<p>So... about three months ago I wasn't sure if I could get into Cornell. Now I am pretty sure. I am a leader for a major well known American organization, I have logged more community service hours then most teens work/will ever do, and I have great grades and an exciting course load. My SAT's weren't stellar, but they weren't bad, however I will apply for pre-vet, and I have been working with animals my whole life. I spoke to someone from Cornell that said given my awesome extracurriculars and grades, I probably won't have a problem.</p>
<p>And here is my problem...</p>
<p>I visited tufts a few weeks ago. I FELL IN LOVE. I loved the campus, I loved the feel, the people.. everything. I felt like I wasn't going to get lost like I would at Cornell.</p>
<p>But I want to apply to Cornell early decision, because that will definitely help my chances x 9999, and it is a great school.</p>
<p>But if I get in... tufts is done, I will never be able to go there. And tufts weighs heavily on extracurriculars, so my chances aren't bad there either. I want to go to the best school possible. Veterinary Medicine, as I'm sure you know, is ridiculously competitive, most drop out and become doctors =D (oh the irony).</p>
<p>So it is 7:32 AM on a Sunday, and I am doing what? NOT SLEEPING</p>
<p>You have ... six months at least before you have to make a decision on which school to apply to Early Decision. If you apply to both RD, you have a YEAR before you need to decide which school to attend. </p>
<p>So ... my advice is to CHILL. Visit both school again, a few times. Meet people. Students, professors, etc. Remember that Tufts has a vet school also. Remember that your vet school decision is a separate decision from undergrad. </p>
<p>(I'd also take into account whether you are a New York resident or not because there's a big tuition difference if you are New York in CALS vs Tufts.)</p>
<p>One of my summer employees is finishing her freshman year at Cornell in CALS as a pre-vet animal science major. She's doing wonderfully -- loves the place, and is getting tremendous experience.</p>
<p>Yeah, i am from New York, but money is no object for me, i am one of the lucky ones. My parents have been saving for me since i was in the womb. I could go to college twice, and still go to a grad school. </p>
<p>But doesnt your employee ever feel lost in such a big place?</p>
<p>She seems to have found a niche. That's the trick in a big school is to find your own spot. She's made a bunch of friends -- both in the dorms and in her department. </p>
<p>My son will be at Cornell next year. He's got his niche set up with his academic department and his athletic team and his housing situation. </p>
<p>You would be really surprised. . .it's not nearly as hard as you'd think. Cornell doesn't seem all that big once you've been here for a while. There's no way that you're going to know everyone, but you will definately get to know the people you live with, the people in your classes, and the people in the clubs/organizations that you join. The individual colleges help to break things down as well.</p>
<p>So, once you make a solid group of friends, you're set. It's not like highschool where you need to know everyone. Living at Cornell is like living in a small city full of people that happen to be your age, certainly you wouldn't consider it necessary to know everyone in your city in order for it to be a good community. Because it's big, everyone is constantly meeting new people. I find people to be a lot more open to making new friends than in high school, where people tended to stay in their own little group, I mean, there definatley is some of that here, but people are generally friendly.</p>
<p>Tufts is a great school too...but get some sleep. You have a ton of time left to decide...maybe later it would be a good idea to take an overnight sometime in the fall at both places. If you can stay with a freshman sometime in the fall, you'd probably get a good idea of what the transition is like.</p>
<p>This is absolutely nothing to lose sleep over....</p>
<p>Dude, why are you losing sleep over this? You have 6 months to apply...if you can't sleep over this, it frightens me to think the state you'll be in come April 2007.</p>
<p>The thing about early decision plans is that they are a DECISION. If you aren't sure, there's a simple solution: don't apply under early decision! Use the summer and the fall to learn more about each (visits, anything), and if you reach a decision by December 15th, then you can apply early decision. If not, apply normally, hope it doesn't hurt your chances, and use the extra four and a half months to decide.</p>
<p>if you like tufts so much what's the problem? go to tufts.
and you can't say it "probably won't be a problem" getting into cornell- like i always say, nothing is certain, especially not with the college process.</p>
<p>I know I know, but it has come to that time, where I can't even take two steps without hearing college. I went for a good horseback ride to clear my head, and I swear the horse neighed 'college.' </p>
<p>And to the money comment, I don't have a ton of money, my rents just are really big on education, so it's all they save towards, lol.</p>
<p>
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My parents have been saving for me since i was in the womb. I could go to college twice, and still go to a grad school.
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</p>
<p>that's like... $600k, if you use the $50k/year without financial aid. which i consider a lot since i dont even have the money to go to college once without serious financial aid. that's all i meant by the comment lol</p>
<p>dude even after you get into college you'll still hear about it all the time... until you're actually IN college. its a pain, really lol</p>
<p>Focus first on enjoying your summer, whether that means working, interning, researching or anything else. I completely agree with cnp55. If it comes down to a choice between Cornell and Tufts, you can't go wrong. Both are terrific schools.</p>
<p>You have plenty of time to investigate both schools in more depth. Another visit to each in the fall would be great. Do an overnight. Start accessing each school's newspaper and reading current and archived editions. It will help you see what is going on during the school year at each school.</p>
<p>Listen closely next time you ride the horse and see whether he neighs "Cornell" or "Tufts"...that'll make it easy :P (GL both are great schools)</p>