makes it so special...you need a lot of space for intra campus waterfalls...</p>
<p>
[quote]
plus Cornell has 20000 undergrads!
[/quote]
actually the number is closer to 13,500. You get to the 20k number by throwing in grad students, law school, business school, etc...</p>
<p>a.) Cornell Undergrad is 13,000; not 20,000.
b.) But, thats because there are so many courses.
c.) Cornell suicide rate is below national average.</p>
<p>I think anyone choosing between these two schools needs to recognize that weather isn't a deciding factor. It is a bit silly to bring up snow removal abilities as all communities (Ithaca, Cambridge, etc.) that receive a lot of snow are set up for excellent snow removal so their citizens can get to work and people can move around. </p>
<p>There is a clear difference in campus life, but one is not "better" than the other. It depends on what type of undergraduate experience a student seeks in terms of life beyond academics. Harvard has the benefits of being in a big city. Cornell, on the other hand has a magnificent campus, with natural beauty in all sections of its large campus and offers varied outdoor activities (e.g., skiing and snowboarding is about 1/2 hour a way - can be taken as P.E. classes). Life revolves around the many activities, concerts, sports, and social events on campus and in the City of Ithaca (which is a city, albeit small) which has a "college town" atmosphere. </p>
<p>And if prestige is the important factor for the undergraduate experience then one should go to Harvard.</p>
<p>tree climbing also fulfills the P.E. requirement at Cornell :)</p>
<p>each is wonderful and wonderfully unique. remember that. wherever you end up is where you want to be. cornell is wonderful, harvard is wonderful. we all know this. you can go on listing stats saying which suicide rate is better, which winter is worse, who has the largest student body, but it all comes down to the fact that:</p>
<p>these two universities are brilliant. congrats on your fortune. whichever one you choose- dont go having any qualms. the fact that you chose it is strong enough to support your decison. </p>
<p>also, what may happen is something that happens to many decison makers. </p>
<p>for example, my sister had to choose between attending bates or attending colby. two excellent schools. she could NOT decide. she knew the basic histroy and courses of both schools by the time she decided. she chose bates. as soon as the deposit was in, and the "bates propoganda" came rolling, she saw that she was really really happy with her choice.</p>
<p>what im saying is, whichever school you choose, the fact that you cant choose already means that you will be happy at one of them. its really confusing. but when it is set in stone your mind will be as well. no qualms.</p>
<p>:-) good luck.</p>
<p>Nicely put Dande...</p>
<p>If you're looking for reasons to choose Cornell over Harvard, try posting on the Cornell board - because several the Harvard posters are <em>slightly</em> biased. (Not that the Cornell posters will be any less so, but their bias will go the other way.)</p>
<p>Personally, I would choose Harvard over Cornell; it's smaller and I love Boston. But if I didn't get into Harvard, I would definitely consider Cornell. It's a great school, after all.</p>
<p>Why is this even a question.</p>
<p>99% of the people admitted to both would obviously choose Harvard.</p>
<p>Cornell is considered by many to be the worst IVY/easiest to get into just cause u want the IVY name.</p>